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Thread: When should I tap?

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Mitchell, Indiana
    Posts
    41

    Default

    I collected 10 gallons two days ago and 20 gallons last night on 27 taps 3/16 tube and a small diaphragm pump.

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Crawford County Indiana
    Posts
    93

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    Put up another 23 on 3/16, up to 68 on tubing. The sap started running late afternoon.
    2014 - 30 taps
    2015 - 50 taps
    2016 - 140 taps
    2017 - 115 taps - 85 taps on 3/16, 30 buckets
    2018 - 150 taps, all 3/16

    Smokey Lake 2x3
    Homemade 2x XLE-4040 RO Unit
    Kubota L3940 - big sap hauler
    Polaris Sportsman 570 SP - little sap hauler
    I'm 1:20 remote from sugarbush, so I let run awhile between boils, and time is at a premium, so I try to oversize things

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Freedom, IN.
    Posts
    184

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    Tapped today also. Looks pretty good in a couple days, forecast wise.

  4. #34
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Scotland Indiana
    Posts
    2

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    Tapped 20 today sure was cold with light snow.

  5. #35
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    North Shore Lake Lemon, Monroe County
    Posts
    135

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    I put in 115 taps today - five lines going partway or all the way up a 300' hill. Burned up my drill so the last 35 went in at screwdriver speed. Fitbit says I climbed 90 stories - it feels like it. I noticed some nasty stuff in a few spots in a couple of lines from last year - I'll probably dump everything from this week then be ready to go.
    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.

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Crawford County Indiana
    Posts
    93

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    I ended up w/21 gal overnight, which I figured was barely enough for a test boil to get the equipment in line. I need to learn how to find tubing leaks, because one of my runs barely produced. I may have solved it, but we'll see next week. 3/16 definitely kills the sugar content; I was less then 1%. I just boiled it down to about 3 gal, threw it in a bucket, and brought it home to put in deep freezer till next weekend. Put in a few more buckets; but I wasn't near full strength on my slave labor force, so didn't get many buckets washed. Hopefully I'll get more out next weekend.
    2014 - 30 taps
    2015 - 50 taps
    2016 - 140 taps
    2017 - 115 taps - 85 taps on 3/16, 30 buckets
    2018 - 150 taps, all 3/16

    Smokey Lake 2x3
    Homemade 2x XLE-4040 RO Unit
    Kubota L3940 - big sap hauler
    Polaris Sportsman 570 SP - little sap hauler
    I'm 1:20 remote from sugarbush, so I let run awhile between boils, and time is at a premium, so I try to oversize things

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    North Shore Lake Lemon, Monroe County
    Posts
    135

    Default

    RBaker, I'm guessing I'm about 25 - 30 miles northeast of you. It was chilly with the wind! I was out from 11:30 to 6:00 and that was more than enough! Hoping for below freezing and above 40 during the week and warm weekends from here on out!
    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.

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Martinsville, Indiana
    Posts
    30

    Default

    Started putting out my taps this weekend. Got about 60 taps on tubing, 80 on sacks, and another 40 sap sacks left to do tonight. Charger on cordless drill went out so I wound up putting a small generator in the back of my mule and using my electric drill on 100' of extension cord. Really slowed things down. Andrew, I must have bigger hills than you, my fit bit came in at 120 flights Saturday.
    Phil Purpura
    Martinsville, Indiana
    (317) 446-0668

    2010 - 55 Taps

    2022
    - 160 Taps on 3/16 Tubing
    - 2 Mountain Maple Controllers with ShurFlo Pumps
    - Kawasaki 610 for Sap Hauling
    - SmokyLake 2x4 Corsair Evaporator

  9. #39
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Lebanon, IN
    Posts
    291

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dsaw View Post
    I ended up w/21 gal overnight, which I figured was barely enough for a test boil to get the equipment in line. I need to learn how to find tubing leaks, because one of my runs barely produced. I may have solved it, but we'll see next week. 3/16 definitely kills the sugar content; I was less then 1%. I just boiled it down to about 3 gal, threw it in a bucket, and brought it home to put in deep freezer till next weekend. Put in a few more buckets; but I wasn't near full strength on my slave labor force, so didn't get many buckets washed. Hopefully I'll get more out next weekend.
    What does the diameter of the tubing have to do with sugar content?
    Doug
    Maple Creations
    Coatesville, IN
    350 taps on 5/16 tubing & 4 Lunchbox pumps
    MemProTec Concentrator 300 RO
    Wood-fired 30"x8' D&G Model 500 raised-flue w/Steam hood & blower
    Smoky Lake finisher, D&G filter press,
    http://www.facebook.com/maplecreations

  10. #40
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Northern Indiana
    Posts
    100

    Default

    Next week looks like a good time to all in up here...if the forecast holds.
    2016:100 taps added a JD 1023 sub compact tractor
    2015:break (new baby)
    2014: 70 taps, replaced my concrete arch with a manufactured
    2013: Added 15 more taps and a 18x24 warming pan
    2012 : 36 Taps, 2x4 divided pan on a concrete arch
    2006-07: Assisted an 'Old Timer' with 200 tapps, and his wood fired evaporator up in Wis.
    1986-1993: 5 taps, Boiled on a wood stove in Northern Mich.

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