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We finished tapping Saturday the 20th.
Today, we finished our first cord of wood, 900 gallons of sap, for 19-1/4 gallon of nice light syrup.
Sap does not seem to be breaking any record but this...

I have been reading this post with interest. Is there another by 'Dave' that I should read?

I need an RO first!

That new shack was more wishful thinking than anything. I'm too cheap but, who knows.
And sure, we can blend some. I've got 5 gallons of pretty light stuff to do that with.

I am relieved to see that the production rate is back up to a gal/chr and my hydro is fine. I was testing it in warm condensate. Should a known better!

The end of the cold snap has brought another good sap flow in Mercer but we boiled 200 gal tonight to only make 2 gal of syrup. Before the break, we were 50:1 and making a gallon an hour. Tonight...

Last weekend, we were not quite ready and I was willing to be patient while nice days went by. The plan was to tap tomorrow but at 3:00 this afternoon the weather forecast here was just on the edge...

This continues to be an odd season here in Mercer. One complete stand of sugar maples seems to have shut down while another is still making nice clear sap,
My stand of red maples on vac has been...

I use a Ranger 800 4 x 4 with two 35 gallon leg tanks in the bed side by side and it hauls perfectly. I would never go up a 45* incline or steep side hill with a full load but other wise, it's fine....

I started drilling Friday evening. We finished up a new tubing system at my friend's so he can stop handling buckets Saturday including putting all the taps. Saturday PM we Finished all the sugar...

Gary;
Sorry to hear this! Laura told me you were done for the season but not that you had "difficulties".
Unfortunately, I know this exact scenario.
I now have "valve" written on the SS float box...

Seeing all you guys tapping and boiling has me a little envious.
I usually wait until Feb to start and as such I just am not ready.
I guess I'll work to be ready for Feb and enjoy your logs until...

Yeah, before the scorching, I wanted a second pan to keep rolling while cleaning or in case I had a really bad episode that melted the solder to the point of leakage. I should pick up the new pan in...

Thanks everyone. I ordered a new front pan today from A&A. I will look at running deeper next year. I have been told that shallower is faster but on the other hand, at 3/4" deep, my float is almost...

Sounds like I'm OK. I probably run 3/4 at the float box and one inch in the deepest warp.

OK, so how deep on average should the syrup be in the front pan (assuming a flat bottom)?

So, does reversing just buy you more time or does it actually remove niter?
Yes, my pan boils hardest in #2 & #3 since the pan bears on the side wall covering a good 1" all along.
I too transfer...

I do not ever use a scoop when I'm boiling or anything.
I always just let it boil and draw off.
Never have had any problem until this year (5th year on this rig)
It sounds like 'sheeting' or...

Does anybody know if A&A is still in business?

What is 'aproning'?

Early this season, I had a float stick on my front pan and it scorched and actually flashed on fire. It happened before I had any hot condensate off the hood/preheater so I had to hit it with the...

My evaporator is torn down and soaking. I have rinsed out my tote, tanks, and all my buckets to keep things clean just in case the weather comes around, I never did get my vacuum pump turned on for...

I boiled my last sap last night keeping after my sugar maple sap each night. I gave up on my reds Sunday.
My friend kept bringing about 100 gal a night that was always 1.9 to 2.0!
It's too bad the...

Yeah, the manual valve. That was the screw up. I never closed it as a safety. Never again, I hope.

It has been a very busy preseason once grouse season ended. I spent most of my first two weeks tubing a woodlot that I used buckets on. The warm weather came before I was ready and I only tapped the...