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Thread: sugar content

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    Rock Creek, NC
    Posts
    5,807

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    I was attributing the low sugar here to the fact that we had a very dry summer. The drought kicked in just about when the trees should have been making the most sugar and lasted all summer after that. A report by UVM a few years ago stated that trees are stressed less by limb damage from ice storms than by drought.
    Russ

    "Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!

    1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
    A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
    Four chainsaws and no chickens!

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Halifax, VT.
    Posts
    773

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    I attribute the low sugar to all the above freezing days we had before the season began. The sap already ran extensively even in the fall. We basically caught the tail end of things.
    Sean

    2013-1st year...94 taps, 12x24 sugarhouse, home built evap. Gast 2065 pump with bender
    releaser.
    2014-30x36 sugarhouse, 2.5x10 "Jutras" evaporator, 1200+ taps on vacuum, sap brothers RO. 2 sihi 2 stage pumps, 440 gal.

    2015- 1000gph memtek RO, 3250 Taps, 1200 gallons

    2016- Modified grimm 4'x12' evaporator with auf and aof with air preheater. Home built airtight arch front. 4250 taps?

    2017- 2400gph. Lapierre RO, 10" filter press, 5000 taps

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Da E. U.P. of Michigan. 46.16°N
    Posts
    187

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    We started off with a 0.75% average, with several buckets of 0.00% in that batch. I boiled it anyways as I needed the volume to fire up the evaporator. We had a high of 3.1% and have averaged around 2% for the last couple collections.
    New for 2016 Mason 2x4 XL with AUF blower. No more boiling in stainless steam table trays or pots for me.

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    cloquet mn
    Posts
    121

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    Just got my refractometer calibrated it, and the sap I have in tank now is at 2%. See if tomorrow's boil will be better.
    3x8 drop flue
    300 taps on 3/16

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    cloquet mn
    Posts
    121

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    Today's sap was 2.4. It's getting better.
    3x8 drop flue
    300 taps on 3/16

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arlington, MN
    Posts
    28

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    Early in the season Feb. 19. the sap was extremely low in sugar. No low range refractometer at that time, but I had a 55:1 first 225 gallons. Been between 2.1 and 2.6 ever since. I bought a low range refractometer after first week. Ended up collecting roughly 2600 gallons of sap and estimating 270 qt's of finished product once I'm done finishing the last batch. That's a 2.25 average. I've seen better sap, but I had a solid 5 week season with 4 or 5 good runs. I'm happy, tired, but happy.
    2.5 x 6.5 custom built wood fired arch.
    2018- 300 on 3/16, 100 in pails on the flat.
    35 years experience still haven't mastered the fire
    Polaris Ranger collection vehicle
    Super excited to try out the new AUF system 2018

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Grawn Michigan
    Posts
    199

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    IMG_20160327_112839992.jpg
    I have been getting 2% +-.2 now for the last week. My finished product has been super sweet but on the dark side as compared to previous years.

    Latitude:N 44° 50' 25.0463"
    Longitude:W 85° 38' 57.8906"

    New for 2022 (My 10th year) a 9" CDL Vacuum Filter Press
    2016/2017 12' X 16' Sugar Shack 6/12 pitch roof W/ 3' X 4' Cupola.
    John Deere HPX 4X4 Gator (Pop's left it to me when he died)
    New for 2020 HB10 RO In A Bucket, a game changer.
    2015 Purchased 50 used Bag holders.
    2016 Purchased a home made evaporator and "everything" that went with it.
    20 acre Sugar Bush

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,544

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    My very early sap was only 1.2%, then it went to 2.4% and has fallen ever since. Yesterday it was 1.5%. Mine usually runs 2.2-2.5 early and then falls late season to 1.9 or 1.8. This year I only had 1 day 2.4 and the next went to 2.0, all the rest were under 2.0.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    cloquet mn
    Posts
    121

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    My last batch was2.6 hopefully it stays up to make up for all the wood I burned up on first couple. Looks like maybe another week or so of sapping weather.
    3x8 drop flue
    300 taps on 3/16

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    annandale, mn
    Posts
    145

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    Last year I was getting 4-4.5%. This year they are at 3%. The box elder was running at 2%.
    Homemade 2x6 arch 2'x2' syrup pan 2'x4' sap pan 100 taps on bags

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