Pulled the taps
Got a decent 39 gallon 3 day run since last Saturday night. Pulled the taps Tue morning and boiled that evening. Made 2 1/2 guarts. Total sap for the year...about 610 gal. Made 8 1/2 gallons of syrup. Best year so far and I attribute it to the tubing and pump. No more buckets for me.
2014 - 14 taps - cinder block arch - 18x24 flat pan
2015 - 45 taps on buckets - homemade arch from 250gal oil tank - 28x49 flat pan by Smokey Lake
2016 - 50 taps - 26 taps on 3/16" tube with a diaphragm pump - 24 taps on buckets
The 3/16 tubing made a huge difference for me as well - wondering about trying my trees without 30' of fall with 3/16 and a pump. Do you mind sharing with me what pump you use? Do you run it just when sap is flowing? Never used one before...thanks!Originally Posted by Mitchell tapper.
2014 - 8 taps, turkey fryer, 130 gallons sap, just under 2.5 gallons syrup.
2015 - 50 taps and counting.
2016 - 60 taps on 3/16 and a Bill Mason evaporator on order.
2017 - 115 taps on 3/16, homemade r/o.
2018 - 150 taps on 3/16, r/o a big help, but lots of leaks killing yield.
2019 - sticking with 150 taps or maybe less, focusing on good vacuum and less waste to increase yield. Doubling up my r/o, and made a vacuum filter that looks promising.
I sent you a pm Andrew.
2014 - 14 taps - cinder block arch - 18x24 flat pan
2015 - 45 taps on buckets - homemade arch from 250gal oil tank - 28x49 flat pan by Smokey Lake
2016 - 50 taps - 26 taps on 3/16" tube with a diaphragm pump - 24 taps on buckets
I got it - much appreciated and very helpful...thanks!!
2014 - 8 taps, turkey fryer, 130 gallons sap, just under 2.5 gallons syrup.
2015 - 50 taps and counting.
2016 - 60 taps on 3/16 and a Bill Mason evaporator on order.
2017 - 115 taps on 3/16, homemade r/o.
2018 - 150 taps on 3/16, r/o a big help, but lots of leaks killing yield.
2019 - sticking with 150 taps or maybe less, focusing on good vacuum and less waste to increase yield. Doubling up my r/o, and made a vacuum filter that looks promising.
I went down and pulled my taps today. Temps up to the 70's next week mean I'm done even if the trees aren't - it will spoil before I can get to it next. One thing to share - as I walked up my 700' deep hill that rises 300', I found that on one of my 3/16 lines it had clogged with shavings holding back the sap from 12 taps above it. I cleared it and couldn't believe the pressure as I pulled the taps above it...it sucked the sap down faster than I could see it run. Lesson 1: Walk the lines more than I did this season. Lesson 2: If you have elevation, 3/16 is amazing.
Thanks to all who shared their knowledge with me this year - I greatly appreciate it, and look forward to next year!
Time to get the boats in the water - another hobby that drains my wallet!
2014 - 8 taps, turkey fryer, 130 gallons sap, just under 2.5 gallons syrup.
2015 - 50 taps and counting.
2016 - 60 taps on 3/16 and a Bill Mason evaporator on order.
2017 - 115 taps on 3/16, homemade r/o.
2018 - 150 taps on 3/16, r/o a big help, but lots of leaks killing yield.
2019 - sticking with 150 taps or maybe less, focusing on good vacuum and less waste to increase yield. Doubling up my r/o, and made a vacuum filter that looks promising.
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