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Even though it feels like we aren't even going to have a season this year with this weather I've been working on upgrades to my evaporator.
New for this year is a 2x4 divided pan from bascoms, adding AOF, and remaking my fire box grate.
Crossing my fingers for a season with enough sap to give it all a good work out. Next week looks cold but it doesn't look like its going to stick around for too long.
I'm seeing the same thing...
I'd like to think the cold weather at the end of the extended forecast sticks around for a bit and then ramps into a decent season.
I too have a lot of new gear this year and would love a good sap season to run it through the paces...
At this point, I'm totally unsure when I will tap.
what are the rest of you thinking in CT?
Bryan
Also have some new equipment this year and an increased tap count. I've got the itch. I plan on waiting at least a few more weeks. My 14 day forecast only shows two days over 40. I don't think my trees will even thaw out in those two days. I'm looking for a more prolonged period of warmer weather. I had some incredible runs towards the end of last season and I'd like to be sure not to miss those this year.
Nothing to worry about yet, it's still a ways off the good cold period is good to get the trees ready. Every year I see people freak out cause the weather is too warm or too cold but until it's all over it's anyone's guess. I remember a few years back we had such an extended cold spell it wasn't till mid March that it started to resemble tapping weather, tapped a full month later and it ran like crazy and ended up a decent year after all
A week ago I was hell bent on waiting for February. Now I'm seriously considering tapping my 3/16 lines this Wednesday. I'll hold off on my 40 buckets for a few more weeks. I've heard 3/16 with CV spouts can last a fairly long time compared to buckets? My thought would be 3/16 this week and buckets in two more weeks and everything should hopefully finish up around the same time??
14 Day forecast attached for reference.
Attachment 20562
Im seeing the same thing down here in Weston, with things start looking good towards mid week.
How long should we expect 5/16" on vac with CV Taps to flow before they give up the ghost for the season?
Very tempted to get things lined up and ready for Wednesday...
If you get to 70 taps, I hope you have at least a bucket RO.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kubota
My first year I had a 2x3. I started with 27 taps, then each time the sap ran I thought, "I can handle more than that" so I added more taps, 8-12 at a time. That kept repeating until I had 70 taps. Then the sap really started and I had more sap than that rig could handle. My wife and I took turns and we ran it for 2 nights and 3 days without stop. In that time we had not gained any, we started that marathon with 75 gal of sap and two and a half days later we had over 100.
I say 70 is too many unless you have some kind of an RO., try 40-45 max. and be ready for looong boils as the sap starts to run good.
No RO. I figure I had no problem doing 25 taps on my hotel pan last year at 3 gph. I think I can get the mason safely to 9 gph with AUF and good wood. In theory I'll be ahead of last years rate comparing last year, 25 taps to 3gph vs 70 taps to 9gph. My hours spent boiling should actually go down. If it's too much, lesson learned, but I don't think it will be an issue. And I don't mind endless boiling.Quote:
Originally Posted by maple flats
Got all of my lines up last week and tapped the first 18 of 120 yesterday. Hope to get the rest tapped over the next few days. Most of my taps are on a gravity tubing system. I've used check valve taps the past couple of years with great success; early tapping each season and they never dried out--even in late March/early April. I did invest in an RO Bucket unit last year and I love it. I'd highly suggest trying to make one on your own to save a ton of time and wood.
Will install everything this weekend here in Cornwall. I've tapped earlier than this and was glad I did. First boil last year was February 9th, the year before January 28th. A friend of mine once gave me some advice about when to tap; "Is the sap flowing? Then tap your trees!"