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Thread: Anyone else not getting the flows they would expect?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    83

    Default Anyone else not getting the flows they would expect?

    This season is summing up to be worse than 2 years ago, which was a horrible year. The weather seems perfect and I have 15" vac, but flow is just marginable. I tapped on 1/25 and have collected only 200 gal sap from 150 taps. Still have not drawn an ounce off the 2x6, but it is getting close. I'm worried it is just going bad sitting in there.

    Anyone else experiencing similar and have an theories as to why?

    hope you are doing better than I,

    Jason
    155 taps vacuum - All low sugar content reds


    Leader 2x6 with Small Brothers pans
    De Laval Model 74 w/ Bender releaser

    Salem, CT

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Newfane, VT
    Posts
    323

    Default

    Not doing too badly in So Vermont. I've been averaging a about 1/2 gallon of sap/tap/day all this week without vacuum.
    Last edited by northwoods_forestry; 02-20-2012 at 08:54 AM. Reason: typo
    300 on vaccum
    300 gravity tubing
    200 buckets

    100 hilltop acres
    16x20 timberframe sugarhouse built in 2010
    3x10 Leader max flue & revolution pans w/ Inferno arch - 2013
    1998 Kubota M5400

    Northwoods Farm and Forestry on Facebook.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Haddam, Ct
    Posts
    8

    Default

    I've had a few decent days with a 1/2 gal/tap but the rest have been terrible. Yesterday I got about 8 gallons out of 85 taps all gravity. I don't think the night time temps have been cold enough, hoping today is a little better. My neighbors think the season is over but I'm still hopeful.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Broad Brook, Connecticut
    Posts
    540

    Default

    Looking at this weeks overnight temps in CT it does not look promising. Tonight and tomorrow night may get below freezing and then it is all above 32 every night through the weekend.
    2011-8 Taps on a very crude block arch
    2012- 38 taps 2 X 3 with blower.
    2013- 70 taps total-50 on tubing, 20 on buckets
    2014- 75 taps- Low vacuum, 2X4 drop flue
    2015- 100 taps-2X6 Mason Drop Tube, low vac
    2016-115 taps high vac, 60 taps buckets
    14X20 post and beam shack with attached 10X14 wood shed
    12 beehives and an avid waterfowl hunter.
    Wishing I can quit my day job, keep bees, farm, and make syrup!
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Moshe...40072296064422

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Durham, CT
    Posts
    104

    Default

    I've had a couple of decent days, but the rest has been a bust. I hope to get enough today to add to my stored sap and boil tomorrow. Does not look good for most of this week.
    2024 55 3/16 gravity, 19 5/16 gravity, 40 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator, Mason AUF arch.
    2023 35 3/16 gravity, 30 5/16 gravity 53 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator.
    Mason AUF arch
    2022 35 3/16 gravity, 28 5/16 gravity, 50 buckets and bags, New RO Bucket rb15 kit.
    2021 11 on 5/16 gravity, 30 on 3/16 gravity, 69 on buckets and bags. All sugar maples. Mostly large old trees.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    83

    Default

    yes, the weather after tomorrow looks like it will be very mild until the weekend. The buds might be exploding by then! On another note, the sap in my collecting tank was looking a little cloudy.
    155 taps vacuum - All low sugar content reds


    Leader 2x6 with Small Brothers pans
    De Laval Model 74 w/ Bender releaser

    Salem, CT

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Cheshire, CT
    Posts
    385

    Default

    I collected 25 gallons yesterday. today they are starting to move but the sugar content is low in Southern CT. I took this week off to tend to it but I might be playing golf instead....

    41.457 x -72.907 148 elevation
    2x4 wood fired evaporator with the "Hercules Blower"
    hybrid pan and backflip preheater by Smoky Lake
    103 taps. 44 on gravity
    All sugar Maples
    7" filter press
    10 x 12 sugar shack
    two very helpful kids
    a wife that thinks I'm nuts

    https://youtu.be/7MiY8qzBKk8
    https://www.wunderground.com/persona...d?ID=KCTCHESH7

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Preston, CT
    Posts
    2

    Default Slow going in Preston

    We are also off to a slow start. Tapped 8 trees mid-week, 3 did well, at least a gallon or 2 per day, the rest, barely had enough sap to cover the bottom of the pail. Not sure why there is such a difference in trees, last year they were all decent. Could it have anything to do with the 5 poor producers being on a hill?

    14 taps
    Boiling in 4 big restaurant pans on our backyard evaporator

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Chaplin, Connecticut
    Posts
    297

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dhbiker1 View Post
    This season is summing up to be worse than 2 years ago, which was a horrible year. The weather seems perfect and I have 15" vac, but flow is just marginable. I tapped on 1/25 and have collected only 200 gal sap from 150 taps. Still have not drawn an ounce off the 2x6, but it is getting close. I'm worried it is just going bad sitting in there.

    Anyone else experiencing similar and have an theories as to why?

    hope you are doing better than I,

    Jason
    I tapped the same days as you did, and have collected over 19,000 gallons of sap and have made 240 gallons on mostly dark amber. I don't understand why the big difference as we're not that far apart.
    My vacs are pulling 25", however.
    2 1/2 X 8 Leader revolution pans on an inferno arch with steamaway. 1500 taps, 600 gph Springtech RO, 3 vacuum systems (3/4 hp. Airablo, 2 hp. Tuthill oilring pump and a 2 hp. Busch claw pump)
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/batsofbedlam/

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    northfield, CT
    Posts
    1,526

    Default

    Yea i agree with batsofbedlam, i am having a decent year here in ct too, 90 gal syrup so far from around 6500 gal of sap off 750 taps, 65 of which are on about 18 in of vac, so not sure what the big difference is with your setup. I tap about 80 percent red maples so rarely have high sugar, but this year is much lower than usual, but still making syrup just fine!
    11x29 sugarhouse
    2x8 airtight arch homemade with waterloo flue pan, welded syrup pan and parallel flow preheater hood
    250gph cdl ro
    1100+ taps for 2014, approx 1000 of them vac
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Crowh...5582993?ref=hl

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