Originally Posted by
MajorWoodchuck
The chips coming out of the holes should be white. If it were an oak the chips would be more orange or yellow...and will not produce sap (I know from experience). Almost any kind of maple will produce maple sap including box elder. I did not get any sap out of my crimson maple though. It is the kind that has dark red or purple leaves all summer long. It's easier to identify your trees in the summer and fall and mark them so you know when tapping in early spring.
For a propane cooker look at a turkey fryer or multi burner camp stove.