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Hoppy.....I'm about 2 miles south right off McMurray Rd. That's cool to know there are a few hobby maple people nearby.
Collected 50 gallons Sunday. Haven't checked things since. My trees are at my in-laws down in Lone Pine (Washington). Planning my first boil Friday....hoping for 150-200 gallon boil. Things seemed to slow down a lot with this warm up.....hopefully things reset tonight with the dropping temps. Forecast looks goooood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoppy
Nice! I plan on tapping on Thursday, we got back yesterday and I still have stuff to clean to get ready. If you see any around Bower Hill School, those are mine :)Quote:
Originally Posted by sbedilion
Sbedilion,
That's great you're close. Do you boil here or in Lone Pine?
Helptheold,
I'll be on the lookout for them!
My trees are really slow but I went over to the other property this morning and had 7.5 gallons from 9 taps. 5 or 6 were overflowing. That was about 18 hours after tapping. I was pretty excited. I have more than half of lasts years total sap already.
Last light I finished my boiler setup. I have a Blackstone griddle that we keep outside. The griddle comes off and it's a rectangular framework with 2 H burners. I put together a framework that holds two pans above the burners. I finally got some pictures today. It's going right now out on the porch. I have it on high. The bottoms of the pans are about 3 inches above the burners so they are close but the flame is not really touching the pans. It's evaporating pretty well though. The sap is about 200 degrees. The pans are dropping about 1/2 to 3/4 inch per hour so maybe 2 gallons an hour?
The sap from today is really sweet tasting. I'm just made a drink with Jameson's Black Barrel, ice and sap from today. It's very good, with a sweet finish.
Hoppy...my driveway. I just make a cinderblock firepit and throw a 3ftx4ft flan pan over it. I'm located next to the old Rolling Hills Golf Course. When the steam gets going....my neighbors start coming out to investigate and just shake their heads. haha
Attachment 17203
Boiled 227 gallons yesterday. Turned the pump off but should be back at it Friday.
Great sight! You weren't hauling sap in a silver pickup today were you? I'll keep an eye out near the golf course for you. I have taps on Center Church rd closer to rt 19.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbedilion
My trees were dry, but I picked up 5 gallons from Center Church. Boiling again tonight. I wasn't impressed with my double pan setup. Tonight I was able to raise the back half of the burners. Now half of the flame is touching the pan and I have a boil going where I didn't before. Also, last night I was such a rookie and put cold sap into the pans. Duh.. Preheating tonight and going much better.
Gary,Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary R
Good to see your out there making syrup. I heard the sugar content was good this last run?
May tap Friday???
Regards,
Chris
That was most likely me :) Silver Tacoma with a 275 gallon tote. I collected 70 this morning bring my total to 120 gallons in that tote. I don't think that truck can handle anymore weight. I'm off tomorrow so I will be doing my first boil of the season. Weekend weather looks good, so maybe another boil on Sunday with similar numbers.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hoppy
Hi Chris! First day sugar was average, 1.4 on my 3/16" (mostly sugars), after that 1.1. Didn't have a freeze for three days. I'm surprised anyone is started up north. After this weekend it doesn't look too good. Should have been around to watch my wife fire the evaporator in a tee shirt:lol: I keep tell her you shouldn't do that.
Ha, awesome! I don't know if you remember ( about 4:30pm) but you slowed down to let someone out of Cranmoor (on Mcmurray) right before Donaldson's Crossroads. It was me in a maroon pickup truck with racks, I wasn't paying attention to you slowing down because I was staring at the big tank in the back and thinking about sap in it, so you went ahead! Sorry! Then I saw it sloshing around, saw it was clear, and figured it could be sap.Quote:
Originally Posted by sbedilion
Those numbers are great. We've collected 13 gallons so far. It's boiled down to about 3. Tomorrow should be good. I'm rethinking my griddle/double burner setup. It's not as fast as I'd hoped and it's going to cost me. I might have to build a little concrete arch like you have and just tend to it.