Reading the last two posts, a filter press is definitely a game changer - even for a hobby operation.
I felt we had our filtering down pretty well - ended up adding a Smoky Lake 3 bank with hand...
Type: Posts; User: sbingham
Reading the last two posts, a filter press is definitely a game changer - even for a hobby operation.
I felt we had our filtering down pretty well - ended up adding a Smoky Lake 3 bank with hand...
We tapped 100 trees yesterday - just north of Tony in Rusk County.
About 2/3 of them were wet when I pulled the bit out.
Didn't tap any soft maples this year, looks like they could bud at any...
Joe - a young, physically fit guy like you should be able to do everything on snowshoes!
However, I am going to wait until the snow drops a bit (quite a bit).
I made some trails last year with the...
I had Bill build me a 2x6 Hobby unit with a continuous flow pan and a blower.
Great unit - easy to run, it averaged about 15-16 gallons per hour.
I definitely recommend adding the blower, helps...
Brad - I am 20 miles south of you in the Tony area, I tapped on March 11th. It has been a tough year to say the least.
Everything that I have read or heard indicates that re-drilling or moving taps...
Steve - you will get a great boil at 1" depth, but you will need to keep a close eye on it - bad things can happen really quick.
I'd run a sap depth of 1.5" or so - that will also put the level a...
I packed down trails with snowshoes a couple days ago, tapped today.
Most trees were runnng this afternoon, looks like a good week ahead.
There is a lot of snow in the woods, gathering is going to...
Well said Southfork.
I tap 100 or so trees, we cook on a 2x5 Smoky Lake hybrid - need at least 100 gallons of sap before I even think about firing.
These warm temps are just a teaser.
I plan to...
I have to see what the captain’s schedule looks like this month and schedule a trip accordingly.
Theresa arrived in Phoenix a couple hours ago - joining Michelle and the kids for a couple days.
Ken...
Looking good Joe!
A lot more work than a guy would expect isn’t it?
My project took way more time (and money) than I expected.
Well worth the work though, I will never boil outside again.
I need...
I’ve mixed softwoods - pine, basswood, etc with hardwoods and it seems to work very well.
As long as it is seasoned, it all burns good.
The forecasted temps look encouraging, but I plan to hold off for at least another week.
We are located north of Tony - plan to tap possibly next weekend or during the week after depending on the...
I have had arches built by WF Mason and most recently Smoky Lake.
Both were set up with forced draft. Either should work with your pan.
Both Bill at WF Mason and Jim at Smoky Lake were great to...
I have a 2x5 Smoky Lake Corsair arch - installed with the base stack, 2 - lengths of 8” stainless single wall then adapted to 8” Class A. I have two sections of the Class A - one that goes through...
Looking good Joe, keep posting pics as you progress!
Definitely need to stop by and see your set up this spring.
I purchased a 2x6 Hobby Unit from Bill 6 or 7 years ago, shipping to northwest Wisconsin was $175.00.
I felt that was a fair price to ship the arch, pan, reservoir pan, stack and a cone filter tank.
I boiled Monday evening and again last night. All was quiet on Monday, but the frogs were singing big time last night.
I think it is time to wrap things up for this year and start the cleaning...
Most likely the low sugar content, mine has been consistently below 2% this year.
I cook on a 2x6 Mason continuous flow, cooked down 100 gallons of sap before I was able to take the first syrup...
Jamie,
Thanks for the suggestion on the remote, I'll check it out.
Scott
I have a Mason 2x6 with blower, it has a rheostat control that controls the fan speed.
You can also install a flat piece of metal over the fan intake opening and use it like a damper to control how...
Grama Cindy - We are just north of Tony, I had pretty much decided to skip the year as the snow was just too deep. I finally tapped 50 trees Tuesday evening, about half of what we normally do.
Snow...
I usually buy a bundle of slabwood each year to mix in with my regular firewood.
The slab bundle almost always has some aspen & basswood in it.
I mix it in with the split hardwood and it seems to...
I wanted something a bit larger with a higher evaporation rate than the 2x4 with batch pan that I had used for 5 years, did alot of research on this site and decided to go with a W. F. Mason unit....
Kent,
Be sure to check out the evaporators from W.F. Mason.
His prices are very reasonable, excellent quality and a great guy to work with.
I bought a 2'x6' continuous flow unit from him 2 years...
Mike - We are on Cross Road, 3/4 mile east of County I.
Our hunting camp is north of you, off the end of Fedyn Road to the east.
I'll let you know what happens, looks like the forecast is calling...