Mine is 5/16. 4th year on this tubing.
Mine is 5/16. 4th year on this tubing.
John
100+ Taps, 40 on 5/16 tubing
Lunchbox Vacuum/Releaser, hodorskib's Small Scale RO
3x7 Stainless Flat Pan
No chickens........yet.
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../Maple%20Camp/
Hello from the far north east corner of the state. We had temps in the middle to upper 60's for 3 days and went out today to check our bags and found several trees starting to bud. The sap looked ok but last night it dropped to 22. Looks like this week we are going to have several nights of good sap weather. The question I have is this. Since the trees are starting to bud should we go ahead and stop for the season ? Sap looks decent ( not as sweet but not bitter ) or should we go ahead and leave them in and wait since the weather looks like it is going to work out for us. I hope it is not too late. We have boiled over 200 gallons this year but want to keep going...
Thanks in advance.
Hey ferratus!
I have some soft maples tapped and was wondering about the about the buds too. From looking at old posts one Maple Trader mentioned spot checking his trees with a metal cup and a torch. He heats a sap sample and checks for off odor and flavor. I have stainless steel measuring cup and plan on trying this. My taps have only been in three weeks. I am in for the long haul.
John
100+ Taps, 40 on 5/16 tubing
Lunchbox Vacuum/Releaser, hodorskib's Small Scale RO
3x7 Stainless Flat Pan
No chickens........yet.
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../Maple%20Camp/
ferratus, are you tapping soft maples or sugars, i am pretty close to you and my sugars are not showing signs of budding yet. hope to get couple more runs.
The silver maples I spot checked for buddy odor/flavor are all fine despite the warm weather. Some of them have run a good bit while the hard maples are resting. Buckets are clean, ready to make some more syrup!
John
100+ Taps, 40 on 5/16 tubing
Lunchbox Vacuum/Releaser, hodorskib's Small Scale RO
3x7 Stainless Flat Pan
No chickens........yet.
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../Maple%20Camp/
We had this on Saturday (25 taps on 3/16"), but our taps with bags are barely running. Probably should have reamed them to squeeze out a little more, but we're out of time now. No more freezing temps in the forecastTubing running cropped.jpg
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
Just one little peeper singing in Bug Tussle tonight. He is the first this season. With some more seasonal weather forecasted this weekend I am still set up to make syrup. Not much quick or easy in the sugaring....
John
100+ Taps, 40 on 5/16 tubing
Lunchbox Vacuum/Releaser, hodorskib's Small Scale RO
3x7 Stainless Flat Pan
No chickens........yet.
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/c.../Maple%20Camp/
We pulled our tubes out of the tank last night thinking it was the end, then woke up to a forecast that's calling for sugaring temps through the weekend. Buds on the sugars are not opening yet, so we may try to make a little more.
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
I just pulled all my taps Sunday and collected what was left (around 100 gallons of sap). Was boiling down last night and my father-in-law called telling me how the forecast changed.... Pretty unbelievable! I had my taps in for just over a month but probably only experienced a week and a half-two weeks of good temps. Ended with 12 gallons from 100 taps.