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Looks like cold in the long range forecast through end of January. Good for me to clean up any last minute jobs. Got my permeate tanks set and plumbed yesterday, pans taken off, flues brushed, arch regasketed and pans set back. Rig leveled and floats put in place. Added another 50 taps or so and repaired a couple lines that needed some help. Looking good so far.
Picked up ceramic blanket and firebrick today. now its time to get busy on finishing ALL of the projects left before tapping.
heading up to the sugar camp in the maine wilderness this week. had 900 taps for my first season, hoping to add another 300 this season. its not easy lugging everything over a 60 foot wide rapid mountain stream in the summer time with no bridge, but it freezes up in winter perfect for the tundra 300. I would guess that my sugar camp is the hardest to get too out of just about anybodies on here, but that makes it more fun in some aspects, no body bugs me there, and the log cabin is comfortable to stay in for a few weeks.
It was a busy maple weekend. We got Jim Brown's arch re-tinned. All stainless, hopefully he'll be able to post some pictures. Also got my shack parked in place and stack up.
Been a long slog here in the North Country. Had high hopes of a major expansion after last season but life got in the way. I have been chief caregiver to the "old sugarmaker", here at TTF (my 89 year old father) who fell and broke his hip last summer. Been making some headway but not as much as hoped. Have a second 600 gallon Ro set up and almost ready to go. Added 1200 feet of dry lines to my front bush for improved vacuum transfer. Added 1000 new drops and stubbies so the front bush (oldest taps) will be entirely CV's this year. Added several thousand feet of mainline to said front bush so most laterals are under 50 feet and most have 3 or less drops. In the process dropped 3rd tap from largest trees and added some additional taps for a net gain of approx. 100. In the backbush I have laid out a new line that should increase taps by about 600. It will tie into existing vacuum pump via a remote releaser and pump line. Hope to have some help over the next 3 weeks to get this nailed down. 20 below yesterday morning made me think I might still have a bit of time before it starts...also made plastic handle hard:)
Doug- hope your Dad can join you in the sugarhouse this spring. Good luck with the season. The coldest it ever got when I used to live in Canton was -38. Hasn't been anywhere close to that down here in balmy NH.
Eric,
He's planning on it. When I suggested storing an extra walker, he suggested we put it in the sugar house to use:)
Arch rebuild pictures are under an album in my profile .Thanks many times over GaryR Looks great with the pans on!
Jim and Doug
Jim, and Doug, and Gary
Looks like doug did most of the work:) Some one had to take the pictures right Jim?
Hey that Arch retinning really looks good!
And I didnt know you could put pictures on albums on here. Was I sleeping when you guys sis traing on that feature?:)
Anyway very nice job on refreshining the rig. Did you use stainless hardware? I didnt and wished I would have, after 10 years is pretty rusty.
Regards,
Chris
Chris; Every thing is stainless except the the top angle,the front casting and the rear stack casting.All holes were pre drilled and stainless self tappers put in.
Jim