January Journal 2008

well i was back out in the bush again got 20 more taps up then i ran out of 5/16 line so i whent back to the house tyo try this pump i just bought and it don't work so i got to figure out why

Cheryl and I are planning to attend the NE OHIO Maple Producers meeting tomorrow, 1-26-08, to give a seminar on making Maple Mustard. This value added product helps turn the good flavored grade B and C syrup into additional sales dollars. Hopefully meet some new friends in Maple.

Chris

Made up more drop lines today waiting for the new vacuum pump to show up.
New pump from Indiana Vacuum is impressive. Gonna have to be carefull not to pull roots and all into the releaser! LOL
Mark

gm,
Yea when you see the tree roots coming in to the sugarhouse, the vacuum may be a tad strong:)

Chris

Dontcha just love sap ladders! I've added a couple hundred taps the past few years with them. Previously we could only look at those maples that were too low and wish we could tap them - now they're hooked up and producing along with the rest of our bush. I realize they might not produce as much sap per tap as "normal" taps but it's definitely worthwhile!

It's too bad a lot of these maple conferences are smack in the middle of my syrup season, else I would think about possibly attending one some time. I look forward to attending one someday to meet some people, fellow traders and learn some new ideas and techniques.

Andrew

Mark

you F'er. You got a ring pump this year.

Oh boy. Who's the king now....

I'm Jealous. Good for you. Take the roots and all. Might have to put a water filter cartridge on the incoming line so you can get the dirt and rocks out of the sap too.

Matt,
You filter out the dirt and rocks???? I was thinking organic this year.

I ordered the pump who is supposed to order good weather for a change this year??
Mark

To Dave Y Can't tell you excact what day to tap I am waiting for the right air. My guys laugh at me and say when Richard comes out one morning and sniffs the air and says today is the day!! Then we hussle!. No really I think about the second week in Feb.
To GMCooper Nice move on the vaccum pump. I had 2 of the Indiana last year and bought 4 more this year. They worked great. Last year the ones I didn't have on vaccum didn't run good but the vaccum did. The rule of thumb for us is 2 cfms or more per 100 taps. That gives you a leway for error. The teaching of vaccum is 1 cfm per 100 but we have found that s not enough. Steal a lace curtain from the house like I did??.... that will filter out all rocks, dirt, and roots LOL then advertise Home made, Local, and all natural. That costs alot less than organic!!!!!!!

Sugarmaster,

What state are you in as I don't recognize any of the names??

W.Vamapleler I am in Northern Pa. Butting up against NY state. My secretary has family down where you are.

Sugarmaster,

I thought you were in Pa, but hadn't checked out the names to see exactly. I usually tap around Feb 10th, so I was curious as you were talking second week in Feb.

I have been watching the accuweather every day. There is some warm days coming up but not enough in a row worth an early tap. Every year it's different so I just keep watching. Last year we had a long run the 13th thru the 15th of Feb then it froze hard.

How long does it take you to tap and how many helpers do you have?? I would guess you can average at least 500 taps per day per tapper??

Most years we have had 9 to 13 tappers. this year I am alittle worry. a few of my guys got called back to work so I'm short tappers. If its a good day my guys can do a thousand taps a day, barring any problems they have. Also these guys have been doing this most of their lives and they are young!! Not like us "old" guys that have to go alittle slower. I am very lucky to have them.

Do you use gas tappers or some other type??

We have replaced all of our gas tappers with 18v drills. an assortment of brands. Most work the same. My ramrod fix up a battery charger in the back of his truck so the guys wouldn't have to come back to the sugarhouse when the batteries gave out. They get about 250 to 300 holes per battery.

What kind and size of drills are you using to get 250 to 300 taps per battery and what speed are you tapping on??

I get 140 to 150 taps on my 18 volt Hitatchi cordless drill on low speed.

Sugarmaster,
the reason I was asking, I talked to Jack the other day and he said that you were thinking about it but you need a few more degs on those days coming up.
I plan on presidents day week end. I have a 3 day weekend from work and I think I can get every thing in then. My hired help wont be in school then either. I used them to collect buckets last year. This year they are going to help put them out. they just dont know it yet.

To WVAmapleler Most of the drill are Makita, acouple Crafman, and something that is red?? Probably onHIGH speed if I know those guys. Batteries have to be replaced about every 2 yrs.
To Dave Y Yea Jack like to instigate stuff like that. Gets him going. Like I said I will just keep watch for now. I will post as soon as I think we are ready so you guys are up to date with what I an doing.

Sugarmaster, He likes to be on top of things. I am going to get tapped the help him get his taps out.

just got back from 9 hours in the bush i got 20 more taps up and i brought my camra and toke 60 or so pic's i just finished putting them on photobucket pics of the new mainline pics of the older one pics of the slope on of were i an working the slope is like every 100 feet out it drops 60 feet it make for a really hard job walking in 6"of snow climbing up a 35 degree slope cover in branch under the snow if you slipe on one you go all the way to bottom and start going back up again so my leg are very tired but can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow

ws ay one noticed tht this is the longest journal that we have ever hade

I guess leaving the rocks and dirt in would give it more of an earthy flavor. So might be closer to orgainic.

