September journal

I am not up for fall tapping, but people who do it have made some syrup.

I think fall color is the thing to harvest this season.

Went to the auction yesterday in Lacona. Lots of "stuff", much of it outdated went over the block. Prices were quite high, certainly not a buyers dream. I just shook my head (and not at the auctioneer) as items went higher than catalog prices. Highlight was definitely meeting Tucker Mountain and Bryan Ryther. Always nice to put a face with the names and personalities on here.

I have found over the years that an auction buyer really has to know his prices. I know what it cost me to go to lake George and buy buckets. The last auction I went to and bought buckets they were cheap I thought.

yes was good to connect with Doug, Brian, and Mike at the auction yesterday. Stuff was going for retail or higher - probably one of the cooler things was looking at the older Grimm and Leader catalogs- some from the mid 80's-

as the bucket washer I was interested in went for more than $400.00, its time to get to work on making my own. I think sugarmaker chris has a set-up with the drive motor from a bulk tank- I think I'll try that route...

still need to get some wood undercover...and find an RO...and 400 more taps...and....

I have to yet go to a auction in Quebec but I wonder what prices would be like here compared to other auctions. I know Garage sales here have low prices and high prices and the high prices seem to have more then one sale trying to unload things which seems like a waste of time.
In Alberta where I come from you could go to some auctions and buy all the tools for next to nothing as the Auctioneer wanted to get to the machinery and really work on that and others it took all day to sell the small stuff and buyers actually left before they got to the big stuff and you could get better deals then. I have seen more pipe wrenches go for more then the store price its not even funny.

went out for a walk to mark trees to cut down in the spring had to get out there before the leaves fall. good cold snap here on friday night. fired up the woodstove a little to take out the chill.

Since I started using thewoodstove I have cut oil used to 2 tanks a year. the new windows helped a ton too. When we first moved in to our house the woodstove was not useable missing tomany parts. and the windows were cheap 30 years alluminum, most of them broken with duct tap on them. we must of went through a tank per month that first year. spent about $500 on glass, blower, door handle and other little parts and peices. And made the mistake of calling a company to clean the chimney because I didn't have the poles or brush yet. $175.00 for 25 minutes of work!! what a rip off!! second year better but learning curve with the wood stove. I grew up with one. my dad still uses it. but it takes a little practice to get it right. then we got new siding and windows WOW what difference, best money we ever spent on the house. went from about 5-7 tanks of oil a year to 2.

now this year I want to go down to 1.5 tanks of oil is my goal. We need it for hot water and use the boiler on really cold nights and to remove the chill once in a while. we are going to run this boiler into the ground the oil guys recommended we get a new one 5 years ago still running good and is still over 80% eff.

The auction was interesting. Some highlights for me were meeting Doug Mike and Eric. One guy got away with a barrell of grade C syrup for $300. Things happen to fast for me. If I had thought about it I would have driven the price up a few hundred more. There were too many of us there that knew what items were worth so it was difficult to make good purchases. I only went away with a box of 1/2 gal jugs. I figure what I saved on the jugs paid for my gass.
I only have room for four truck loads of wood left in my barns. So far I have brought home 78 truck loads. That sould cover me for the season. Other then the wood I havn't done any work in the woods. I have been to busy with the move and setting up my welding business. After This week Is over I plan on dedicating at least one week day to the woods and most of the weekends.
BR

Brian-how much wood in a truckload?

It is now time for me to get my act together and start finishing up stuff that I need to complete for the coming season.

I took a week off to do some hiking at the Grand Canyon with my brother and several friends, what a trip.

I will need to run the tubing for the trees here at the house, make the hood/preheater, firebrick grates, and, oh crap there is way to many things that I have to do!!

Parker, since I am a New Yorker, a truck load is a face cord. (apron 1/3 full cord)

Spent all weekend in the woods with the excavator. Got a lot of ditching done on the roads. They have filled in quite a bit over the last 15 years. Finished burying my underground vacuum and sap transfer line to the sugarhouse. Finally have all the wood at the sugarhouse, just a lot of stacking left to do. Tubing is all installed in the lower woods, 3000 down, 3000 to go. Moved the pump house into the lower woods with a new 500 gal open top stainless tank in it.

Back to school today again. Can't beleive it's almost October already. Time to get my butt in gear with a few things before winter hits and I walk around saying man I wish I did that before the ground froze.
They sell wood here as cords and lucky me I found out before I ordered any that they are face cords as I would have been upset as a I had thought a cord was 128 square feet which they call a solid around here.

