Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BAP

How many taps running in there?

---

A little miss calculation on my part. My new releaser has 54.3 gallons when it hit's the upper sensor. It was dumping three times per hour today but has now slowed down. I have 4050 taps going into that releaser. My other 4000 taps are going into a different sap house. I have about 600-700 gallons in the tank in my sugar house. I did not test sap today. Sap should run a bit tonight and then tomorrow. The trees that ran are facing the S/E. The west facing trees did not do much today.

Spud

That’s still good considering how early it is, how short the days are and how cold it was leading up to this week.

I started tapping last weekend and it has been running a bit. Onto the ground on gravity for now but hoping to get a bunch more done the next couple days to see if I can't get the vacuum running and check for leaks before it freezes up again this weekend. My hope is to be all tapped by the next thaw. Need more syrup....

I just got back from Cabo, Mexico. I almost stopped at the H2O Innovation store in San Jose del Cabo but I figured that I'd look a little suspicious declaring tubing and fittings at US Customs!

Ha, Ha -

I'm sure they don't have maple equipment but I'll bet i could get a new RO membrane which also would seem a little odd at Customs.

BTW - the water in Mexico is good enough to drink now days, at least in some parts. But don't drink the concentrate!

I was able to get one gallon per tap over the last two days. I spent today finding and fixing some more leaks. Vacuum now running 26 in the woods. Still want to see 27 or I'm not happy. Might see more sap on Friday.

Spud

Got 500 gallons overnight. Sap is running slow but it's running a bit. Should run till about 2:00pm today. 10 day forecast shows no signs of sugaring in my area.

Spud

I was able to get 1600 gallons in the last 24 hours. Pump is off now. Any other Vermonters getting sap? This thread has been very quiet.

Spud

We finished tapping on January 29th. This week I think we got 2 gals of sap per tap between the two warm ups. Been able to spend a lot of time in the woods and get things tight. Haven't boiled yet, going to sit on 15 brix until next warm up. Been nice being out in the woods.

Finished up all our line repair and spout/drop replacement, which with my small two-man crew, we do ahead of tapping. Will start tapping next week.

What is your replacement frequency and cleaning techniques with 3/16? I've heard that 3/16 is more prone to clogs and one must replace more to avoid reduced yields. I was real excited about it for a few years but after hearing about some longer term issues I shied away. We are still installing 5/16 on any new install.