Tapped in Pittsfield

[michelle32]

Just bought a new 2x6 leader drop flue can't wait to fire this thing up. We up graded from a half pint. Way to much time boiling last year. Increased taps from 100 to 224 right now. 139 tubing 85 buckets. 21 more buckets this weekend. Let there be big sap for all.

[Stickey]

Nice, How much did you make on the half pint with 100 taps last year, and How much time boiling? Forecasts are still looking good for this weekend, right into next week. Good Luck Michelle.

[michelle32]

We made 7.5 gallons. did not keep track of the hours. but it was very long. Had it down to get about 8 gallons boiled off in hour. Best wood to use was pallet wood.

[Stickey]

What was best about pallet wood? Did you use a blower? I plan on using pine, but if any pallets turn up I'll snagg em for sure.

[Dill]

Pallets are usually old enough to be seasoned. Mostly pretty decent hardwood. And this is the biggie. FREE!

[michelle32]

We have a pallet company right here in town and there free. I believe if you go to the dump the have piles of them for the taking. Hard wood puts out more heat than the pine less wood to feed the fire. No blower on the 1/2 pint. Maybe on this one. Talked to a guy yesterday. His dad use to tap on his property. He was going to check thought he would let me put out tubing on it next year. This sugar bush has about 500 trees that haven't been tapped for 10 years. All runs into a valley right to his driveway.

[michelle32]

Just went out to start the tractor. To here the sweet sound of sap dripping in the buckets by the house. Let it flow.

[Dill]

Really? Its still 25 here at the office in Epsom.
Must be the sun. Let it flow, yippee.

[michelle32]

Ya right in the sun and close to the building. 28 here and climbing. Where in epsom.

[Dill]

Tornado Alley. Ie Rt 4 next to the boathouse.

[michelle32]

I know the spot. I'm about 10 minutes from there. Just turn right at jeep country. Just checked temp again 34 in shade.

[Amber Gold]

Glad I checked this post. Had my wife turn the vacuum pump on. Also found out this morning that my dumb*** neighbor snowmobilers, instead of riding under the elevated access portion of my vacuum line that I left for them decided to run it over instead. Took a quick look at it and didn't see any holes, but will know for sure when the pump's on. Couldn't' believe it.

Happy sugaring.

[Uncle Tucker]

today temp was 43* and sap was weeping. started up vac and got about 15-20 gallons. Not bad. The cold weather pushed alot of taps, vac leaks every tap hole.

[Dill]

I got 5 gallons of sap off 20 trees with heavy southern exposure. Nothing else ran. I got a lot of leaks around spiles also. Should I ream them? Try knocking them in deeper or just leave it?

[Stickey]

I have leaky taps too, freezing sap may be "pushing" out the taps? I was gonna see how they look in warmer weather before I go fiddlin with them. If you guys know where there is an abundant supply of free pallets PM me. I'm not too far from you, I'd even be willing to drop some off to you if I could manage to fill one of my Rack bodies. Just drove past tornado alley today, thats still a shocking sight to see.

[Russell Lampron]

Just let the leaky taps leak if they are seated properly. You don't want to drive the taps in too hard and split the tree. I got about 80 gallons here yesterday which was a surprise. It was -3 here the night before. It looks like a good week coming up. I can't wait.