Just got back in the house. Had to run the head lamp to finish up. Glad I dug it out this morning before I left. As luck would have it my snowmobile's head light is out. That is always a trick to hammer out of the woods in pitch black. Got the 1 1/4 pipe all tied to the wire and started doing some side tying of the wet and dry lines. Man that 1 1/4 pipe is a bugger when it's cold. It does not want to give in, but I won.

Its starting to shape up down there. Tomorrow I'll have it all side tied and hopefully right to grade and put that to bed. THen onto some latteral main lines and start adding on the taps. Certainly putting on the miles. Its about 1/2 mile from start to finish on this new wet dry line. I've been walking up and down it like 6-8 times a day. I know toughen up Matt.

Spent the afternoon out in the woods working on tying in laterals and drop lines. Had a Piliated woodpecker hammering a way near me for an hour or two. He found a dead pine with something good in it. It was cool but one of the more comfortable days in a long time to be working out in woods. That extra daylight is beginning to make a difference. Had my wife watching a horse sale online this afternoon while I was out. The mare we wanted sold for $12,500. No we did not buy her!

That new vacuum pump came with a note book of instructions and a DVD. Everything spelled out clearly. Certainly a new trend for maple equipment. Some different then the standard "put in place and it'll work fine, simple, no one ever had any trouble yet, couldn't be any easier."

Matt, I know what you mean by walking back and forth while putting up mainline.
It is always nice to have a helper, but you never do. you should have started your project back in october, you would be done by now.
I flagged about 3600 ft of new mailine today. Getting ready for the next season. You can never be to prepared

Dave Y,
Take a breath:) Just love hearing you progress with your maple systems. Keep up the good work! Going to put Marionville Maple on the map!

Chris

802 Maple and his wife stopped in today and had breakfast with us and checked out our setup. It was fun visiting with them and Jerry gave me some real nice compliments on my tubing setup which were some nice compliments for Sugarmaster as well becouse it was he and his men that designed my whole setup. Now Ill have to do my part and make it happen. Hope everyone is having good luck getting ready becouse I think the weather is going to be good this year. I just looked on the 15 day forecast and its mainly cold till feb 9th at least. Way better than all that early warm weather. Better have anything that will hold sap ready becouse Im feeling lucky. I think this is going to be a humdinger year. Theron

Dave-

That was my plan back in Oct. but some paying jobs came in at the wrong time. Right time for bills etc, but wrong time for maple schedule.

Then with all the snow and garbage trying to get that big barn siding job done that really ate into my available time. I'm doing pretty good now that I am devoting some time to tubing etc. I'll get there. Main thing is pump will be on electricity, sap is coming to the road.

Now just add taps till it's time to drill, then take a day of drilling then add more taps till I run out of season, trees, or money.

More than likely I'll run out of money well before I run out of season and the trees are certainly in no short supply.

Sugarmaker,
I did take a breath today at around 2pm I put a new flue pipe on the stove in my fur shed. then I went to the bush and Farted around. I am always planning.if you are not moving you are standing still and you cant gain on anything that way.

Dave Y,
Agreed!!! Leave um in the dust!

Chris

Guys- Better get anything that will hold sap washed up. Tanks, barrells, buckets, wifes pots and pans, kids swimming pool. Two weeks its going to start running and its not going to stop for 6 weeks. Full bore everyday. Gallon a tap everyday for 6 weeks unless it runs more than that. Theeeeeeeroooooooon

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaa looks like you are better at forcasting the wheather then some other professionals are at the wheather station i am praying to the maple gods that you are right

40 Degrees Today Started Putting Up Latterals, Shot Grade On The Last Leg Of My Mainline And Pulled Wire. Putting Up The Rest Of The 1" Tomorrow. About 25 Days To Go

Rich

Played hooky from work this afternoon and strung more roadside tubing. I can almost see the light at the end , or is that the maple train?
Several more hours and I will have all the tubing up (about 56 more to go.)
I decided not to tap 4 good trees due to the location which is in a blind spot on a heavily traveled road. It just was not worth it. So I just went to plan 'B' and tapped 5 trees at a different location which is much safer.
I have three routes set up with 8 stops on each route. 40 gallon containers at each stop. So If I would get everything almost full it would be about 320 gallons per route. This matches my gathering tank size about right. Also 900 gallons of sap would be enough to handle in and evening:)
Still need to set the containers in position and do the tapping. So several days of work before we have sap flowing. Will wait till the next warm stretch.

Chris

Sugarmaker- When you thinking of tapping? Im thinking 16th but im starting to get an irrisistable urge to start drilling holes. I wont be ready till then anyway. I want to see how much sap I get coming out of my lines. Theron

Theron,
Just be patient. there aren't enough warm days in a row to get your panties in a knot. you will collect enough sap to maybe make 5 or so gallons and then it will set for a couple of weeks. you want to be still boiling come middle of April!

Theron,

I didn't know you were making maple wine and beer already?? Must be some pretty strong stuff you're drinking.

Dave-

I've never met a sugarmaker like theron, I was amazed when he told me he wears thongs. Not much material for a knot in them.

I guess he thinks it gives him for agility when working in the woods.

THEEEEEEERRRRROOOOONNNN.
ha ha.

I hope you are talking about the kind of thongs you wear on your feet!:!: