getting started, south of Ithaca

[smitty76]

Well, spent some time in the sap house this past week. after holiday is over will really get in to it. Looks like this will be the last year at this sap house as summer of 2010 we are going to move our operation to my dads place and hopefully upgrade from a 2x6 to a 3x8 or 3x10 depending on what pans we can find. Can't wait till the steams a flying.

[nymapleguy607]

Smitty
Where exacly in Spencer are you?
Your probly no more than 15 min from me

[smitty76]

I live right off of rt 34 just in the village of spencer on the van etten side. Were are you located?

[nymapleguy607]

I am on Parrott rd in Cayuta
If you are going toward Alpine Junction you can skip over Rice rd and it will come out about 100' from my driveway

[KenWP]

I hope you guys know where each other lives. I thought french directions were hard to figure out.

[smitty76]

yah, I know were rice rd is. small world isn't it.
have a great holiday guys.

[Paddymountain]

Smitty 76, NYmapleguy607 : I know just about where both of you guys are.
Although I live in Pa ,I have a cabin right up the road near Burdett!! I would almost like to move my operation up there where there are plenty of hard maples, and lots of hills for tubing!

[smitty76]

i am glad someone knows were we are.

[smitty76]

well, found out this weekend that our syrup pan is full pin holes, so it looks like we are building a new one. just when you think you make some headway. Hoping to tap 1st week of feb, we'll see.

[smitty76]

I have about an hr of finishing up on a new mainline run and I will be read to rinse and tap. All of our mains now run into 1 big bulk tank instead of several. makes gathering much better. If all goes to plan will rinse lines this weekend and tap on the following. Here we go!!!!!!!!!!!:lol: :lol: :lol:

[smitty76]

:cool: Well, mains are done and plain on setting the 500 gal colection tank today befor we get a sh-t load of snow this weekend.:cool:

[smitty76]

I was alone, all by my self:cry:

[caseyssugarshack93]

hey Smitty, How many taps you running this year and on what size rig?

[smitty76]

We are pushing for 400, looks like we have enough time to do so. We run a 2x6 and i know you run a few more than 400 on yours, but that is all we can handle right now do to other obligations.

[caseyssugarshack93]

yeah, only thing thats saving me is a r/o if i didnt have that id have to downsize to about 400, 400 is still alot on a 2x6 i think, alot of boiling

[smitty76]

Just got word that our new 2x2 syrup pan was supposed to be welded yesterday. mabe we can see it this weekend:D ;) :) :o

[smitty76]

Well, did not get to see the new pan this weekend, oh well:cry: :cry: . Spent most of the day in the bush trying to wash lines but was to cold(18 degs). So about the only productive thing done today was clearing the roadway thru the bush back. Hope to see some slightly warmer days to get finished up with the wash.:( :(

[caseyssugarshack93]

smitty are these taps on your own land, If so you lucky, I wish i had some on my own land but all feilds here, maybe have like 20 maple trees here on my land,

[smitty76]

I wish they were on my land. They Are about 1/2 mile down the road from the sugar shack. It is a hillside of a pasture on the neighbors farm. It is a really nice bush and have offered to purchase it but farmer is not interesred in letting it go.:( There is I would guess a 700 tap potenal here. :)

[caseyssugarshack93]

hopfully you can find some of your own land with trees on it and hopfuly i can too, id like to own the land so that way i know i can alaways sugar if i dont get to have these woods for a real long time

[smitty76]

I agree. the land im tapping could use some work and cleaning up but i do not want to invest that effort cause never know when I will be kicked out.:confused:

[smitty76]

Well, the big storm has only brought(thank God) about 4 in of the white stuff. Not ready in the bush, we can/have delt with alot of snow before but would rather not, makes it alot easier though.:rolleyes:

[smitty76]

Well, the big storm has only brought(thank God) about 4 in of the white stuff. Not ready in the bush, we can/have delt with alot of snow before but would rather not, makes it alot easier though.:rolleyes:

[smitty76]

Don't know how that happened, sorry.:mad:

[nymapleguy607]

The way things are acting at the moment I think it is going to be a late season. But hopefully a long one

[smitty76]

I am ok with short as long as the sap is 3%, but I think you are right on the late part. Seems like a hwhole lot of problems this yr. Can't wait to be boiling.:-|

[collinsmapleman2012]

