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Firing fast with small wood will increase my evaporation rate by about 15- 20 % with increased stack temperature
and loss of efficiency... I'm trying to increase my gph and efficiency by making...

i agree.. a hot fire and dry wood.( i still heat with wood...by choice)

Thanks for the compliment.I actually used this last year and modified the firebox this winter (added a ramp)
I also upgraded my rear pan to a drop flue.I'm anxious to see how the much changes...

i can't imagine firing every 7 or 8 minutes.I use larger wood and like to fire at a more relaxed 20- 25 minutes.
I like a good boil, a stack temperature as you say between 650 - 800 and no chimney...

Starts to warm up here Tuesday but i wonder how long it will take the big trees to thaw, it has been so cold?
I like to tap when the trees are really flowing.That long range forecast really changes...

It seems a few drops of oil should vaporize instantly into the the foam and be expelled.
If it remained it would float on the surface and you wouldn't need to add it again?

Weather says we're going down to -17 tonight and won't hit +1 'til after lunch.I'm guessing there will only be a trickle
Monday? I like to tap when the sap is running strong and hopefully that will...

By the weather in Eastern Ontario it looks like by Tuesday the sap might be
flowing enough to tap?

don't lose too much sleep over it.. a bit of water and bleach at seasons' end as suggested.Your going
to boil your sap for hours and hours.

I've held off so far but Monday might be an option.Maybe one long run and then it's too warm.
I wonder if it would be better to wait until after the 3 day heat wave?

I'm in eastern Ontario and i tapped a couple of trees last week..they've been running but not well.
I'm hoping the best runs start after the 14th when the time changes but it looks like l might have...

Depends on how efficient your arch is. It should transfer most of it's heat to your fluid before it gets to the flue.
A cherry red stack may be over 900 degrees.I think a good boil with a stack...

What a great idea! Thanks to this sight... i would not have known.This year i'm going to take some brix readings of my own before freezing
and then after ice is removed and also the melted ice!

Has anybody ever melted ice from partially frozen buckets and checked for sugar content?
Rumours are it is just water while others say it will have sugar.I like some ice in my reservoirs!

I agree, it's like your car. Sure it will do over a hundred but the ride is more comfortable and enjoyable at 70!
Actually i don't operate anything wide open continuously.

when you get a new hydrometer immediately before use put a reference mark for the hydrometer scale in the cardboard box.
This will tell you in the future if the paper scale has slipped inside...and...

I'm north of Stirling and a tree i tapped Feb. 25th has been running daily but not great.Think i'll be tapping
on the 8th or 9th depending on the weather.They change that long range forecast a lot!

does a refractometer reading of 1.005 mean 1%?
I have a sap hydrometer that reads brix.

An older sugar man told me the first run each year is very low on sugar.
Is this usually the case?

If you are a week or 2 late won't the sap still be there Hkb82?
I'm with you Paul..this is a hobby. Us old guys gotta' take it easy and enjoy it!

Decided to do a little research and tapped a tree today.(Feb.25) and sap is running.Surprising as it was +1 and windy!
I'll watch the flow from this tree through the warm weekend and look at the 14...

One approach would be to make the 1 ft. steam pan your front syrup pan and the 2 x 3 your rear sap pan.That steam pan will be about 24 gauge
and will boil like crazy.
Keep adding to it from the...

it may start and stop all season...depends on the weather.

CDL have everything..huge on line site. Good place to daydream on a cold February night

i cut a 5" x 1" mouth on the side just below the top and leave the lid snapped tight. Pour out through
the opening without taking the top off.