Tuckermtn,
I had a bucket washer! The guy that bought most of the buckets got the bucket washer too!
I used stainless round bottom milk house double sink for the tubs, added self standing legs, a slow rotating motor from a bulk tank agitator and a Leader bucket brush. Some fabrication items including a shaft and a bearing to go through the end of the sinks. This washers worked well for many years.
I may have some pictures on the web site?

good luck!
Chris

Well all , my hunting trip was a big flop. Mother nature really hates me sometimes. Lots of wind,rain and hail for 5 days straight. We payed a little extra for the camp to have lots of firewood for the fire pit and some for the woodstove. Well we got there and there was no wood for the stove let alone the firepit. I went there to get away from this wood cutting crap. Luckilly I brought the chainsaw to be safe. Got done cutting up a supply of wood and went to light the grill and there was no propane left. We ended up cooking over the campfire in the rain the whole time we were there. Been going to the same place for almost 10 years and am very disapointed with the owner. It sure made the rum and coke disapear in a hurry. So out of 5 days I got 2 hours of hunting in before it rained again. I managed to hike back in the mountains for an hour straight to get to my favorite hunting spot. Got there all set up and I looked to my left and there in the middle of nowhere was an old gallon maple syrup jug. I could not believe it I was miles from the nearest house. I think someone was trying to tell me something. Then down came the hail. Glad to be home and by the looks of things on the trader I got alot of reading to do. Hope everyones weekend was better than mine.

Well I was in Placid at the NYS maple tour. I was on a woods walk with no rain gear and down it came. Everyone met at the horse show grounds each more for breakfast. It was also cold and sometimes it rained so hard that the tin roof leaked. I did meet two of our members. "Buckethead" being one of them. A very nice man, quiet and well spoken. I saw big multi million dollar operation(9K taps) and very small ones 300 taps. Tuesday there was just to many road miles on the tour bus so I drove my truck to save a 2 hour return ride to Placid. I cut out just after lunch and made it home around 3:30 PM. The new check valve for you tubing guys is going to be a great inprovement. Me, I am so small that I will stick with buckets. I learned a little and met some great people.
BTW 3rdGen.maple I thought you said you were going to be there.
I just need to say congradulations to the young man that received the youngest sugarmaker of the year award. A fine job well done. I sat right next to your Dad and sure was some proud of you.

Fred, dont recall ever saying I was going I was curious about the maple tour and asked a question or two and gave some insight on the area but never said I was gonna be there. I have an annual hunting trip the last weekend of september. I wish I could of went though cause it sounded like more fun than the crap I went through. We will meet up one of these days.

Just got back from the neighbors looking at his pan that he had built. I think it is about 30 wide x 4 feet long flat pan with two dividers. The price was right! He has a little more work to do to get ready for syrup season.:)
Who is the welder out there? I need some insight on whether I might be able to weld stainless with a stick welder. Keith has some very thick material pans and needs some modifications and fittings added. I just picked up some stainless rod (E308-16 Lincoln AC-DC) and was wondering if someone could share some knowledge about welding stainless with a 225 AMP Lincoln welder. This pan material looks to be almost 1/8 thick! Not sure how well it will boil and comments on that subject are welcome also. But it sure is bullet proof:)
He has another pan that he wants to make into a front pan and it needs "chopped and channeled". That's the one I was going to practice on.
Regards,
Chris

Take your SS rod and try it on a piece of scrap. I have welded SS in the past with stick rod but it was not food garde.

Fred,
Yes that was my plan too. I have no idea if this rod is suitable for welding this material , so some scraps would help see if it worked.

Regards,
Chris

Fred, I Was there at the tour i think me and my dad were sitting next to you when we ate,

Bottled 20 gals of syrup today and finished my saphouse driveway. I moved 32,000 lbs of gravel by hand. Back is a bit sore, but it is nice to have a decent driveway. New ro tower is coming soon, more taps to add, and more markets to supply. Good thing I enjoy maple sugaring!

Hey, Nate!
I just got back tonight from the tour, and it doesn't look like anyone else mentioned it yet, so congratulations on Young Sugarmaker of the Year! You certainly deserve it! Wish I could have said hi, but didn't get a chance.

All the best!
Tim

Chris,

I watched a guy weld some 304 with stick about a month ago. Looked easy for him;) . No long beads, just welding some brackets together. Let us know how you make out.

Saw on Chronicle last night some fella making syrup from reds in a swamp.
Had boards down so he wouldn't sink up to his neck.
Full speed ahead.

Think he was in Bridgewater mass.

Can't believe they really get the weather down there with the ocean so close, but seemed he was having a go at it.


D

Acer I got a buddy who lives in the vineyard year round and the way he tells it they definately get the weather to produce syrup.

i need a skidder, or atleast a winch to go on the tractor and i need a new saw 372 XP and i would tweek out with excitement, i need a new truck, theres alota stuff i need so exactly how do you guys get all this stuff? im having trouble making enough money to buy it all....... hmmmmm

