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I tapped later than I should have as well and I too am just going to wait until things stop completely. I'm still getting decent sap when it warms up but it doesn't help that that we go back into the deep freeze into next week. That might help things because long term (at least the next couple of weeks) it does not look like it's going to warm up like we had a couple of weeks ago.
Pretty much all the trees I tapped Jan 11 or so have stopped, the 2 dozen or more I did last week are going to finish off the season for me. I'd like another 225 gals of sap to match last year. This really has been the year of extremes, nights in January [lots of them] where it wouldn't freeze, then when it did it was down bitter cold. Same in Feb. I don't think I had back to back runs, always a big gap in between. I finished a batch & bottled it 2 nights ago, I thought it would be like bunker oil after those 70 deg. days, but it was just like a real strong medium, not yet dark. I did get about 60 gals of sap the last 2 days from those new trees, it was 2%. More stinkin' snow coming too - so I hear.Quote:
Originally Posted by sr73087
I pulled taps we set in the last week on January. They stopped running after the 60-70 degree temps. Tapped some new sugar maples last weekend and they have been putting out real nice and clear sap. My buddy, thank you Scott Devine, tested the sap collected on Wednesday and it was at 2.9 -3%. I am very lucky to have enough trees to be able to move taps.
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tapped my 80 or so Reds on January 30th.
Only got about 10 gallons of sap in the last week or so.
Next 5 days looks to be below freezing. I hope we get more sap when it warms up....
Mark
forecast looks the same on the west side of the state too, too cold for the next few days. I'm tempted to try to tap some more trees that I think i've acquired for next season. I probably have just enough left over 3/16 and taps... so very tempting.
Managed to get 300 gallons up, ROed and into the tank room before things froze up tonight. Should make a few gallons tomorrow but that's about it. Gotta wait for things to thaw out. Crazy year.
60 gallons of sap last few days, before the big freeze (from 15 taps). Started late this season (March 5).Syrup still lite amber.
http://mapletrader.com/community/att...id=15998&stc=1
Today was a really hard core boiling day with temps in the teens and the wind. I'm working on finishing up the 400 gallons I collected this week. My forecast doesn't have above freezing temperatures until next Friday so I'm pretty sure my season is not over for another couple of weeks but we'll see.
Had to pull my taps due to a messed up knee and to give my Maple Syrup loving daughter a break. She was trudging through the snow to help collect and she's due with baby #3 in 3 weeks. I graduated to a propane fryer this year and have to decide how far to go next year. Volunteering at the park I used to be sugarmaker at but just can't stop! Sugaring is addicting and I still love teaching about it. Open House was this past Saturday and thought cold we had a steady stream of visitors. So many good questions and wonderful people so interested in learning. After this freeze I'm guessing there will be one more good run so don't give up yet if you don't need to. Enjoy nature at its sweetest!
What is weird is my trees are running again, but the buds are pretty big. What are the odds of buddy sap with these?
You really need to collect a couple pints of the sap and boil it down and see. My guess is that it's fine. I have some reds that look like they are budding but the sap is running. I suspect that the week long freeze set things back.Quote:
Originally Posted by sr73087
I know it's real late in the season but if I've got another week, I'd like to try a tap. I only want the sap for drinking not for making syrup. But I am having trouble figuring out what size bit to use on the tree. My stile is 7/16, I'm pretty sure (It's Stoule). But when I make a practice drill on a piece of wood with a 3/8" bit I can get the stile in only 1/2 in. I am using a rubber mallet.
What is the minimum depth the stile needs to go in?
Does the size of the bit I use matter?
Thanks in advance,
Laurie G
I believe (and I could be wrong) that a 7/16" spile wants a 7/16" bit.
I find that a 7/16" bit is just a tad too tight, with the spile only going in about 1/4-1/2" and easily splitting the tap hole if you're too enthusiastic with the mallet. I have come to prefer a 1/2" bit, driven carefully (no wobbles!) to make a hole as nearly perfectly round as possible.