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Type: Posts; User: Smeds

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  1. Replies
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    Thanks folks ... good information. Sounds like...

    Thanks folks ... good information. Sounds like eventually, you end up with the normal ratio of sap to syrup ... which is what I thought. A few old posts I read led to some confusion on my part. ...
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    Sweetening the pans

    I'm going from a homemade arch with 2x4 flat pan to a forced air Smokey Lake Corsair arch with a 2x4 divided pan this coming spring. I know this subject has been repeatedly covered, and the search...
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    I taped a 750 GPH bilge pump on a synthetic...

    I taped a 750 GPH bilge pump on a synthetic broom/tool handle, and bought 30' of food-grade hose. I know, the bilge pump isn't food grade. But I figured the contact point there vs. the hose is so...
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    I happen to brew beer too, so I use 5-star PBW...

    I happen to brew beer too, so I use 5-star PBW (Powdered Brewery Wash) ... an alkaline cleaner. If it's good for my beer, it must be good for my sap/syrup!


    PBW is an alkaline, non-caustic,...
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    I use 55-gallon food grade drum liners in mine. ...

    I use 55-gallon food grade drum liners in mine. Bonus? No cleaning sticky sap, just throw away after the season.
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    Year 4 update ... drums have pretty much stayed...

    Year 4 update ... drums have pretty much stayed in place after the first year's minimal popping up. Nothing better than in-ground sap storage IMO. Boiled off 120 gallons yesterday, got 2.75 gallons...
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    Year two with the buried barrels ... they're...

    Year two with the buried barrels ... they're above and beyond expectations. They did pop up a little from last year, unsure if frost or water moved them. We've has some really cold nights, and the...
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    Unsure ... the ground is thawing fast, and about...

    Unsure ... the ground is thawing fast, and about 8" of drum sits above ground. I would guess it would still stay in the low 40's maybe? I like to make darn sure, so no problem throwing a frozen...
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    9,856

    It’s been mid 50’s low 60’s since last Wednesday....

    It’s been mid 50’s low 60’s since last Wednesday. A little one gallon painters bucket has been making an ice cube each night. One per drum lasts a day or two. Sap was 37 degrees this AM when I...
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    I've been using "quilted" mason jars ... they're...

    I've been using "quilted" mason jars ... they're not that much more expensive than the regular jars, and the faceted look seems to dress it up for giving it away. I bottle using a 30-cup coffee urn,...
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    I think I'm going to freeze little 2 gallon...

    I think I'm going to freeze little 2 gallon bucket sapsicles, and add 1-2 per barrel when the temps climb. Saturday we had temps dip down near zero. I was afraid of the freezing when I popped the...
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    I didn't consider that last fall ... but I buried...

    I didn't consider that last fall ... but I buried them on a crown (4-wheeler trail) through the woods. I'm hoping the 4" of pea gravel aids in drainage, plus our soil drains fairly well. This...
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    Update ... sap flowing slowly, but finally filled...

    Update ... sap flowing slowly, but finally filled one drum after 3 weeks of small collections. Boiled today, got just over a gallon of golden syrup. Was shocked at how light, but hydrometer said it...
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    In-ground sap storage

    After my 275 gallon tote froze stiff last year, I decided to go in-ground for sap storage. The 55-gallon barrels are food-grade (grape juice), but I decided to line them with food-grade 55-gallon...
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    I tapped 27 out of 50 yesterday ... until the...

    I tapped 27 out of 50 yesterday ... until the heel strap on my snowshoe broke. Actually, it broke on tree 24 ... and I did the last three without. Still over the knee in spots (Hayward). Most...
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