Lets See Your Sugarhouse

[PARKER MAPLE]

Well as probably many of you have once in awile been over taken buy this additing hobby, i now find myself looking for sugarhouses and other sugarlots on my way down the road. wondering how there layed out and whats in them... so i thaught today as im driving by a few why not start a thread on this....
So here it is, lets see um.. a place for you to show off your sugarhouse no matter how big or small...
maple rookie

[Sugarmaker]

Some shots.
Chris

[markct]

heres a few of mine, as you can see it started small then almost doubled in size!

[markct]

a couple more

[markct]

and a few more

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Here's a couple of pics of mine. Nothing fancy but functional and plenty of room.

[3rdgen.maple]

Don't sell yourself short Brandon that is a good looking sugarhouse. Sure wish I had that much room.

[Haynes Forest Products]

Im to stupid to put photos on the thread so you need to go to my photobucket.

[Z/MAN]

Im to stupid to put photos on the thread so you need to go to my photobucket.

What is the procedure for putting photos in the thread?? Can someone tell me?
Paul

[Clan Delaney]

What is the procedure for putting photos in the thread?? Can someone tell me?
Paul

Paul-

when you post, scroll down to the section labeled Additional Options, and where it says Attach Files, click the button that says Manage Attachments. Then just choose (up to 5 per post) pictures to upload. Click the choose file button if you're uploading from your computer. Haynes, if you want to use pics from your photobucket, you can use the Upload File from a URL option. Go to the pic on your PB account, and right-click on it. Find the option that says something like "Copy Image URL" or "Copy Image Location" and click it. Then go back to the Upload File from a URL text box I mentioned, right-click on that and select "Paste". Then click the Upload button.

Pics have to be on the small side - 97k or less.

[KenWP]

Had me lost at Click the Button. I would have to see what size my pictures are. I think you can set a digatal camera to take smaller pictures. Had somebody send me a picture once it was something like 5.7 Gigs and to download it was like 2 days or something. Got deleted.

[Green Hollow Maple]

Our humble facility.

[DanE.]

This will be my sugar house this year. One of the out buildings, atleast i will be inside and dry.

1278


Travis, what size is your SH?


Dane.

[Green Hollow Maple]

A spacious 10' x 12'. Size isn't everything ;)

[heus]

Is there a way to make the picture smaller in size so it will fit? Thinking about it, I must have done it for my avatar but I don't remember how.

[PeddlerLakeSapper]

Not what you would call a house, but worked for our first year not knowing what the H we were doing.

[johnallin]

Here is ours....still not complete but getting closer and now with the weather too cold to tap, we may actually get it done in time! I too spent 4 years out in the cold on the gravel drive, this will be heaven.

[johnallin]

Is there a way to make the picture smaller in size so it will fit? Thinking about it, I must have done it for my avatar but I don't remember how.

Heus, if you have a photo editing program, try re-sizing the photo which will normally reduce file size.

[red maples]

Here's mine.

[johnallin]

Red Maple - you've got me beat, that's a nice building for sure.

[red maples]

no way mine is a stick frame I love the post and beam. mine started out to be a just a shed and well it got a little bigger!!!!

[farmall h]

Wow, geez RedMaples/johnallen, that's not your houses? Man, those are too nice to be sugar houses.:D

[Jeff E]

There are some beautys out there. Good work guys.
Here is mine, short on looks, high on function...

[marky the mapler]

Pretty excited about our shack!

http://gallery.me.com/mhp#100024/IMG_1117

[farmall h]

Here's two "vintage" photos, and one current. ;)

1285 Old "suga shack" 1974

1286 Old "suga shack" 1974

1287 1990 "suga shack" My daughter took this picture and it made the paper! :cool:

[Z/MAN]

Paul-

when you post, scroll down to the section labeled Additional Options, and where it says Attach Files, click the button that says Manage Attachments. Then just choose (up to 5 per post) pictures to upload. Click the choose file button if you're uploading from your computer. Haynes, if you want to use pics from your photobucket, you can use the Upload File from a URL option. Go to the pic on your PB account, and right-click on it. Find the option that says something like "Copy Image URL" or "Copy Image Location" and click it. Then go back to the Upload File from a URL text box I mentioned, right-click on that and select "Paste". Then click the Upload button.

Pics have to be on the small side - 97k or less.
Thanks Clan.

[gunnergo4th]

Here's my Sugar Container:) http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn110/gunnergo4th/005-1.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn110/gunnergo4th/001-1.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn110/gunnergo4th/003-1.jpg

[wcproctor]

Here's my Sugar Container:) http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn110/gunnergo4th/005-1.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn110/gunnergo4th/001-1.jpghttp://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn110/gunnergo4th/003-1.jpg

Ok you Win for most original

[caseyssugarshack93]

Redneck Sugarhouse, I really like it:D

[BryanEx]

Wow... several fantastic sugar houses! I'm wondering if some of these more elaborate sugar shacks (elaborate in design - not size) are used for anything but sugaring given the cost of materials and labour to build? That's the difficulty I have with building. I just can't justify the expense for the size of my operation unless I could somehow use it for other purposes out of season.

That's not to say that I don't really really want one though. :D

[maplehound]

My sugarhouse was initially used as a picnic pavilion during the summer. But when we bought our 3x8 evaporator we had to leave it in the sugarhouse since it was too hard to move each year. Now we actually have wooden walls

[johnallin]

Wow... several fantastic sugar houses! I'm wondering if some of these more elaborate sugar shacks (elaborate in design - not size) are used for anything but sugaring given the cost of materials and labour to build? That's the difficulty I have with building. I just can't justify the expense for the size of my operation unless I could somehow use it for other purposes out of season.

