Still hovering within 2 degrees of the freezing mark for the last 48 hours or so. Not sure whether the trees have froze enough of not, but I'll boil what ever comes out. Either way, it's been an excellent year.
EDIT 2:15: Looks like my colder taps are running some but the warm taps are not. Will pick up the sap at 5 PM and boil up what I got.
Last edited by PerryW; 04-13-2013 at 02:14 PM.
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
Picked up 100 gallons of clear sap from the buckets and Lyman Tubing, almost nothing from my 600 taps in Littleton. Pulled off another 2 gallons of Grade B for a season total of 143 gallons so far. Syrup starting to taste a little strong now, but still no bud smell or taste. We'll see if we get a freeze tonite.
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
Picked up 125 gallons of sap and took off 3 gallons of C. Definite Metabolic taste, but not buddy. Most of my tubing runs have quit running even though ther was a pretty good freeze last night. Up to 146 gallons. I may pick up what sap runs in the next 24 hours and call it a season.
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
Picked up 50 gallons of sap and rinsed the upper half of my 600 tap bush. Pulled some of my buckets and smaller tanks. Will boild up the sap in the morning and get a final tally somewhere around 148 gallons. great season for me! Almost tripled last year's 51 gallons!
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
Last gather for the season. The sap smells a little like apple cider!
1,200 taps on USFS land, 3x8 King w/Steamaway. Lapierre RO.
I finally smelled the infamous buddy smell when boiling up my last 50 gals. Just yesterday, the steam smelled good.
It made finishing up the season easier, as I just chased the last sap though with some water and took off the front pan, then dumped the back pan. Scrubbed out the the pans, drained them, filled them w/ water and dumped 2 gallons of vinegar in each pan.
Never used vinegar before (always used pan acid). Any tips?
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
I can ask a friend that has used it this year on his front pan when the sap wasn't running during a cold spell. He said that it cleaned up the pan really well and didn't take long but then again there wasn't much sugar sand buildup for either of us this season until the last week or so. I'll find out if he diluted the white vinegar with some water or used it straight.
I finished up with 355 gals. made. Ok, but not any where's near the 1/2 gallon per tap that some make. It was all dark or better grade.
1,200 taps on USFS land, 3x8 King w/Steamaway. Lapierre RO.
I cleaned my front pan mid-season w/ vinegar but I mixed it really strong and only cleaned the bottom. Today, I heated up my back pan let my back pan soak for 2 hours and the nitre cam off great. (Acid is a little quicker) The front pan is still soaking and I will probably wash tubing tomorrow and leave it till friday. I want to get some of the buildup in trhe sides that had been there for a few years.Originally Posted by Homestead Maple
1/2 gal per tap is but a dream for my operation! LOL. I guess i really don't know how many taps I have anyway. I say 750, but it could be more or less. I really don't want to make much more syrup than I did this year (149 gallons)., so I see no reason to upgrade to vacuum. As a one-man operation, I am happy with the amount of time that sugaring takes up in my life.
Last edited by PerryW; 04-17-2013 at 10:20 PM.
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
took off another 3 gallons of C w/ slight buddy taste. went for quick shut-down and chased the syrup out w/ some water and dumped the back pan.
Final total = 149 gallons, best year since 2000, 4th best year in 25 years!
Washes my tanks 60
3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-6 2 gallons medium amber
4-7 8 gallons medium amber
4-8 8 gallons medium amber
4-9 6 gallons Dark-Grade B
4-10 2 gallons Vermont C
4-13 2 gal Vermont C
4-14 2 gal Vermont C
4-15 3 gal c
4-17 3 gal c (buddy)
---------------------
total = 149 gal (average year = 110 gal)
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
Back pan is clean, front pan soaking w/ vinegar solution, 600 tap bush is all rinsed out, buckets are washed and put away.
Only a couple small take-down tubing runs to rinse and wind up, a couple tanks and I'll be ready to replace the 9.5 cords of softwood I used to make 149 gallons.
Gonna continue to thin out the maples this off-season. A win-win situation. Sell the firewood and softwood logs and end up with healthier maple trees!
2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.
600 gal stainless milk tank.
2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
one 30 gal barrel
50 buckets
3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.
12" x 20" Filter Canner
Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem
Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.
Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.
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