Tapped first week of March

[rschoo]

Wow! Timber Frame. How many bents? The knee braces are the tricky part. Are you a builder? Sounds pretty cool. I post framed mine with a slab after and rough sawn pine from a local mill. Let me know how it turns out and take some pics. I think I have some pics of mine posted somewhere. I'll post the link if I can find it.

[rschoo]

Heres the link.
http://tk.files.storage.msn.com/x1pA...60-ps68bxVTaPC

It was after the ice storm this winter.

This one is the old sugar house on the family homestead in St. Clair county
http://tk.files.storage.msn.com/x1pA...l1RQ9eRMEvKOsB

This one is of my wife and me last season with my little 12x18 outdoor rig
http://tk.files.storage.msn.com/x1pA...UhI9Q85g_oKkjg

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Won't let it be viewed unless you sign into msn??? :?

[Michigander]

Bob,
Yep, Brandon is right - can't view the pics. No, I am not a builder but a retired CPA (bean counter), who at 67 is just trying to follow a dream before it to late. Both my son and son-in-law are builders and they live one on each side of me. No timber framing experience but a yen to do it and with housing slowing down we hope to have some time this summer. With grandkids living next door it is my goal to have a small sugaring operation that they can be involved with and maybe one of them will own the homestead someday. Sure would like to keep it in the family. Looking at one set of plans with 4 bents using mostly 4x6 timbers and one with 3 bents using larger timbers - have not decided yet.

[rschoo]

Try the links now. I hope they work.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Working great!

[Michigander]

Hey Bob,
Nice lookin sugar house! You sure did great with that amount of money! I will email you some pictures once we get going on our sugar house this summer. Get me your email address via a Private Message or email (my address is in my profile) and I will get you some pics via email of this years setup. I can email pics but I don't yet have a clue how to post them to a hosting site. Went out today to find some new maples to rent next year to keep the thirst of that 2x6 satisfied but not much success yet - but I will find them!

Dave

[rschoo]

Look forward to seeing your project.

[Greenthumb]

Michigander,

I built a 12x16 sugar house a few years ago. with a cement floor it has worked out great for our half pint. the only problem know that my illness has grown and we would like to expand from 40 to around 100 taps I don't know if a 12x16 house is big enough for a 2nd half pint, a 2x4 or a 2x6 like I am thinking. If I had to do it again I would at least make the sugar house 15x20. Just a thought good luck and keep us posted

[sweetwoodmaple]

Lots of room, you have. I've got my 3 x 10 in a 12 x 16 sugarhouse. 8O

Seriously, I would not go larger than a 2-1/2 x 8, depending on what all you want to do there (canning, making other confections, etc). Having only 4' in front of the fire doors is kind of tight.

I can my syrup in my basement and do cream and other products in the kitchen in the house.