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Thread: The Log Sugar Shack

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Lawrence County Ohio
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    350

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    That's awesome. I wish I had a cedar for every poplar on our farm, I've been researching what to seal poplar logs with to keep them from rotting, thinking of sawing 4x8 cants on the bandmill an doing dovetail corners for a 12x16 shack. Great Job.
    '12 15 jugs - Steam pans
    '17 125 3/16 - 18" x 72" drop flue on homemade arch
    '18 240 3/16 - Deer Run 125
    '19 450 3/16 - Converted RO to electric/added a membrane
    '20 600 3/16 - Maple Pro 2x6 Raised Flue, added AOF/AUF
    '21 570 3/16 - Built steam hood, Smoky Lake filter press
    '22 800 3/16 - Upgraded RO to 4 4x40
    '23 500 3/16 - Re-plumbed RO, new "Guzzler"
    '24 500 3/16 - Steam Away, DIY 8x40 RO

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    hudson river valley
    Posts
    162

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    Thanks bmbmkr,

    I've heard of folks using poplar (aspen) to build cabins. I have some large poplars. It wouldn't take many to log up a wall. Finding a good preservative is the problem.

    I had an old article about building with aspen poplar logs. I have to wonder though if using poplar for a sugar shack wouldn't add an extra threat of rot from the steam.
    2019-2023 40 to 50 taps to get 8 to 10 gallons of syrup
    2018 Built the sugar shack, produced 10.5 gallons (converted some to sugar,& cream). taps varied 45 to 50
    2017 Built 2x4 arch for a divided pan, 8.5 gallons from 30 taps increased to 42 taps during season.
    2016 Produced 3 gallons & 1 quart Syrup, Block arch & 3 buffet pans, 12 taps
    2015 Thought about tapping

  3. #23
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Chatham NH
    Posts
    1,309

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    Quote Originally Posted by bmbmkr View Post
    That's awesome. I wish I had a cedar for every poplar on our farm, I've been researching what to seal poplar logs with to keep them from rotting, thinking of sawing 4x8 cants on the bandmill an doing dovetail corners for a 12x16 shack. Great Job.
    I think if you could do large over hangs and keep the siding up away from the ground that the poplar would last quite a long time, but it definitely likes to be dry.
    Nate Hutchins
    Nate & Kate's Maple
    2022 1000 taps?
    3x10 Intensofire
    20x36 sugarhouse
    CDL 600gph RO
    A wife and 2 kids.

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    hudson river valley
    Posts
    162

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    Here's the article I mentioned. https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/LSFES...s_aspen_15.pdf

    It's old but has some useful information. I doubt the wood preservatives mentioned are still applicable.
    2019-2023 40 to 50 taps to get 8 to 10 gallons of syrup
    2018 Built the sugar shack, produced 10.5 gallons (converted some to sugar,& cream). taps varied 45 to 50
    2017 Built 2x4 arch for a divided pan, 8.5 gallons from 30 taps increased to 42 taps during season.
    2016 Produced 3 gallons & 1 quart Syrup, Block arch & 3 buffet pans, 12 taps
    2015 Thought about tapping

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Lawrence County Ohio
    Posts
    350

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    Quote Originally Posted by red dorakeen View Post
    Here's the article I mentioned. https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/LSFES...s_aspen_15.pdf

    It's old but has some useful information. I doubt the wood preservatives mentioned are still applicable.
    I love reading these old timber publications almost as I love boiling sap. we have yellow or tulip poplars here. My house is framed with it, as was the house I grew up in. Two barns on the property are framed and sided with it, from our own sawmill. It is ok siding if you keep it dry as N8 said. I am trying to talk my dad into letting me have some of his white oaks for sills and can use my own red oaks for a timber frame in the future sugar house. Maybe before my 7 year old gets to adult hood, I'll build her a cabin with poplar cants. All the cedars around here have been harvested for fence posts and not many wood lots replanted.
    '12 15 jugs - Steam pans
    '17 125 3/16 - 18" x 72" drop flue on homemade arch
    '18 240 3/16 - Deer Run 125
    '19 450 3/16 - Converted RO to electric/added a membrane
    '20 600 3/16 - Maple Pro 2x6 Raised Flue, added AOF/AUF
    '21 570 3/16 - Built steam hood, Smoky Lake filter press
    '22 800 3/16 - Upgraded RO to 4 4x40
    '23 500 3/16 - Re-plumbed RO, new "Guzzler"
    '24 500 3/16 - Steam Away, DIY 8x40 RO