That's not to say that I don't really really want one though. :D

Brian, ours was designed to be our sugar house, but the grandkids have other ideas for the off season...
Timberframe is not expensive when you consider what you have at the end of the day. Very simple, strong structures that will still be standing 100, or more, years from now and due to mortise - tennon construction held together with wood pins can be taken apart and moved if needed. How can you beat that?

[MapleME]

john, how do your cupola doors open/close? Cant tell from the pics. Nice lookin shack by the way!

[MapleME]

here by the pics of the sugarhouse build this fall.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=334824&id=727595709&l=da7724d9e4

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I hope to add a 12 x 14 bedroom with small bathroom and a 12 x 10 kitchen in mine this summer. Doubt I will get it fully finished, but it can be used to "camp out" with the wife and kids and also used a little as a hunting camp.

[johnallin]

john, how do your cupola doors open/close? Cant tell from the pics. Nice lookin shack by the way!

The doors pivot on a 3/4" pipe fastened to the door and held by pillow blocks at the ends. They open up and out when the control line is pulled, instead of falling down onto the roof.

The idea is to prevent rain from coming in and snow from piling up on them only to dump into the shack when the door is closed. The design is not mine but was passed on to me by Scott Carlson who had seen it in another shack. I talked to the guy who had done it and he said they worked great and he could vary the angle of the two doors to compensate for different wind conditions.
I have not boiled yet but so far they operate very smoothly and I don't anticipate any problems - ever hear that before ?
Picture of my drawing is below...

[Sugarmaker]

Wow... several fantastic sugar houses! I'm wondering if some of these more elaborate sugar shacks (elaborate in design - not size) are used for anything but sugaring given the cost of materials and labour to build? That's the difficulty I have with building. I just can't justify the expense for the size of my operation unless I could somehow use it for other purposes out of season.

That's not to say that I don't really really want one though. :D

Well our sugar house is not elaborate in design since it is a basic pole building structure using rough cut hemlock. The extra size does allow us to use the building for other summer hobbies like bee keeping and sometimes things get stored in there too like the lawn mower:)
But it was designed for sugaring as the primary function.

Regards,
Chris

[Dennis H.]

John thanks for posting the drawing of the cupolas doors, I like that style much better than the drop down doors that I currently have.

[PARKER MAPLE]

Man You Guys Have Some Awesome Buildings Thanks For Sharing Them
M/r

[Mac]

Here are befor and after pics. 12 x 40 total, Wood sheds 12 x 24, Evaporator room 12 x 16. One bay of Firewood and one bay of sugar wood. Kubota has to sleep out side 3 months... oh well
1309

1310

[Gary E]

Just finishing,got the copula doors working with cable and pulley system today.
I think I will be ready ???

Very nice structures folks !!

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL1094/4132218/22649715/382217688.jpg
Steel siding and roof ,10ft walls fully insulated


http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL1094/4132218/22649715/382179886.jpg
scissor trusses, fast and easy for me!



Thanks for all the great Information folks, can`t wait for the season :o

[johnallin]

John thanks for posting the drawing of the cupolas doors, I like that style much better than the drop down doors that I currently have.

You are welcome Dennis, I think they will work fine but won't know until sometime later this week- just finished bricking up the new evaporator. I like the thought that they cover the openning from incoming weather and still alow steam to escape. Should be an easy upgrade to any existing doors - the size is the same, just add the pipe and pillowblocks or some simple means to allow them to pivot.

[johnallin]

Gary E, that's a great looking sugar house! I am looking at your sap tank and it looks like one I have on order from Bascoms - the Daliere model which is about 1/2 the cost of the Leader but is still all "food grade" stainless. How is it working out for you?

[Father & Son]

Here's the progression of our sugarhouse.
First pic 2005, second 2006, third 2008.
Another addition this spring (hopefully).

Jim

[jrbridges]

I am working hard to be able to boil next weekend. Plastic and tarp instead of some windows and doors. Its been a busy winter but we're going to make it. Beautiful sugarhouses and thanks for the idea about the pivoting cupola doors.

[Treetapper]

Awsome looking hide outs! Heres mine. Way to small already. Addition to follow.

[johnallin]

JT.. the secret is too have them pivot from about 1/3 of the way down from the top. They will then be "bottom heavy" and will close automaticly, you only need one line -pull to open, let go to close. Really slick and I used them for the first time yesterday during a test boil.

[Revi]

Really nice sugarhouses! Ours in in my avatar, and in the movie on my sig.

[Mud Island Maple]

Built this during summer 2007. Sawed my own lumber with portable mill and call it a modified post and beam -- posts are fastened to sill and plates with one inch hardwood dowels. The size is 10' x 12' and is adequate for the arch, my wife and I (foundation under main part already existed from previous building). The whole setup has worked well for us.
The pictures below are small. To see more detailed, full-sized pictures, click the photobucket link. Thanks!

___________________

180 Bucket Taps
2x6 Patrick Phaneuf
B2400 Kubota Tractor
Just the wife and me!

http://s970.photobucket.com/albums/ae188/brianwyoung1/Sugarhouse/

[Maplesedge]

Advantage: Very low cost. Couple bags concrete for the base, and a bag of morter. Blocks and bricks were donated, stack found at the dump, pan's an old sink.

Disadvantage: Not weatherproof at all. Actually have a "convertable" version, a 10 x 10 pop up canopy with sidewalls, but it's hell in a blizzard.

Prefer to wait for a good day if I can anyway.

Where do you guys toss the foam you skim? Into a pot? Hate to mess up a nice sugarhouse.

Had to add: Never "rains" in this sugar house, unless of course it's really raining.