so far....3 days, 10 galllons (33 taps of smallish trees)
Printable View
so far....3 days, 10 galllons (33 taps of smallish trees)
Anybody every use a refractometer before getting one in the mail tomorrow so I'll finally know my sugar % I have 38 gallons of sap in the fridge to see if it's worth boiling or tossing out depending my my % is
Sam
Shelton
40ish taps on buckets and drop line
2x6 evaporater pan on a double propane burner
Boiled 2 weeks ago And got 1 quart of liquid gold
I put 22 taps in today in Wolcott and when I checked tonite i had roughly 8-10 gallons. i hope to get another 30 or so in tomorrow and possibly boil Sunday. This in only my third season but have never tapped this early.
Personally, I'm waiting to around my usual time - mid-February to tap. I know the next week looks great but the long range weather pattern is going to change on the 4th and it's going to be a lot colder. That also gives me some time to get some new lines in and have everything else ready to go. Time will tell if my gamble is right but that's what I'm going with.
Same here. I'm confident there will be weeks of good flow to come. Though it's sure tempting! I know I missed out a little.Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveB
Sam-Oh don't toss unless it's spoiled. I'm thinking about getting a refractometer this season myself. Our buddy in oxford got a 2% reading using his friends home brew refractometer.
im with dave b im going to wait it out and tap around the 2nd week of feb weather permitting, long range looks like another cold spell will come. i was very tempted to start this past week but another sugarmaker near me started tapping and the few tanks of his that i pass by had very little sap and same with a few trees that the tree trimmers working my area have trimmed. i figured the trimmed branches would be pouring sap but they're just barely wet. still need to finish up a few odd and ends in the sugarhouse this week. good luck this season everyone.
I'm holding off till next month also. Will give me some time to get ready too.
I just hit my new refractometer and tested my sap 1.5 on my reading with 52 gallons gives shy of a gallon
Sam
Shelton
40ish spile and buckets and taps and drop lines
Did 20 taps this afternoon here in South eastern CT and got 18 gallons of sap, some were flowing almost solid stream, others not much, wh I collected at 8pm tonight sap was still flowing.