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Thread: 2017 Season

  1. #61
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    121

    Default

    In Peters as well. Yesterday wasn't much but I got 20ish gallons today, several of my buckets were overflowing.

  2. #62
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Elliottsburg, PA
    Posts
    2,222

    Default

    We have a sap tsunami down here.
    Collected 100 gals this morning when I ran up to be sure everything was working. Then ran back up at 6pm and the tank was overflowing! So about 280 gals more.
    The releaser was still dumping every 1 1/2 minutes so if it continues like that it will be overflowing by morning.

    Sap cleared up a little with the few cold days that we just had, so that is a good sign. Just not sure how we are going to fare after the next few days. Monday night is the next chance for freezing weather and none in sight after that.

    KVSappers, glad to hear that the sap is flowing nicely. Was up your way on a bike ride and noticed someone down the road from you has some blue lines up going into 55 barrels. Could not tell how many taps.
    Cool to see others around here trying their hand at making maple syrup.
    1st Generation Hobby Maple Producer, you got to start somewhere.
    222 Taps, all on Vacuum! No more buckets.
    Lapierre 2'x5' raised flue w/Hood and Preheater
    Surge SP11, Lapierre Hobby Releaser
    Modified 5" Filter Press made by Daryl with a Gear Pump
    Homemade 2 membrane RO
    Kabota RTV Sap Hauler

    Hardy's Maple Syrup on Facebook

  3. #63
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Bethel Park, PA
    Posts
    33

    Default

    Sbedillion and Helptheold, I remember you were in Peters. Sounds like it was flowing well for you. In twenty four hours I got a little over 3 gallons from 7 taps (in 3 trees). I just wanted to see some overflowing too. Would you say you're getting more than a gallon from a tap?

  4. #64
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    121

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    I'd say yes. One of my trees only has one tap but barely produces. Another with one tap had the 2 gal bucket overflowing!

  5. #65
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Kittanning PA
    Posts
    286

    Default I created my RO for an end-of-season just like this!

    The 2014 maple syrup season ended just like this - a warm spell with a huge sap run. In 2014, I ran down to Trader Horn (now out of business) and bought enough 44 gallon (No. 2643) Brute garbage cans to store 500 gallons of sap. The polymer with which these cans are made (Linear Low Density Polyethylene) is safe for food including maple sap.

    But I wasn't able to keep up. As new sap came in, the original sap sat around in the warm weather and went bad. I ended up pitching about 250 gallons. That's when I decided to build a Reverse Osmosis machine. It cost me a little over $1,000. You can build one just like mine if you wish. I published my parts list and design in this forum:

    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...eap-RO-be-5000

    This season seems to be ending with a repeat of 2014 season. But instead of falling behind, my RO is allowing me to keep up. I started it up yesterday morning, kept it going all night, and I'll have boiled all the old sap by tomorrow morning. That could be just in time -- the weather.com forecast for tonight is for 32 degrees.
    Last edited by HowardR; 02-19-2017 at 04:17 PM.

  6. #66
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Saxton Pennsylvania
    Posts
    98

    Default

    Wrapping up our 5th weekend boil of the season, 137 gallons of sap, what a beautiful weekend. It's going to be to warm to hold our sap this week, might get next weekend off. The following weeks forecast looks favorable.
    Just a hobby.
    2012 Don't want to talk about it.
    2013 6 Buckets 2.75 gallons
    2014 20 on 5/16 ,10 Buckets 7.75 gallons
    2015 30 on 5/16 , 10 Buckets 9.5 gallons
    2016 43 on 3/16 , 0 Buckets , 623 gallons sap, 11.89 gls.
    2017 43 on 3/16 527 gallons boiled, 9 gals. Syrup
    2018 43 on 3/16 453 gallons sap 9 gallons syrup
    2019 30 on 3/16 9.5 gallons
    3 Burner propane

  7. #67
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Landisburg, PA
    Posts
    249

    Default

    My trees want some cold nights and cooler days. Collected 21 1/2 gal. sap today trees are screaming for cooler weather. Not only are the ants out but today I had moth in some of the buckets. Me seeing moths tells me my season may be coming to end sooner then later. Now having over 2 gals. of syrup made so that pleases me.
    2011 - 6 buckets
    Stove Top
    2012 - 15 buckets
    2013 - 19 buckets
    Camper cook stove with 3 high propane burners
    Custom made 42x14x7 maple pan with dividers
    2015 - New 12x16 Sugar Shack
    2015 - New Lapierre Propane Evaporator
    2016 - 28 buckets
    2017 - 30 buckets
    2019 - 32 buckets
    2023 - 32 buckets - Good to be back

    .

  8. #68
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Saxton Pennsylvania
    Posts
    98

    Default

    Just finished up 2.75 gallons of medium amber, what a great flavor. Back to work tomorrow. Have great week everyone.
    Just a hobby.
    2012 Don't want to talk about it.
    2013 6 Buckets 2.75 gallons
    2014 20 on 5/16 ,10 Buckets 7.75 gallons
    2015 30 on 5/16 , 10 Buckets 9.5 gallons
    2016 43 on 3/16 , 0 Buckets , 623 gallons sap, 11.89 gls.
    2017 43 on 3/16 527 gallons boiled, 9 gals. Syrup
    2018 43 on 3/16 453 gallons sap 9 gallons syrup
    2019 30 on 3/16 9.5 gallons
    3 Burner propane

  9. #69
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Elliottsburg, PA
    Posts
    2,222

    Default

    Ant, ants and more ants.

    Way to warm. If I do not see any cold temps in the next few days I am calling it quits. I do not need anymore dark syrup.

    KVSappers, great job. Not too bad for the number of days that you have been boiling. I have collected sap just 17 days so far since I tapped on Jan 22.

    Today I worked thru 575 gals of sap. Now I did run it thru the RO so that helped. Ended up boiling for 2 1/2 hours. Days like these make me give my RO a big hug, I love it.
    1st Generation Hobby Maple Producer, you got to start somewhere.
    222 Taps, all on Vacuum! No more buckets.
    Lapierre 2'x5' raised flue w/Hood and Preheater
    Surge SP11, Lapierre Hobby Releaser
    Modified 5" Filter Press made by Daryl with a Gear Pump
    Homemade 2 membrane RO
    Kabota RTV Sap Hauler

    Hardy's Maple Syrup on Facebook

  10. #70
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Bethel Park, PA
    Posts
    33

    Default

    So I think my season is over. No sap today except for one tap that gave about 2 cups. I ended up with a total of almost 16 gallons. So today I did a big all day boil in my water pan. I have boiled a couple of other times and basically condensed about 10 gallons down to 1. I added the other 5 or so gallons to the concentrate and eventually ended up with 58 ounces of syrup.

    I filtered the boiled concentrate through an orlon ( I think) filter that came with my taps. I filtered after bringing it to temperature as well. There is still a little sediment. I boiled a small pot of water and noticed my digital thermometer read 212.0-212.5 at boil so I took the syrup to 220 - 220.5 and took it off the stove.

    My wife bought me six 8oz. maple bottles and I was able to fill those plus a little.

    For something that started on a whim, I'm happy with the results. My son had fun collecting the sap and taste testing through the process. As was stated earlier I started a little late (Feb 5th) and I'll watch that next season and maybe add some more taps if I can talk some neighbors into tapping their trees.

    Anyway, the final result is incredible. Such a great taste. I can't wait to try on pancakes and in my coffee. Maybe even a snow cone.

    Thanks to everyone for your help. Reading a lot here in a short time was very helpful.
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