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Thread: CT 2018 Maple Season Discussion

  1. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Ashford, CT
    Posts
    918

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    I see some guys are tapping. This year is looking like last year where some tapped in January. I wound up tapping in mid-February like I normally do and I boiled until April. I'm looking at some long range weather models and it looks like the pattern is going to change again in early February so the timing would be good. I plan on having everything ready to go this weekend and then tapping either the 3rd or 10th depending on how things look then. Good luck to everyone!
    About 300 taps
    2'x6' air tight arch
    Semi complete 12'x24' sugarhouse in Somers, CT
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
    My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

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    made some real progress on the new shack. got the roof on, cupola functional, still have to put in 6 more windows and a door and place the arch and cut a hole for the stack... so much to do, at least the weather is too cold and i'm not missing much sap action.

    20180131_170357.jpg

    I also remade the bottom of the arch to make a functional insulated ash-pan and AUF blower.
    20180201_163756.jpg
    2016 - 36 Taps - File Cabinet Arch + Food Pans
    2017 - 2.5'x10' drop flues - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 122 Taps
    2018 - 16x20 Sugar Shack - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 235 Taps

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Quaker Hill, CT
    Posts
    328

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    Nice work on the shack and bower box. Gotta be just about ready to fire that up.

    Collected another 100+ gallons this weekend even with the animals that keep eating my tubing. The forecast is looking better now that last cold snap is behind us.
    2017 25 taps on buckets got me hooked 1 gallon of sweet
    2018 51 taps on 3/16 tubing/ DIY oil tank evaporator 8.5gallons finished
    2019 60 taps 7 gallons finished ended season short
    2020 New 2x4 divided pan ready to get away from the headache that is steam table pans
    2021 off year due to pandemic and projects
    2022 back at it

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

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    A big thanks to Scott D, Luke S and Mike k for helping me get tapped in today. we worked as a team and pulled out 3000' of tubing back through the woods i had setup last year. I have never seen my natural vacuum system pull this
    hard on the gauges. 4 out of 5 lines were like this and the last one was at 26"

    20180210_150953.jpg

    Bring on the sap!! Will be boiling in a day or two! can't wait
    2016 - 36 Taps - File Cabinet Arch + Food Pans
    2017 - 2.5'x10' drop flues - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 122 Taps
    2018 - 16x20 Sugar Shack - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 235 Taps

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Quaker Hill, CT
    Posts
    328

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    Who else had a huge run this weekend in the rain? I ended up with about 150 gallons from about mid day Saturday thru today.
    2017 25 taps on buckets got me hooked 1 gallon of sweet
    2018 51 taps on 3/16 tubing/ DIY oil tank evaporator 8.5gallons finished
    2019 60 taps 7 gallons finished ended season short
    2020 New 2x4 divided pan ready to get away from the headache that is steam table pans
    2021 off year due to pandemic and projects
    2022 back at it

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    Plymouth, CT
    Posts
    46

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    Quote Originally Posted by Cjadamec View Post
    Who else had a huge run this weekend in the rain? I ended up with about 150 gallons from about mid day Saturday thru today.
    How many taps? In Plymouth I managed about a gallon a tap (52 gallons). This week looks like it will be a good one.

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Quaker Hill, CT
    Posts
    328

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    50 taps this year all on 3/16 tubing with ideal elevation drops. I have two separate runs of 25 taps each run.

    So far for the season I've collected 450 gallons of sap give or take a gallon or two. Tapped Jan 16th I think.
    2017 25 taps on buckets got me hooked 1 gallon of sweet
    2018 51 taps on 3/16 tubing/ DIY oil tank evaporator 8.5gallons finished
    2019 60 taps 7 gallons finished ended season short
    2020 New 2x4 divided pan ready to get away from the headache that is steam table pans
    2021 off year due to pandemic and projects
    2022 back at it

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Old Lyme, CT
    Posts
    272

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    I collected about 150 gallons in the last 3-4 days.

    Boiled most of it yesterday. Only about 1%-1.5% sugar. I guess that's what you get from Red Maples.

    Still haven't sweeten the pan yet.

    Mark
    Mason 2x4 w/raised flue pan, 240 gal. sap tank, 80 Reds on 5/16 tubing and Lunchbox releaser/pump, 20 sugars on buckets

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

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    I pulled in 360 gallons from a 48+ hour run saturday/sun/ into today. got the pan sweetened up and got the first two draws off already. I still have another 100 gal or so to boil tomorrow. got some kinks worked out today and will fiddle with a few things tomorrow or the next day while we wait for the next run.
    2016 - 36 Taps - File Cabinet Arch + Food Pans
    2017 - 2.5'x10' drop flues - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 122 Taps
    2018 - 16x20 Sugar Shack - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 235 Taps

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Southwest CT
    Posts
    28

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    Collected about 275 gallons. Sugar was running lower than earlier runs.

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