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Thread: Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

  1. #1851
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Thetford, VT
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    450

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    Crazy as it sounds we have six telephone poles we are going to try to set in the ground in the next couple of weeks. We have one vacuum line and pump line to repair from storm damage. The poles are for a new 1200' mainline, pump line, and future vacuum line (we are going to run a sap puller this year). If the ground doesn't cooperate for the install we will have to rig the lines lower this year until we can put the poles in. We want the lines high near some trail crossings which will be fine with the lay of the land.

    Mike
    Tapping since 1985 (four generations back to early to mid 1900s). 200-250 taps on buckets and then tubing in the mid 90s. 2013- 275 taps w/sap puller 25 gal. 2014-295 taps w/sap puller 55 ga. (re-tapped to vacuum theory) 2015-330 taps full vac. 65 gal, 2016-400 taps 105 gal, 2017-400 taps 95 gal. 2018-additional 800' mainline and maybe 400 new taps for a total near 800 taps. 2x6 Leader WSE (last year on it) supported by a 250 gph RO.

  2. #1852
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bristol, VT
    Posts
    1,978

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    I started tapping today.... taking advantage of easy moving in the woods with crampons to get the steep and rugged areas done first. Still working on finishing up plumbing tanks in the addition as well. The forecast is all over for northern vt though south of us looks to get warm for bit...we'll see what happens here. IT would be nice to make some January syrup as the strategic reserve is dangerously low....
    About 750 taps on High Vac.
    2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
    Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
    Springtech Elite 500 RO
    14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
    16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
    www.littlehogbackfarm.com

  3. #1853
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    2,223

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    When it rains it runs. Should see mid 40s on Tuesday and rain. We are going to have 3-4 days in the 40s starting next Saturday also. With more rain on the weekend this could mean some sap is coming. I just replaced several valves at my booster tanks and I am ready to roll. I need one warm day just to check for leaks. I usually miss a few trees when I tap so I want to find them ASAP. We still have a lot of winter to come but it would be nice to get 5+ GPT before that happens. Not many Vermonters posting here lately. I think everyone is in the woods tapping away. Good luck to all.

    Spud

  4. #1854
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Thetford, VT
    Posts
    450

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    We put four of or six telephone poles in to support raised pump and vacuum lines over a trail. I pushed the snow off the top with the excavator blade and then dug. There was only about 6" of frost. Easy digging until I found the expected buried rock gardens. One pole went in about 4-4 1/2' and the others were more than 5'. We tamped 5 bags of concrete around the poles at the bottom and then back filled. It went pretty smooth.

    Mike
    Tapping since 1985 (four generations back to early to mid 1900s). 200-250 taps on buckets and then tubing in the mid 90s. 2013- 275 taps w/sap puller 25 gal. 2014-295 taps w/sap puller 55 ga. (re-tapped to vacuum theory) 2015-330 taps full vac. 65 gal, 2016-400 taps 105 gal, 2017-400 taps 95 gal. 2018-additional 800' mainline and maybe 400 new taps for a total near 800 taps. 2x6 Leader WSE (last year on it) supported by a 250 gph RO.

  5. #1855
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Vermont
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    2,223

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    Sounds like your almost done and ready to roll. With such a small amount of frost in the ground the bigger trees should run early also.

    Spud

  6. #1856
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Northeast Vermont
    Posts
    649

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    i took advantage of the warmer weather this weekend to do repairs. changed out 200 drops, fixed 4 sections of main the yellow belly sap suckers had drilled holes in and replaced a few leaky saddles. I'm ready to go... just not this early for me. beautiful out yesterday!
    Awfully thankful for an understanding wife!

    “The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
    - Vincent “Vince” Lombardi

    Good luck to all!

  7. #1857
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Jonesville, Vermont
    Posts
    46

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    I took last year off to cut in a road. One year off means three times as many fixes. Rigged the mainline run this weekend to accommodate the road. Its only a hobby to me and my family but, we missed it.
    Good luck to all.
    425 trees on Vacuum
    Airiblo 3/4
    100 buckets
    Lapierre Mechanical releaser
    L3700 SU

  8. #1858
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    2,223

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    Quote Originally Posted by woodchuck View Post
    I took last year off to cut in a road. One year off means three times as many fixes. Rigged the mainline run this weekend to accommodate the road. Its only a hobby to me and my family but, we missed it.
    Good luck to all.
    Welcome back.

    Spud

  9. #1859
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bristol, VT
    Posts
    1,978

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    I have over half my taps in and took advantage of the warm weather today to get the vac. pump and releaser operational for the season. A few minor glitches but closed the valve on the sap tank and have been pulling in just under 1 gpm since 5 pm.... I installed a water meter on my releaser pump out line so I can better keep track of sap flows. I was able to fix a bunch of leaks and get the vac. to 26" on the taps I have hooked up. Still a few more leaks out there and if the forecast is right I should get some more sap and be able to leak check this weekend. Also hoping to get the RO rinsed and then change out the old fluid systems membrane for a new Max 40 the next time it warms up...

    Also hoping to get more taps in while it is frozen up the next few days. I know winter is coming back but it will be nice to have everything tapped and equipment dialed before we get the big runs....

    I hope everyone else is making good progress as well.
    About 750 taps on High Vac.
    2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
    Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
    Springtech Elite 500 RO
    14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
    16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
    www.littlehogbackfarm.com

  10. #1860
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    2,223

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    I turned the pump on yesterday afternoon when the wind slowed down and the temp hit 40. The sap ran late afternoon until about 1:00am this morning. In all I got .5 GPT and it's testing at 1.2-1.3%. I was able to find one tree i missed while tapping. Vacuum was running at 26 so I know there is a few more leaks somewhere. Saturday is going to be warm and I hope to find the rest of the leaks.

    Spud

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