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Thread: Making sugar by hand (video)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Sumner, ME
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    499

    Default Making sugar by hand (video)

    Ok, so its not exactly a masterpiece. This is my wife stirring a 3 qt batch of syrup in an 8 qt pot. We add 2-3 drops of canola oil. It takes about 1 1/2 hours to come up to 260. Then move it to the sink and stir. It's really only a couple minutes of hard work. Sift once it has cooled (grind up the lumps and re-sift those) and we typically get 5+ lbs of granulated sugar and less than 1/2 lb of "crunchies". We'll have 2 pots going at once and start a batch every hour. One person can keep up with it, but if we're both around we'll often take turns stirring.

    https://www.facebook.com/AbbottsFami...4371045378197/
    Last edited by abbott; 05-02-2017 at 12:27 PM. Reason: make the link work
    Steven Abbott
    Over 900 taps on vacuum
    30" x 10' D&G Woodsaver evaporator with Steamaway
    Half acre market garden
    2 farmers in training

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Lancaster NH
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    143

    Default

    Thanks for that Im going to give 3 qts a try.
    44 27'08/71 27'56
    300 totalish taps 250 on tube and bosworth sap sucker
    50 bucket and bags about 40-50 gallons a season
    on a 2 by 7 home made evaporator and sugar shack
    1st gen circa 1966 still learning stuff

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Chatham NH
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    Default

    Nice video Steven ,kinda looks a lot like how I did it. Imagine that. Thanks for the pointers.
    Nate Hutchins
    Nate & Kate's Maple
    2022 1000 taps?
    3x10 Intensofire
    20x36 sugarhouse
    CDL 600gph RO
    A wife and 2 kids.

  4. #4
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    Mar 2009
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    Sumner, ME
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MapleCamp View Post
    Thanks for that Im going to give 3 qts a try.
    Good luck. As long as you don't boil over and get it all the way up to 255-260, it should work. Worst case scenario is you come out with a lot of chunks mixed in.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
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    What are you guys using for a sifter? The hand crank flour sifters or just a manual pan sifter? Does it matter? I'm planning to try and do some this weekend.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    Chatham NH
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    I've been using a Large Hand Crank sifter, the last 2 batches I've made have not been as Dry when finished as previous batches, I'm thinking that it might be Humidity related? Or possibly an Invert sugar thing? Either way I think it would be best to do on a Dry air day or in an Airconditioned kitchen. Good luck
    Nate Hutchins
    Nate & Kate's Maple
    2022 1000 taps?
    3x10 Intensofire
    20x36 sugarhouse
    CDL 600gph RO
    A wife and 2 kids.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
    Posts
    1,044

    Default

    Thanks Nate, we've found with our lollipops that humidity can make or break success so I guess that doesn't surprise me about the sugar. Do you let it cool down to room temperature for sifting or while its still warm? Does it matter?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
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    Just want to say thanks for posting the video. Just did some last night and got 4.75 lbs sugar and 0.5 lb crunches. Came out great, plan to do more soon.

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