Dan,
I am 59 years old and have worked HARD all my life. I can still make a long list of things I want. Some of them would make my life easier and more pleasant, some would just be fun. What you need are family friends and health. Most everything else you can get along with out. For that list of things you want...prioritize them. Do you really need the truck or can you borrow a vehicle when you absolutely have to? I know having your own is very convenient but is it absolutely necessary? Does your old chainsaw work? Maybe a tune up will keep it going a while longer. The 3pt winch I have for my tractor sure is handy but most of the time, unless I'm really cutting a lot of wood, I just use a couple of chains and skid with the horses or the tractor. Choose to buy the things that will give you the most return for what you invest in them. When I bought my farm, It took me 35 years to dig myself out of debt and that was by getting by with what I had, making do and only buying what was really going to make me money. I lived without health insurance and never bought a new car. I paid cash for whatever vehicle I owned and then drove it until it was dead. I got my clothes from the salvation Army and was never afraid of hand-me downs. Many people will live in debt forever because then they have "things". Don't make that mistake. Earn your money, make your choices among your wants and then pay cash. Sorry for the bit of a rant and lecture.
Doug

Doug,
Great advice to live by. The average credit card debt in the United States is $8329 per household whether you have a credit card or not. Following your advice would certainly simplify alot of peoples lives.
Jim

I agree Doug. We have never had any credit cards, and buy our cars cash. We never had a car that cost more than a thousand up until recently.

I drive a small pickup that's paid for and use it every day.

Dan,
I agree with Doug. I am very close his age. the things I have, I have worked for all my life. what I have isnt much. When I was growing up I had very little. My father couldnt drive be cause of a health condition and could only work odd jobs, but worked every day! We didnt have a car and walked every where we went. Having things are not as important as having your health,your family and friends. You must be patient and try not to be big time before you are ready for the big time. I admire your desire to do well and willingness to work,but everthing in its time. when it is time you will have what you need to be what you want to be. learn to live with what you have till you can afford something differnt.

Words of wisdom from thoses of us who have had enough birthdays!

Jim :)

Most of America lives way beyond their income. Credit card companys have made it that way. When you buy something pay for it don't use plastic and if you do use plastic pay it off each month. Find a CC that does not have a monthly charge. They are out there you just have to look until you find one. CC are great for not having to carry large sums of cash with you. My first p/u truck I drove for 12 years and I rebuilt the body once. The next one I drove for 14 years and did one body rebuild. Now I am able to have a new one. I built my wife and I a new home fifteen years ago and when I drove the last nail it was paid for. I cut and help saw all the lumber to build it. If the rest of us can do it so can you.

dan i started out right where you are now. i had a used saw and sold firewood. bought a new saw. and a used pickup truck. did what ever i could with that truck to make it pay for itself. then i started buying tubing one roll at a time. and every year added more taps. and as i added and made more syrup, built a new sugar house, added a steamaway, then an r/o. new vac pumps.ect. at 16 you can set goals for yourself. by 20 you could be doing something totally different.

Dan; No one starts at the top and works their way down. Its and up hill battle and we all made it and you will to. Make yourself a plan and then work the plan. Good luck.

DON"T CHARGE EVERYTHING!!!! My wife and I started with nothing. I was driving an old rusted out '69 chevy nova, black and green primer baby Plywood floors and soap around the gas pipe so the gas wouldn't leak out, I worked 40 -50 hours a week and still went to college full time. my wife was going to medical school and we rented this dump of an apt. because it was the cheapest we could find 675 a month and we had to fix itup to get that price. We lived off of my wifes school loans and credit cards. that was 20 years ago...(wow really thatt long) anyway. you buy things along the way, one person's trash is another's treasure. it wasn't until 4 years ago we paid off my school loans then the following year finally got out from under the credit cards...thats gone...this year we finally paid off the medical school loans which were $135,000.00, and paid off my truck. but it was a ton of work to get where we are now and took many hours of study, and long weekends, 70-90 hour work weeks, missed family events you name it. now all we have left for debt is mortgage and home equity loan...man your still in highschool right!!!! dude live it up you have plenty of time to work and get stuff. I worked through high school around sports and parties and stuff. I use stuff until it doesn't run anymore!!! fix stuff myself, I put up 2 retaining walls save about $4000 there, put on a deck saved $5000 there, Built my shed /sugarhouse saved $5000 there buying used evaporator, saved $2000 the list goes on and on.

stuff doesn't come easy!!! sorry I just ranted on and on too.

Thanks, Sapman, I had no idea i was going to get an award, It was all a suprize to me, Everone knew about it exept me lol,

Thanks Again,



Nate

It's great to know that almost everybody here thinks alike. Why take out loans for things you don't need? Real estate and student loans are the only things I have ever borrowed money for.

If it's a business expense and it looks like it will pay for itself that may make sense too.

Wow that cool nate!! way to go. keep up the good work.

so after many nights of laying awake i have decided to bring the sugarhouse to the 2 car garage at the house so i have been remodeling it for a week or so and today i finally hung the sheet rock in the evap room and got my third coat of mud on it this evening ...

Wow is everybody on here building sugarhouses? That is pretty cool guys.
Nate congrats
Dan I got a big wish list as well. What is wrong with your current chainsaw? I have the 372 xp and It is the saw I grab the least, it is big and heavy and I just drop big trees with it. I love the 455 rancher I have and I use it 95% of the time. A winch would be nice but logging chains work and are cheap in comparison. Just keep your head up and things will work out.