Got the evaporator set and saphouse organized, along with fixing burst pipes. Sap was drizzling by late afternoon. Still have 852 taps to drill, ro to put back together, some tanks to clean, and then I'm ready. Hope to go till the end of April and have a " I'm going to Barbados" year.
We tapped last weekend, in hopes of enough of a run today to at least flush the lines...........looks like the mains won't be going into the tanks till after the next run. 450 taps yielded less than a half gallon in a test bucket. Fingers crossed for early next week!!!
week#1 2013 10 taps on buckets/friends evaporator
week#2 2013 30 taps on buckets/friends evaporator
week#3 2013 50 taps on buckets/maxed out friends evaporator
week#4 2013 first mainline and 275 gallon roadside storage/24"x32" wood fired plus friends evaporator
Ended 2013 with 90 taps
Honda Rubicon 35 gallon woods hauler
Chevy 2500 HD 275 gallon road hauler
Much bigger plans for 2014.......I'm addicted!!!!!
155 tapes are in and after checking yesterday afternoon only about a quart----shure looks like it is going to be a fast and quick season
Best start in 20 years, sap volume wise. Seems I remember how to make syrup.
My 3/16 line is running like a SOB. 5/16 not as strong.
Anyone in the area have a spare roll of 3/16? My order will not be here until Tues at the earliest. Would like to get my other taps in before then. Will buy, or trade when my order comes in. I've run out of 5/16 tees also, and taps are low. Bascom is super busy, and it's taking about 3 days to fill an order. Usually it's here in 1 or 2 days after ordering. Unfortunately, parts for my evap are in that order also. Can't boil until then.
Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014
175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph
Go see Tom Kaufman at catskill mountain maple in Delancy ny he has everything you need for sale.
Thanks mountainvan. Good info to have. I don't know if I can make that trip this week before my other goods arrive though.
Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014
175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph
Another good day here. A couple thousand gallons of sap at 2.4% sugar fills the barrels. Still have 800 taps to put in once the snow settles and I become 24 again.
What a great day! 38 gals sap/ gal syrup and sap is still pouring in.
Whats with this wind? It didn't blow this hard during the last few hurricanes. There are branches down everywhere, but the lines were ok at sundown. I'm ready to boil tomorrow. Sap at around 2%. Still have about 50 taps to put in. Yeah, I know its getting late. Just not enough time in the day.
Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014
175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph
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