Eastern Ontario 2018

[Ontario Ian]

We tapped today...
33 buckets! Couldn't wait one day longer. Every tap was dripping.. oh I'm excited!

when the bug bites..... we tapped also, it's seems very early but the 2 week forcast looks ok!

[Galena]

Ditto, I tapped this evening and most of the taps are going.

One thing causin me some concern, though. Small light green lichen that looks almost like a paint spatter going up the trunks of the trees. Is it just lichen or mold? Is it harmful to the trees? Will post some pics tomorrow, had enough wading around in soggy snow for one day.

[Fort Wisers]

We tapped this weekend past.
We were late getting to the game last year and vowed we wouldn't be this year LOL.
Seems so odd to tap in February but, as everyone is mentioning, hard to resist with what the forecast is calling for.
Good luck everyone!

[Galena]

We tapped this weekend past.
We were late getting to the game last year and vowed we wouldn't be this year LOL.
Seems so odd to tap in February but, as everyone is mentioning, hard to resist with what the forecast is calling for.
Good luck everyone!

LOL I wouldn't say you were late getting to the game at all, at least not this year. I also far prefer to tap in March, but also have to go with the temps say. Not so sure how good the run will be with temps just above zero the next little while though.

ETA: Just finished first collection. 17l during first 24 hrs (actually make that more like 18 hrs). All trees going, and while collecting from my bush maple, noticed another tree about same size, age, appearance etc....all leaves at its base are maple leaves, and it sure doesn't look like a Manitoba maple or birch. So gave it a spile. Will keep its sap separate til I am sure it's maple, then just chuck it in with the rest.

Flow is definitely slowing with the cooling temps though, have no idea what to expect past this weekend.

[BrutemanAl]

Tapping bit is only used for a (cordless) drill. It is designed with a sharper point than a typical "universal" drill bit, and the flutes are sharp as well to allow it to cut well in hard (and frozen) wood. Run it on your high speed setting and a quick in and out.

With a brace - you can't get up enough speed to take advantage of a tapping bit. Use an auger bit. Try to hold your brace consistently level to avoid making an oval hole.

As a side note - the 5/16" plastic (blue) bucket taps are more sensitive to an oval hole than the old metal taps. Plastic bucket taps need to be close to level (5 degree slope max) or the weight of a full bucket will tend to pull them out of the tree. Unlike the typical older metal spile, there is very little taper to them, so not much "wedging" into the hole to seal it and hold them tight.

This maybe a silly question .... but when you say a “ Brace” what do you mean?

That was some good info Eddy, I didn’t know that about the plastic spikes but it makes sense.

I need to come for a visit Big Eddy, would like to see your evaporator in action.


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[BrutemanAl]

Ohhh and yesterday after work I collected 41 L, brought it home and buried it in a snow pile I made in my back yard, today I only collected about 9 L. I will start to boil it this weekend.


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[Big_Eddy]

This maybe a silly question .... but when you say a “ Brace” what do you mean?

That was some good info Eddy, I didn’t know that about the plastic spikes but it makes sense.

I need to come for a visit Big Eddy, would like to see your evaporator in action.


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Brace Brace.jpg

We should be boiling on the weekend.
Steam rising = visitors welcome.

[paulslund]

I ended up tapping 9 of the 20 trees Monday afternoon, and 7 this afternoon with the kids. The rest will go in this weekend. Not a lot dripping though, so I don't think I missed anything... Some higher temps this weekend for a few days.. then drops to around 2 give or take.. Odd that the forecast dropped... usually the understate so as not to tease us until they know for sure what the temps will be (yes.. that sounds like a conspiracy, but I'm positive that's what they do! :-) )

[BrutemanAl]

Brace Attachment 17737

We should be boiling on the weekend.
Steam rising = visitors welcome.

That’s what I thought it was


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[Maplelane1]

Alright then... I'm going to tap today; this evening, after work actually.

I missed out on most of last years run, which was my first tapping year. In the end I collected 20 gal of sap that left me with a measly 1.5l of syrup that went moldy because of a couple mistakes we made during the jarring process. Did I say I'm a newb... Anyhow after last years tapping and boiling experience I'm now even more intrigued about it all, if not already hooked. Wishing all a good tapping season.

And thanks for all your posts everyone. This newb is learning heaps.