This year is weird... i got a feeling that maybe in the begining to middle of march were gonna get POUNDED... i wouldnt mind but makes sap gatherin a bit harder with buckets... hopefully im gonna get to tap tomorrow or monday... and then i gotta do 1300 buckets at school this week and help another guy finish his tubing system and tap his 1500 trees... despite it all i never get bored and im busy a lot but i love maple... o well and good luck to everybody this year!!!:D :mrgreen: :) ;)

[smitty76]

How did every one's valintines day go? Due to every obsticle posible, I did nothing sap related the last 4 days. It is getting down to the last crumb and I did nothing. I disapiont myself.:cry: :cry: :emb: :cry:

[smitty76]

Well, the bro got his truck stuck in the bush today,lol, when I was at work. toke him, dad and josh(friend helper) 1 1/2 hr to get it out. they needed a few brews after that. Hope to be mostly tapped this weekend.

good luck

[smitty76]

Been a few days since being here. Had a computer prob that ended up in replaceing it last nite. We got about 100 taps in yesturday and bro and pops is working it today. about 34 yesturday and it was running, 38 today and is running. should be finished up by mon and can get to welding up the new syrup pan on tues to hopefully be ready by wensday. Way more stuff to do that i like, but have now chioce.:confused: :mad: :confused: :evil:

[smitty76]

Going to be busy getting ready this season. Alot of new stuff to set up and no time to do it. Fortunately, my bro and pops have time. We are moving our whole set up to a new sap house (new to us, not brand new) and are upgrading from a 2x6 woodfired to a 3x10 nautural gas fired with a piggy back. well, back to work for me.

[Brokermike]

Nice! I know someone that's upgrading to a 2x6 wood fired that look a lot like the one in your photo

[Smitty]

you are correct mike, i think you will be very happy with her, she served us
well. i am greatly looking forward to our trip to your place this weekend.
ooh, by the way, smitty76 is my twin brother. he is also tagging along this
weekend as well as my dad.

[adamsmithnny]

Looking to get started making syrup. Looking for used evaporator, not sure what size though. Possibly half pint or 4x6.

[smitty76]

Hello Adam, and welcome to maple trader. looks like the bug got you. a halfpint is a good size to start with. are you looking to buy something ready to go or are you interested in building something or some were in between?

[smitty76]

[QUOTE=Smitty;120041]you are correct mike, i think you will be very happy with her, she served us
well.

Broker, i see you have meet my brother, and take good care of her ( the 2 x 6 I mean). She's been good to us and want her to go to a good home. I also look forward to the trip and meeting you and seeing your suger setup.

[Brokermike]

thanks, did you guys figure out bout what day and time you'll be here?

Going to leader evaporator in Rutland at 7:30 in the am so chime in if you need supplies!

I started with a2x4 flat pan and very quickly out grew it. I'd say anyone looking to get going with more than 60 taps and a full time job ought to consider some sort of flue setup

[smitty76]

Mike, we are planning on being at your place around lunch time on sunday(12/1 pm). My brother has a better idea as to how long the ride is and to when we will be getting there. If you want, pm me your phone # so we can call you when we are getting close.


P.S. have a Happy Thanksgiving.


Smitty76

[smitty76]

Well, we have relieved our 2x6 to Mike, and by the way, We were at Mikes place today and what a beautiful place he has. I am proud to have our old rig in his possesion. I am sure he will have as many good memories as we have had. Hopefully some time this week we can start moving things into our new sap shack.

[Brokermike]

thanks for the kind words, always nice to meet a fellow mapler, and pretty excited to get my new 2x6 all set up

[smitty76]

we just brought home our new to us 3x10 small bros set up. can't wait to get it set up. need to call my burner guy to come out and measure up the arch so he can build us a burnner.

[smitty76]

Well, the burner guy has replied with a price, holy s__t, might be next year or 2050 before the gas burners. I did not want to build my own but it is looking like we have no choice.

[smitty76]

well, been working my a__ off, unfortunitly not in the sap house. worked right throught last weekend and the one before to get the rest of the year off starting tommorrow. Just need to finish up one gift for the finacial adviser. Need to make a good choice here as it will reflect on the sugar season. Have lots to do for sap stuff and hope to spend a few days of this time off to get some of it done. Merry Christmas to all the traders and their families.

[tapit]

Another guy from Ithaca. Ringwood Rd. just east of Cornell.

[smitty76]

We are located in Spencer, moving sap house to van etten this season. It is nice to hear of fellow traders so close. How bad is your addiction, I mean how big is your operation and how long have you been makin maple?

