I guess I missed out. I have been busy with a kitchen remodel and never tapped by backyard trees. I don't see any good temps in Bergen County for the next 10 days. I'm so ticked.
I guess I missed out. I have been busy with a kitchen remodel and never tapped by backyard trees. I don't see any good temps in Bergen County for the next 10 days. I'm so ticked.
2016- 1st year 2 taps in rear year due to late ordering equipment. 7 1/2 gallons of sap from Norway maple= 3 pints of syrup. Hooked and looking at neighborhood tree.
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2020-Leader Micro2 RO added, 210 taps
2019-165 taps ,24 gallons syrup made.
2017-crazy weather. 18 gallons
2010-1st year,30 taps on buckets ,concrete block and 4 stainless pans
It got down to 29 at my place last night. This afternoon the trees were barely dripping. Next good freeze won't happen until Sunday night. Got the trailer fixed and brought 500 gls home. Don't have much snow left packed arounf the tanks
Dave C.
2011 - 130 Taps
2017 - 300 Taps (all gravity)
2x8 Leader Revolution Evaporator
12x18 Sugarhouse
2021 - 350 taps
Leader Micro2 RO
Leader Clear Filter press
2023 - 390 Taps
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2020-Leader Micro2 RO added, 210 taps
2019-165 taps ,24 gallons syrup made.
2017-crazy weather. 18 gallons
2010-1st year,30 taps on buckets ,concrete block and 4 stainless pans
What do you use to do that? I always rinse good with clean water, then put some white vinegar in and leave it. Maybe heat it up for a short time and brush good, but it takes a while.
Is there a better alternative? Also, at the end of the season, do you do anything to take the black carbon off the bottom of the pan? does easy-off or anything work on that, or is it just brush/wipe it off as best as possible?
Thanks
John
All red maples:
2013/4 - A few taps and propane burner
2015 - 54 taps on bags and buckets, 2x3 Mason evaporator - 3.5 gallons syrup finished and bottled
2016 - 72 taps on home-built vacuum/mainline system, home built RO (2 - 2.5 x 21 membranes) - 9+ gallons syrup finished and bottled
2017 - 91 taps upgrade to RO (single 4 x 40 membrane) - 13 gallons syrup
2018 - 91 taps - 12 gallons syrup
2022 - Back after 3 years off, 106 taps on vacuum - 29+ gallons syrup
Inside evaporator to get scale off I use HDA 1000 USDA approved phosphoric acid cleaner and brightener from my maple supply guy at Catskill Mountain Maple.diluted per instructions. Toss in some wood into firebox and let it rip to near boil but not boiling walk away and let it sit a day or 2. Scale floats off the pans no scrubbing like magic. Pressure wash flues and bottom of syrup pan. I have also left sap in evaporator to ferment. The bacteria make it acid enough to remove scale, then pressure wash everything. Smells aweful gets jelly like and nasty, but works great. My lines I flush with well water, hooke right to my hose bib spigot.
180 gravity mostly reds
15 buckets
2x6 waterloo small maple pro
Thanks for the info. With the vacuum, I can easily flush my lines with a very dilute bleach solution just suck it in thru the spiles when I take them out of the trees. All runs downhill thru the releaser and sap tank, so that part is easy!
regards
John
All red maples:
2013/4 - A few taps and propane burner
2015 - 54 taps on bags and buckets, 2x3 Mason evaporator - 3.5 gallons syrup finished and bottled
2016 - 72 taps on home-built vacuum/mainline system, home built RO (2 - 2.5 x 21 membranes) - 9+ gallons syrup finished and bottled
2017 - 91 taps upgrade to RO (single 4 x 40 membrane) - 13 gallons syrup
2018 - 91 taps - 12 gallons syrup
2022 - Back after 3 years off, 106 taps on vacuum - 29+ gallons syrup
[QUOTE=John-NJ;322789]What do you use to do that? I always rinse good with clean water, then put some white vinegar in and leave it. Maybe heat it up for a short time and brush good, but it takes a while.
Is there a better alternative? Also, at the end of the season, do you do anything to take the black carbon off the bottom of the pan? does easy-off or anything work on that, or is it just brush/wipe it off as best as possible?
I use vinegar then water , I'm hoping to boil more after the next few warm days. I get it boiling and use scotchbrite. 4 gallons vinegar and about 5 gallons water heat up and simmer for about an hour . wash it out good. End of season I power wash under side of pan. Tubing I'm not sure of cause this is first year with long runs.
_____________________________________________
2020-Leader Micro2 RO added, 210 taps
2019-165 taps ,24 gallons syrup made.
2017-crazy weather. 18 gallons
2010-1st year,30 taps on buckets ,concrete block and 4 stainless pans