Steam in Salisbury

[John Burton]

Well as they say in poker i'm all in. tapped the last 50 after lunch 90% were running some were really crusing I'll guess well see what happens next.

[Parker]

Why does it always take 10x longer to do things than I plan on????? yesterday Steve and I were all day at Rte.11 plubiming in the new booster and setting up the releaser to the new tank location..it did come out looking good though,,sap ran a little,,,,this AM we are going to Hill first thing to finish there,,,still lots to do with what should be a good run looming tomorow...stay after it...hope it is going well for everyone

[markcasper]

Parker, you are not the only one.....I figure whatever I plan on getting done, only half of it will. Mark

[sweetwoodmaple]

Yes, the 2x rule is always in effect (takes at least twice as long to do what you planned).

Same happens in my job.

[Parker]

The vacume system in hill seems to work like a charm (had to change the vacume regulator)...only problem,,can pull only 15"merc. ,,,at that level the 3 hp mtr. draws 20 amps,,and the mtr. is rated for 20 amps,,,I would really like to get 18-20",,,but it is pulling and it is on a thermostat,(mabey get a bigger moter some time),,I was suprised that after you shut the moter off it takes 5-6 minutes for the tubing to loose the vacume,,I thought my other set ups lost there vacume faster than that...Steve took his wheeler way out to the last taps on the branch lines and tested the taps,,15" on the end taps,,happy there,, went over to Hoit road and raised the lines into the tank , set up the releaser,,,,Today we will try to get the gas pumps going on Rte.11 and Hoit road,,,did not run too much yesterday,,have mabey 300? gallons in all the tanks,,,,,GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Parker]

Got the sp-11 set up on hoit road,,the line there was frozen((have to do more grade work on that line)),,took a little longer to get the surge 76 up and running on rte.11 but it came into it,,have some leaks on rte.11 to work on,,pulling 14" with all the line valves open,,17" with them shut at the releaser,,hope to work on that today,,,did not run here much at all yesterday,,pretty warm out now,,mabey today,,still have tanks to clean,,,ect.. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

[Parker]

Collected 1800 gallons of sap,,boiled from 5pm till 2 am, made around 30 gallons of fancy,, having some trouble regulating the level of sap in the flue pan and syrup pan,, I am firing every 8 mins,,but I think I am still getting uneven heat,,,had a pretty amazing boil,,sap was running pretty well today when I started the pumps,,will collect and boil tommrow AM,,good luck!

[powerdub]

You go Parker, I will talk to Marty and see how his schedule is. I would love to get over there and check your place out.

[Parker]

Was just filling the front pan after washing it yesterday,,had the lighter in my hand to start the fire and I herd DRIP,DRIP,DRIP,,,,,a bad leak around the thermometer fitting,,,,drained the pan,,dried it up, figured I could re-solder the small crack around the fitting,,,wound up with the fitting on the floor,,,,1800 gallons of sap above the evaporator (would not have had 600 without vacume over the last 2 days),,,got a fellow comming at 10 this AM to fix the problem,,,,,,have some major vac. leaks on RTE.11 to fix,,,,GOOD LUCK

[maple flats]

To solder the fittings on a pan I found a soldering iron works best. You should also have some flux on hand for stainless (avail from leader). Do not try a torch, I have done it with success but it is very difficult and you risk warping the pan. I find an iron works good. Mine is electric but ones heated by a torch will also work. Doing it with an iron you tin the iron and then heat the area with extra solder at the spot needed, when the heat is right it will flow right and you can smooth it with the iron as you work. Make sure area is clean first and use the flux. Wash the residue flux off after soldering real well as it will pit the SS if left on. Good luck. For an iron try this link http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNPDFF...MITEM=00259275 I find a 150 thru about 250 watt works good. They are no cheap but if taken care of will last a real long time. I am using one made in 1930's and still works good.