ready...set....

[lafite]

Boy..what a day!

Evaporator is up on its blocks in its permanent spot in the new sugar house. Drilling holes in fire door to attach a ceramic blanket. took all the bricks out and put a layer of ceramic blanket in.

Custom ash pan is being made early next week.

First line of taps go in tomorrow morning. I don't expect much this week but I'm hoping to be boiling by next weekend!!

IMAG0206.jpgIMAG0206.jpg

[lafite]

ready...set...wait!!!

[325abn]

Whats a hybrid pan look like?

[adk1]

what are you using to attach the blanket to the doors. I have been contemplating this with my older Leader 2x6. everything else has 2" thick ceramic blanket throughout but my doors are still uninsulated. they get cherry red

[Wallopt]

Did you make the evaporator yourself? I put in 27 taps last week had a few nice days then the freeze!
Jim

[lafite]

I'm using stainless screws with large stainless washers to withstand the heat for the door. The evaporator is a 2x4 purchased from Andersons but the new pan is from Smokey Lake maple. hybrid.jpg

looks like a huge storm for Friday. 2 gravity lines up and 2 to go today. I'll be happy not to have to drag the ladder through the snow like 2 years ago!

[killingworthmaple]

Looks like we have to wait a few more days, I was ready to tap tomorrow but they changed the forcast and looks like it's gonna be this weekend.

Nathan

[lafite]

i'm trying to finish tapping today and tomorrow...much easier than walking through a foot+ of snow

[lafite]

all gravity lines are up and dripping! I don't plan to start collecting until next week. a minor storm to deal with first...

finishing touches in the shack and we should be set for boiling next week! let's hope that we don't get the full 2-4 feet of snow some are forecasting!

just received my new refractometer today...sap is at 2.5%

[lafite]

the shack with the heat stack installed this morning. gravity lines are tight and I hope the snow doesn't bring them down!IMAG0225.jpgIMAG0229.jpg