Dill 2017 Something's happening here

[Dill]

Turned into a really snowy day here. But we had steady turnout most of the day. It was coming down hard a couple times. We didn't get any sap overnight so I decided to fill the head tank with water. Glad I did. Lots of people said we were the only one they had stopped at up and running. Right now I'm doing my 4th batch of candy and waiting for cream to chill before o start stirring. Tomorrow should be busy.

[Russell Lampron]

We had reports of being one of the few that were boiling yesterday. One person asked if we were boiling water. I showed him the 6 gallons that I had in the draw off tank. We had a good turn out with good sales too. There were times when the sugar house was full of people practically shoulder to shoulder.

[wally]

i visited two in warner that were both running, one with sap, the other pushing water.

i stopped at proctor academy, but nobody was at the sap house.

wally

[Dill]

Maple weekend went well. I"m in the completely beat but not yet alseep mode. Tomorrow is back to production mode. It was slow this morning but a couple highlights. I was just puttering around getting fired up around 830 this guy whips in wearing PJs and waving money, "Hey I just ran out really glad you were in!" I just sold him a half gallon 2 weeks ago. I felt like a crack dealer. See ya next week dude.

Then around 1 a convoy of minivans and trucks pull in with 3 JR high basketball teams. It was like being overrun by locusts. Pancakes and donuts just disappear. However the parents probably bought half of what we had left for sale.

Next year I'm putting up more signs. But all in all, we sold 90% of what we had on hand. My fooling around making candy and cream paid off in spades. Sold all the cream, and most of the sugar and candy. And I'd say almost everyone who stopped spent money and went home happy.

[Dill]

So boiling question. The last couple draws I've had scary temp spikes mid draw. Like shooting up to 18 over and barely coming out, had to grab the oh crap water last night.
The question is, am I running it too low, too high?

[Russell Lampron]

So boiling question. The last couple draws I've had scary temp spikes mid draw. Like shooting up to 18 over and barely coming out, had to grab the oh crap water last night.
The question is, am I running it too low, too high?

What depth are you running your pan at? I run mine at 1 1/2" and other than the first draw off I don't have that problem.

[Sugarmaker]

Dill,
My guess is too low! Sounds like your maple weekend was great! Get some rest!
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Dill,
Just realized you have evaporator built by local guy about 10 miles from me. I am running the custom drop flue pans he built for me a couple years ago and really like the performance!
If your RO works good you should now have enough wood for the next 6 years!
Regards,
Chris

[Dill]

Is he still up and running the business? There are things that I really like about the rig and things that aren't. I don't think the AOF works as well as it should but wow he did build a really efficient setup. You can touch the door when its burning blue and white flame. I'm going to have to put a woodstove in the shack next year. Yes I'm not going to have to restack the woodshed at this point. His valve setup is great too. I reverse the flow every other night and it takes all of 10 seconds.

[red maples]

get a pellet stove... you pay for pellets but easier than a woodstove.