Tapped In Berwick
I boiled my last batch this afternoon. I dumped 8 gals. of sweet out of my flue pan into my old flat pan and in 30 minutes, had 2 gals. of syrup; a fine end to a great season. This was my 1st season experimenting with vacuum. I put 85 taps (all Reds) on 2,500 ft. of 5/16 and hooked them up to a Lunch Box. That little pump pulled an amazing amount sap out of those those reds. I didn't keep a tally, but I'm guessing at least 15 gals./tap which is about 3X what I got on buckets the previous 2 seasons. Another great addition was a 2X4 Smoky Lake drop flue pan. After tweeking my tankenstein and adding AU, I got my boil rate up to a steady 20 gals/hr.
If any reader is setting up a small vacuum system using 5/16 and a Lunch Box, I'd be happy to send pics and talk about what worked for me.
For those still in it, enjoy the rest of the season.
2015 - 40 buckets w/ drop lines
275 oil tank evaporator
2x4 flat pan
made 5 gallons!
2016 - 90 buckets
same evaporator and pan
hoping to make 12 gallons
2017 - 85 taps on vacuum w/lunchbox
50 buckets
Smoky Lake 2X4 drop flue pan