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Kawartha
    Posts
    65

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    Just saw your little shack and must say I think its so cool. My shack is the same size with a woodshed on the back side of it one thing about it you will never be cold in there bet you are enjoying it Red
    Sapman

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    hudson river valley
    Posts
    162

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dlee View Post
    Just saw your little shack and must say I think its so cool. My shack is the same size with a woodshed on the back side of it one thing about it you will never be cold in there bet you are enjoying it Red
    Thanks Dlee,

    Definitely nice to have a comfortable shack.
    2019-2023 40 to 50 taps to get 8 to 10 gallons of syrup
    2018 Built the sugar shack, produced 10.5 gallons (converted some to sugar,& cream). taps varied 45 to 50
    2017 Built 2x4 arch for a divided pan, 8.5 gallons from 30 taps increased to 42 taps during season.
    2016 Produced 3 gallons & 1 quart Syrup, Block arch & 3 buffet pans, 12 taps
    2015 Thought about tapping

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    North Central WI
    Posts
    49

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    Quote Originally Posted by red dorakeen View Post
    Thanks bmbmkr,

    I've heard of folks using poplar (aspen) to build cabins. I have some large poplars. It wouldn't take many to log up a wall. Finding a good preservative is the problem.

    I had an old article about building with aspen poplar logs. I have to wonder though if using poplar for a sugar shack wouldn't add an extra threat of rot from the steam.
    Red, that is one of the nicest looking log shacks I've seen, and I've seen many here in the upper Midwest. I can attest for the use of aspen for log construction....my dad and grandfather built a 16x30 log cabin with roofed breezeway and connected 16x20 woodshed back in the early 50's in the U.P. and they used aspen, basswood, spruce, cedar, hemlock; vertical log construction, built high and dry and everything still in great shape. A couple of years ago, I built a vertical log sugar shack here in my woods and used cedar and spruce from our land in the U.P., as well as some pine harvested locally; the only suggestion my dad gave me for my construction was to stay away from balsam. I used aspen cut from my woods here for the door and window headers as that dries hard and strong...two of them span 8 feet (one overhead door, one picture window) and even with all the snow we had last winter, and a shed roof design, checking several times over the winter through spring, there was zero sag so they are doing the job. I too, was worried about all the steam so I built a hood and power vent the steam through an exhaust vent through the roof. I used a high quality log home stain/sealer on the exterior.
    2010 - 12 taps, turkey fryer, 4 quarts
    2011 - 24 taps, homemade arch from old water tank, 16"x24" flat pan, 16+ quarts
    2012 - 9 taps, 3 pints, what a season
    2013 - 60 taps, homemade oil tank arch with 2'x4' flat pan, 16"x24" finishing pan on electric range, 55 quarts
    2014 - 80 taps, homemade oil tank arch with 2'x4' flat pan, 16"x24" finishing pan on electric range, 40 quarts
    2015 - 100 taps, 15 gallons
    2016 - 115 taps, 13.5 gallons
    2017 - 120 taps, 13 gallons
    2018 - 130 taps, 11 gallons

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    hudson river valley
    Posts
    162

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    Thanks Johnny Yooper, I considered vertical logs also.

    Your vertical log sugar house looks great.
    2019-2023 40 to 50 taps to get 8 to 10 gallons of syrup
    2018 Built the sugar shack, produced 10.5 gallons (converted some to sugar,& cream). taps varied 45 to 50
    2017 Built 2x4 arch for a divided pan, 8.5 gallons from 30 taps increased to 42 taps during season.
    2016 Produced 3 gallons & 1 quart Syrup, Block arch & 3 buffet pans, 12 taps
    2015 Thought about tapping

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