Thinned all my syrup to the proper density on 4/5 and canned it all up, ended with 4.7 gallons, not terrible for the short season I had with the weather and work schedule and only 23 taps. Had enough sap on hand to make another gallon, but lacked the time to boil it, that went into the pans to sit for a while in hopes that cleaning the pans will be aided by the sap.
Anyone start tapping weather looks good. I hate to start to early but looks like this might be the beginning.
I was considering it for this Monday but, similarly, don't want to be premature and risk a short season.
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
I'm seriously considering tapping. Maybe even tomorrow, but Today did not hit the forecast high and was pretty cold and gray. I'm at about 800 feet elevation, so that may affect things a bit.
Pete
2017- 17 taps, 3 gallons, stove-top insanity
2018- 36 taps, 10 gallons, Oil tank evaporator
2019- 24 taps, 7 gallons
2020- 27 taps, 5.75 gallons
2021- 42 taps, 8 gallons
2022- 48 taps, 8.5 gallons
2023- 50 taps, 15 gallons
2024- 46 taps, 9.5 gallons
Oil Tank Evaporator build
Yeah, it still looks like Monday and into next week look good for a run. I'm jumping up this year to 50-60 taps and may do them in two sets to have an early run and possibly a second, later one for all the sugar maples since they run longer.
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
I put a test tap in today and did get some flow. If it flows again tomorrow, I'll probably tap in anticipation of Monday. Watching the forecast though as monday has already dropped to a high of 40.
Pete
2017- 17 taps, 3 gallons, stove-top insanity
2018- 36 taps, 10 gallons, Oil tank evaporator
2019- 24 taps, 7 gallons
2020- 27 taps, 5.75 gallons
2021- 42 taps, 8 gallons
2022- 48 taps, 8.5 gallons
2023- 50 taps, 15 gallons
2024- 46 taps, 9.5 gallons
Oil Tank Evaporator build
I tapped 4 trees on Sunday, 12 taps, to see if we could get anything from this weather. Between yesterday and today, we have maybe 7 gallons. I'll check tomorrow for more...maybe that nice light early syrup!
Last edited by Kevbo17; 02-04-2020 at 10:11 PM.
2023 - block arch, 2x3 flat pan, 30 maple, 40+walnut - ?
2022 - block arch, 2x3 flat pan, 36 maple taps, 25 walnut taps - 5 gallons between each
2021 - block arch, 2x3 flat pan, 30 taps - 8 gallons
2020 - block arch of high temp bricks, Badgerland 2x3 flat pan -8.5 gallons
2019 - block arch of high temp bricks, 2 hotel pans - 8.5 gallons
2018 - 33 taps, block arch with 2 hotel pans, 9.25 gallons
2017 - 5 taps, big pot over the fire, 1.25 gallons
Well I never added more taps, but I did get more flow than expected. Easily over a gallon in my bucket, maybe 1.5. Feeling like I should have tapped. I won't miss the next run.
Pete
2017- 17 taps, 3 gallons, stove-top insanity
2018- 36 taps, 10 gallons, Oil tank evaporator
2019- 24 taps, 7 gallons
2020- 27 taps, 5.75 gallons
2021- 42 taps, 8 gallons
2022- 48 taps, 8.5 gallons
2023- 50 taps, 15 gallons
2024- 46 taps, 9.5 gallons
Oil Tank Evaporator build
Looks like this is the weekend to to tap!
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
Thinking of putting my taps out Sunday although, Steve Caparizzo just showed the weather and it looks like above freezing temps at night for the next week, 40s during the day.
2017 - 17 buckets - barrel stove evaporator - ????
2016 inaugural season - 9 buckets - stock pot over open fire - 32oz of syrup
John Deere 2305
Husqvarna 455 Rancher
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