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I did exactly this, this year when tapping I ran out of 3/16 but had some 5/16 tubing so I now have 12 taps on 5/16 at the top of one run and then convert down to 3/16 for the run to the tank. It...

Sap was running here as well. My tank at the main sugar Bush was frozen pretty solid so I wasn't able to collect anything there. But my one silver in the front yard was running pretty well. Got 2...

You can also try citric acid instead of the vinegar. You can buy it as a powder in the canning section of the grocery store. That way you can mix it up yourself a little stronger than the vinegar.

I haven't tapped any reds until this year so I don't know what is normal for them but my 45 reds that I am tapping this year have been doing okay. The one run that I have collected so far was at 1.8%

I'd be interested in seeing what the general consensus is as well. When I had this same problem running my lines this year I did the cut and splice method. But I did also consider just running a long...

I've actually been thinking if doing something similar. I have been toying around with the idea of doing a coil around the stack that just circulates into the stock pot and then a second coil in the...

My large silver Maple in the front yard has been around 2-2.5% so far. My other 45 taps in the bush are all reds and those have only been 1.8% on the one collection that I have done so far. Hoping it...

Nice. 3% is a pretty good starting point. I got about 20 gallons of 1.8% from my 45 taps today. Not all were running quite yet. I think the trees are still thawing out a bit.

Steve,

If they have opposite branching then that is a good start. There are only 4 trees that have that. Maple, Ash, dogwood, and Chestnut.

The ash branches are much larger and nobbier than the...

Agreed. It is possible to have some trees that have a high sugar percentage like that. I have a nice big silver in the front yard that is regularly at 4%. If only they were all that high...

I put all my 50 ish taps out yesterday. Headed out soon to go see if they have started running and to put the lines into the collection tank. It is looking like it will be great weather here for the...

Keeping my eye on the forecast, but it is looking like I will be tapping on Sunday 2/3! Everything is all set and ready to go. Can't wait to test out the new Smoky Lake 2x4 divided pan!

Looks like we are finally getting a proper freeze up here. Nice to see that we are going to get at least a little bit of winter. No tapping going to happen here for at least 2 weeks if the long range...

I think you might mean a 3/16 Barb not a 5/16 and I got mine at bascoms. It is a 1/4 FPT to 3/16 Barb.

https://www.bascommaple.com/item/dgad316012/316_tubing_fittings/

Score on getting some more buckets!

I will definitely post here when I start. I was thinking of tapping soon, but now it looks like we might be all frozen up here for a while... There might be a...

Nice! Sounds like you are well on your way. I have one tree tapped in the front yard right now just as my indicator tree to let me see how the sap is flowing. It definitely has been running a bit the...

Geez... That is very misleading. Both products by the same company too. I am surprised that they got away with it, or will be very surprised if they do not have to make a change.

wnybassman,

You would actually have less head pressure when pumping. Under static conditions the head is just the height difference between the pump and the tank level. But, when pumping the...

Steve,

Your welcome. While all the extra stuff is nice, I made lots of great syrup my first year with just a single turkey and a regular candy thermometer... No need for a hydrometer and such....

Welcome Steve!

I will be planning on tapping in the next week or so. I don't think we are too far away from the perfect sap running weather. At least not in this corner of the state. I'm in...

Agreed! Thanks for posting it here.

I will definitely be using the pool shock ( calcium hypochlorite) rather than regular bleach for my tubing sanitizer after this season.

iby,

Agreed. It is a tough decision to wait long enough so that the taps don't dry up but not too long that you don't miss all the good runs.

Luckilly it has been above freezing for a while...

Thanks for the info guys. It all makes sense that if the weather is right to tap. Maple Flats, you are right, at least it is only 40 Taps and I can put them in pretty quickly.

I do think that the...

Hey everyone. I'm new to the area and just wondering what time everyone around here usually taps?

I still have a few things to sort out before I am ready anyways so that is okay. Going to head...

Well, got it all finished up yesterday and had a small fire just to see how it would burn/ draft. Don't have a pan for it yet so I just laid a sheet of metal across the opening. So far so good,...