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Thread: 40 gallon ice block

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Roseville, Mn
    Posts
    2

    Default 40 gallon ice block

    checked my tank this am, i got a 40 gallon ice block. Any advice?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Birdsboro PA
    Posts
    1,326

    Default

    Lift it up and build a fire under it.
    Homemade arch!
    first year 2012 50 taps late season made 2 1/2 gals.

    2013 2x6 homemade arch 180 taps. 20 Gals.

    2014 40 on 3/16 gravity 160 on buckets.

    http://omasranch.wix.com/omasmaple

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    minnesota (isle)
    Posts
    62

    Default

    leave it, it will help keep sap cool when it runs again
    Custom built downsized Small Bros. arch and leader pan
    Carrying on the wifes family tradition with the help of my brother and my cousin
    two miles of almost impassable woods road to get to the sugar bush and shack (heaven)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Roseville, Mn
    Posts
    2

    Default

    What a weird year. Here I was floating ice blocks in my tank and worrying about the sap spoiling and now the whole tank is frozen. Crazy!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

    Default

    I've had that a few times this year, first the sap runs then before I get it collected we have a multi day freeze. At one point I had a 150 gal block in one tank and about a 250 gal block in another, sap that ran after last pick up until hard freeze. Right now I have near zero in either tank, having pumped both late in the day with our last freeze up.
    They always help for a while as the sap starts running again, but they don't seem to last as long as expected if the incoming new sap gets up into the mid 40's or above.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    46

    Default

    Bring it into a building next time I learned my lesson last week when I had 110 gallons frozen in 5 gallons pails. I moved mine all into the garage on Thursday when they were partial frozen, and they still have ice in them, but should be good to cook tomorrow.. The last 2 years I couldn't seem to keep the stuff cold this year seems to be about perfect.
    2015 18 taps 3.5 gallons
    2016 24 taps 4.5 gallons
    2017 40 taps 15.25 gallons

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Adirondacks
    Posts
    2,786

    Default

    It's a roller coaster season this year. But yeah leave the ice block you will be glad I did later in the season, do you have an alternate tank to use in the meantime once it starts running again?
    FIRST GENERATION SUGARMAKER
    First boil 2/22/2012! Went Pefect!
    3,500' of laterals
    1,000' of mainline
    2012 - 105 taps on gravity, 12 sap sacks.
    2013 - 175 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks = 200 taps for 2013! Second year.
    2014 - 250 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks
    Tapped on February 16, 2014
    2015 - adding vac sap puller no more gravity for me!
    275 gallon holding tank for 2014
    20'x30' Sugarhouse

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Birdsboro PA
    Posts
    1,326

    Default

    40 gallon should thaw easy enough, but I've had a hundred or so in a tote in a ravine that got green before anything thawed.
    first year 2012 50 taps late season made 2 1/2 gals.

    2013 2x6 homemade arch 180 taps. 20 Gals.

    2014 40 on 3/16 gravity 160 on buckets.

    http://omasranch.wix.com/omasmaple

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Arlington, MN
    Posts
    28

    Default

    Pump 20 gallons of hot sap into barrel and agitate. works like a charm.
    2.5 x 6.5 custom built wood fired arch.
    2018- 300 on 3/16, 100 in pails on the flat.
    35 years experience still haven't mastered the fire
    Polaris Ranger collection vehicle
    Super excited to try out the new AUF system 2018

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