[tapit]

Last year was first year with typical cheap cinder block & pans set up and only 15 taps in Ellis Hollow. This year I bought 2 2x4 divided flat fabricated pans that are coupled together and will have coiled copper around pipe as preheater. Only slightly irritated my wife last year after I burned up most of her oven mitts. We'll see what kind of reaction I get out of her with 50 taps?

[smitty76]

As long as she get to enjoy some of that maple gold she will get over it. My grandfather was making syrup long before i was born and sold of the hole operation when I was very young, and that was the end of it. My twin brother and i built a 24 x 30 barrel evaporator with just a flat, undivided pan, when we were 14. My grandfather caught us finishing up the first batch. He was instantly turned back on to making syrup. I think the biggest convincer was now haveing 2- 14 yr old boys to do the grunt work. After that season was over, we bought a brand new small bros 2 x 6 wood fired lightning. We just sold that rig to brokermike last month so that we could upgrade to a 3 x 10 oil fired with a piggy back. My wife is still hanging on. I think she is in denial, she wont admit she loves the maple as much as me. My kids can't live without it and hope to pass this family tradition on to their kids. Alot of great memories made here with many, many more to come. Good luck tapit, and may your sap be plenty.



Smitty76

[smitty76]

Running out of time and kitchen passes. just painted the ceiling in the new sap house and hope to have the walls painted by this weekend. Should be moving the new 3 x 10 in on Sunday, then all the plumbing and finish work. We will be cutting it close.

[highlandcattle]

Just finished scrubbing out our newly aquired stainless bulk tank (what fun...) and used my handy little International to drag it up to the woods where hopefully the sap wil be running in. Our first year with tubing and vacuum. This has been an expensive change over this year. All new everything. Getting prepared for the goverment to start stepping in for their share(they will need to pry it our of my hands first though) Ron is up in the woods putting up more lateral lines, beautiful sunny day, no wind. Excited about firing up our new 2'x8' CDL wood fired evaporator.Thinking of going to Verona, a bit of a trip, so I'll wait and see how the weather goes.Let's all hope for a great sugaring year! We're 8 miles south of Fonda-Fultonville thruway exit,upstate NY, right above the historic Mohawk River.

300 and still going for vacuum
100+ for buckets
32 acre farmstead with 15 of it sugarbush
Scotch Highland cattle all retired

[smitty76]

This has been expencive for us as well. although its like waiting for Christmas. Al this new stuff and can't wait to set it up and use it. We are going to Verona, maybe we will see you there. we just finished painting the inside of the new saphouse today and are going to pick up the new 3 x 10 oil fired arch and set it in place tommorrow. Good luck and tons of fun this season.

[tony brown]

well we have the new shack about finished ,i see there is lots of new one on here this year hope eveyone has a super year at thier shacks and doesnt spend all thier money up grading

[smitty76]

hope eveyone has a super year at thier shacks and doesnt spend all thier money up grading

whoops, too late

[smitty76]

we finally got the new rig all set up, the new burner installed, filled it with water and touched it off(sigh of relief). still lots to do like set up the feed tank, but the most of the worry is over. hope the sap holds out till 2nd week of feb. I'm out.

[CaseysSugarHouse]

Keep up the good work. I been on the woods almost everyday since fall fixing and adding more taps.. i hope the sap holds out for a little bit around here. i still got alot of stuff to do.. hows the new rig run?

[smitty76]

runs great Nate, can't wait to mke syrup with it. Good luck and tap them all.

[smitty76]

unfortunately, work has had me out of town. on top of that we have snow up to my uknow and things are going really slow. at least the new sap house is ready to go. have all most 300 taps in and are planning on 300 more. put in all most 100 today. my high tensil supplier is out of town till monday and i neeed 200 more feet of wire to finish my next main line which will get me at least 200 more taps. with that said, we finished early today. i am cold, tired, wet and ready for some hot diner.

[adk1]

what exactly do you use for high tensile wire? I was in TSC today, and I saw 12.5 wire that was made for electric fences. is this the same stuff that you use? What gauge should I be using for 3/4" 30P?

[TroutBrookSH]

Yes, that's the stuff you want to use for (3/4") mainline. I also use the same for my alpaca electric fences. I use the medium gripples for both!

[adk1]

Ok, I plan on using the fence stretcher wratchet deals too. They are around 2.50 each at TSC and the wrench handle is only $4.50! I plan on using one on each end, that way I dont have to walk down to the end of the line t ostretch if I am at the opposite end!