february Journal

Mike. Leave the hood on and go for it! As long as your level is good there's no worry. Its the front pan you need to watch. Keep the level in back an inch above the flues, mark the sight glass and just a drop or 2 of defomer in the drawoff when you fire. Open the door to the hood to check often but boil away! Start your front pan higher at the beginning maybe 1.5 inches then lower to an inch when your comfortable. She'll make you some nice syrup!! You'll see about 180-190 deg at the preheater outlet for sap. If you want more put a damper in the steam stack.

Blackberry is always on- typing on it now!!

I think that there are a lot of factors to be considered when it comes to when you tap. Tapper is about 40 miles north of me and I wouldn't think of tapping this early with the set up I have. First off I am not ready! It is easier,I think to tap early with a smaller operation. the more taps and the larger the evaporator the harder it is to deal with small runs. Also elevation can play a big part in when you tap. The orentation of your bush can be a factor also. If your bush is on a south or west facing slope it would warm sooner than a north facing bush. So I guess what I am saying is if you see some sap weather in the forecast and you are ready to tap, go head and set the taps. Although, I have heard at least for our area, you do not tap until after the full moon in febuary. That is the 9th.

Brandon you are in no way making me change my mind when to tap.
I had my mind set for the end of Jan since last year. I would have them already in but when the day came the weather changed and it has just finally got just right for me to tap.

Besides I am not all that far north of you anyway, unlike DaveY and Theron and those guys.

I think what happened to me last year is just what Tapper said, I had a few good days and then several warm day and nights. The next good days did not run as good as the 1st and then more warm nights followed by even worse runs and so forth. The season was all over then. This year is looking to be an awsome one for me, at least 6 days of perfect BIGSAP days.

YAY! it froze up hard again!!!!!!!!!, i didnt like it when it was betwoone 32 and 40 here the past few days, that smell was in the air and i was installing laterals, and i just was thinking no no no no no no no!!! it smelled like sugaring weather, it felt like it to, when i take my coat off in the woods, it means its getting close and i was in a sweat shirt, and a vest and my wool pants, and was warm, its like 6 right now with a wind chill of -25
still got lots to do, went and looked at a couple of tanks yesterday, a 204 gal stock tank and an old tin 250ish gal, the drain plug was siliconed on, so i think i will buy the stock tank and figure out some way to connect that one to my 100 gal one for my 175 tap bush,

Hey danno2840 did yo end up getting that evaporator?

im going to go take alook at it tonight, and look at all the stuff you guys told me to and if its all good make him al offer of 750$. i will offer it tomarrow and let you guys know

I'm tapping Saturday morning. Weather.com shows starting friday, 31, 41, 37, 33, 42, 46, 41. Two of the nights won't go below freezing. Pittsburgh tv weather shows all mid 40's for days. We usually run about 5 degrees colder. Hope for sap to boil Sunday evening. If not I'm sure I'll have it mid week.

My thoughts are, yes we little guy's have it easier. No pumps or lines to freeze up. Worst case, just dump the ice out of the bucket if you have a long freeze up. Also, I have no intrest in making "C" grade syrup. I give mine away to family and friends.

Good luck to all! It's time to get busy:)

We're still a long way from tapping on Eastern Ontario. It was -22 C this morning and only Saturday is supposed to get above freezing. I need a couple warm days to help knock down the snow so I don't have to shovel out all my mainlines again this year!

I agree with tapper and Dave Y. I think that your specific location means a lot. My trees run when 30 miles west of me they dont even think about it. I think its how my bush faces etc. I figure for me sugaring season is feb- march and I dont even consider april really season for me. Last year I tapped in early and was still running when I turned the pump off. I think this season looks good. Ive got a confession to make to you guys. Im trying to get ready and Ive decided to pull in some pros to really make some things start happening. Right now Ive got two of the foremost sugarmakers in Maine and New Hampshire barrelling down the highway towards Northestern Pa as we speak. Ive got Mr. Russell Lampron for R.O. consultation and sugarhouse expertise and Mr. Matt Roy for high vac work and handing Mr. Lampron tools. Im going to stop for supplies on the way home, four wheeler gas, Killians beer, Captain morgan rum and some marlboro reds and were ready to make some things happen. Ill keep you guys posted on the progress. Zar

I had to dig up my septic today. The good news is that there wasn't 1" of frost in the ground. Sap should flow as soon as the trunks thaw out.