That's a very cool idea. Do you have any pics of the plastic sugar shack? How did you let the steam and stack vent?Quote:
Originally Posted by 3% Solution
Sorry to hijack the thread.
Thanks in advance,
Sean
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That's a very cool idea. Do you have any pics of the plastic sugar shack? How did you let the steam and stack vent?Quote:
Originally Posted by 3% Solution
Sorry to hijack the thread.
Thanks in advance,
Sean
Russ,
West of Menomonie, which is west of Eau Claire. I talked to you or your mother last spring on the phone.
I have been just putzing doing indoor items. Walked lines one day last week, but you really hate to go out when its only 5-10 degrees.
I will be checking lines in ernest this weekend. No real tapping weather in the short term here.
Bruce I would go for that stand of trees with the 4% sap. I already bought the machine to increase my efficiency by 400% and if the bulk prices get up to $6lb. I will sell most of my syrup bulk. The price increase to the customer would be too much for most people if my prices were adjusted to match. I love doing this and don't do it for the money. That $119 would have been $919 if I hadn't had to spend $800 to replace the stack on my evaporator and buy some repair parts for my RO machine.
Russ
So I have been working in the SH today and my little wood stove just doesn't put out the heat due to how small the firebox is.. so... I called up my brother in law for the old wood stove that was my " FIRST" evaporator... so ironically it now sits in the sugarhouse as supplemental heat, I will have a picture of it as an evap near it for ha-ha's ;)
http://www.desjardinsmaple.com/__hr_..._maple_rig.jpg
Began tapping on Saturday and spent alot of time slipping and slidding even with ice traction on my boots.
Keith
Well, I had a busy weekend. On Saturday afternoon I tapped about 40 more on tubing that was already up, then hung 50 buckets. That should put me at about 600 taps. I still have 200 more on tubing that need repaired/ tapped. I also finished a bucket stand / marcland drawoff stand. Yesterday I repaired some squirrel damage, spent 5 hrs running mainline that should get me 50 more taps and hooked up the drawoff unit. Hopefully we'll get a run today, though it was 18 degrees at the farm this morning, about 8 degrees colder than I would've liked to see!
Andy,
Your are well into it, but as you said, the weather is just not syrup weather yet!
If there is not much mud you probably wont get much sap. So we wait.
I am going to make some value added maple products while the weather is cold. Maple Mustard (std and HOT), Maple barbecue sauce, maple coated peanuts.
Need to get the shelves stocked for our NWPA Maple Taste and Tour, March 15 and 16.
By the way they (weather folks) did say that Lake Erie is completely froze over! Anyone for hard water fishing while waiting for syrup season to arrive? Go for IT!
Chris
Here's a nice pan on ebay that would make a good starter pan for someone. It would probably boil off 30 to 40 gph with a good homemade setup. Whatever warping it had wouldn't hurt anything and the sugar would like seal off the leaking fitting.
http://cgi.ebay.com/maple-syrup-evap...ayphotohosting
I have a old king float , box, and valve I would sell reasonable if someone gets this or another pan and needs one..
Andy
Guys- Almost filled my second barrell last night. Just looked at the forecast and looks like spring is coming to Pa bigtime. I put out more taps and I think ive got the hang of things. Just got to finetune in the sugarhouse. It think there is SERIOUS BIG SAP on the way. Im going to see if I can make that bernard double dump every 30 seconds. Wish me luck. Hope your seasons kick in soon. Theeeeron