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  1. Thread: 10 taps in

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    2
    Views
    6,028

    The taps ran hard when I put them in, like...

    The taps ran hard when I put them in, like drip...drip...drip-drip....drip, and then later that night when I checked them, the buckets were all nearly empty. Today might be different.
  2. Thread: 10 taps in

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    2
    Views
    6,028

    10 taps in

    After a disappointing season with nonfunctional long lines (huge waste of time and energy), I went back to tapping old school - 1 line per tap, multiple taps per tree, 1 bucket per tree. Put 10 in...
  3. Thread: I'm out.

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    7
    Views
    14,934

    I spent $300 this year in parts and propane, and...

    I spent $300 this year in parts and propane, and ended up with 5 pts. of syrup. There will be no next year.
  4. Thread: I'm out.

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    7
    Views
    14,934

    I'll probably pull tomorrow or Sunday, I have 10...

    I'll probably pull tomorrow or Sunday, I have 10 gal in buckets to boil, and might get 1 more 5 gal bucket when this is over. Hopefully the heat tomorrow won't spoil it.

    This year was a waste of...
  5. Thread: taps are in!

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    23
    Views
    20,866

    I'm using propane on mine, burning a lot. I...

    I'm using propane on mine, burning a lot. I have no way to handle/process 100gal at a time, otherwise I'd be happy to take it.
  6. Replies
    3
    Views
    2,180

    propane consumption / boil rate

    In a 22qt steam table pan over a turkey fryer, I boil away about an inch an hour of liquid, and can do ~2 pans full on a single tank of propane. This works out to about $20 per pint, just in propane...
  7. Thread: taps are in!

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    23
    Views
    20,866

    All my buckets were full of sap, then got washed...

    All my buckets were full of sap, then got washed out with rain. Bust year here. Got 2 pints of maple-less sugar syrup. I'll probably have some equipment for sale shortly.
  8. Replies
    2
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    4,659

    It's about 40 out right now, so it seems like I'm...

    It's about 40 out right now, so it seems like I'm spot on... if not actually a little worse than the reading. Looks like the whole batch goes down the drain this time.

    Thanks for the response. ...
  9. Replies
    2
    Views
    4,659

    specific gravity of sap

    My hydrometer reads 1.002, which maps to .5 brix. if I understand this right, that means I'm at .5% sugar, or I'll need to boil down 172:1 using the rule of 86?

    .5% sugar sap seems useless. Do...
  10. Replies
    12
    Views
    5,994

    Or just do buckets, and only invest the time it...

    Or just do buckets, and only invest the time it takes to gather the sap.
  11. Thread: taps are in!

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    23
    Views
    20,866

    I'm getting ~2gal/day out of 3 taps in 1 tree...

    I'm getting ~2gal/day out of 3 taps in 1 tree that's split into 3 separate trunks, and then 9 others on 3 separate 5/16 lines produce a total of 1 gal/day. Strange behavior.
  12. Replies
    8
    Views
    3,382

    Corn flavor as in actual corn, the vegetable? ...

    Corn flavor as in actual corn, the vegetable? Or corn-syrup flavor, as in, just sweet? My first two pints of syrup have almost no maple to them, maybe a touch if you close your eyes and smell,...
  13. Replies
    10
    Views
    4,637

    Even with a small dip and a pool, the head...

    Even with a small dip and a pool, the head created by the tree higher up should push the sap out of the dip right?
  14. Replies
    9
    Views
    3,802

    The flavor does indeed boil out... somehow. ...

    The flavor does indeed boil out... somehow. Thanks!

    Separate issue - I'm getting almost no flow from my 5/16 line, while other trees nearby that I have on milk jugs are filling 1/2 a jug per day....
  15. Thread: taps are in!

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    23
    Views
    20,866

    Getting about 1/3 gallon per tree right now. ...

    Getting about 1/3 gallon per tree right now. Boiled 3 gallons down to about 12 oz of nearly-there syrup - virtually no maple flavor, just a sort of cotton-candy caramel sweet flavor. Not bad,...
  16. Thread: Frozen lines

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    3
    Views
    1,960

    Frozen lines

    With the recent blast of cold in the Northeast, my lines have frozen. Anywhere there's a dip I have a little chunk of ice. Do I need to worry about the lines splitting from the freeze?
  17. Replies
    9
    Views
    3,644

    Great stuff. I thought you couldn't use the sap...

    Great stuff. I thought you couldn't use the sap after the buds came out? My trees all have those little red tips on them now.
  18. Replies
    26
    Views
    43,497

    Does the heat simply break it down so that it's...

    Does the heat simply break it down so that it's no longer aromatic, or does it actually boil away into the air? the last thing I want is concentrated (but tasteless) esters in there.
  19. Replies
    9
    Views
    3,644

    It was brown, and thick. Like syrup. One batch...

    It was brown, and thick. Like syrup. One batch had an almost honey-like consistency when cooled (overboiled obviously). Crazyjackcsa might be onto something, might just be my trees.
  20. Replies
    9
    Views
    3,644

    This was mostly just like a simple syrup, boiled...

    This was mostly just like a simple syrup, boiled down to a sort of carmel color and the consistency of maple syrup.
  21. Thread: taps are in!

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    23
    Views
    20,866

    Still getting basically nothing, but what I do...

    Still getting basically nothing, but what I do tastes like crap. Where does that taste "go" when boiling? Creeps me out tasting like chemicals.
  22. Replies
    9
    Views
    3,644

    Almost no "maple" flavor

    Last year I ended up with about 5 pints of syrup, all of which was sweet and good tasting, but had little "maple" flavor. I have almost exclusively red maples. Do some trees have less or more...
  23. Replies
    26
    Views
    43,497

    So the first year you're stuck with the plastic...

    So the first year you're stuck with the plastic taste? I ask because I have 14 taps on a set of lines, and so far I've gotten about 2.5 gallons, all of which I had to dump.
  24. Replies
    9
    Views
    3,802

    Bump. Looking for some guidance on the funny...

    Bump. Looking for some guidance on the funny plastic taste. Has anyone else experienced this? I still have to dump the sap.
  25. Thread: taps are in!

    by RIFoster
    Replies
    23
    Views
    20,866

    Got 2 gallon from 14 taps, dumped it all out...

    Got 2 gallon from 14 taps, dumped it all out because it tastes like tubing.
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