Got tapped today. Early for me but a couple of weeks late for this season. Nothing running mid afternoon, too cold. Going to set up the vacuum tomorrow then off and running. Hopefully not too short of a season.
Got tapped today. Early for me but a couple of weeks late for this season. Nothing running mid afternoon, too cold. Going to set up the vacuum tomorrow then off and running. Hopefully not too short of a season.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
Jim how many taps do you have out this year? What are you using for vacuum?
1000 taps on vac down to 100+ buckets 99% sugars
2x5 SL Hi-Output Raised Flue Corsair evaporator
SL Short bank press with CDL diaphragm pump
Leader Micro 1 RO for 2024
Constantly changing
2010:36 gal 2011:126 gal 2012:81 gal 2013:248 gal 2014: 329.5 gal 2015:305 gal 2016:316 gal 2017:258 gal 2018:147 gal 2019:91 gal 2020:30 gal 2021:30 gal 2023:50 gal Total since 2010: 2047.5 gal
Tapping the same trees my great, great and great grandfathers tapped.
Expanded a little. About 140, ran some new laterals and may be able to get 200. Same little vacuum pump I’ve ran for a few years a Bosworth single diaphragm Sap Guzzler. Was by your place yesterday around 2:30 - 3:00 but you weren’t boiling.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
Started around 5pm.
1000 taps on vac down to 100+ buckets 99% sugars
2x5 SL Hi-Output Raised Flue Corsair evaporator
SL Short bank press with CDL diaphragm pump
Leader Micro 1 RO for 2024
Constantly changing
2010:36 gal 2011:126 gal 2012:81 gal 2013:248 gal 2014: 329.5 gal 2015:305 gal 2016:316 gal 2017:258 gal 2018:147 gal 2019:91 gal 2020:30 gal 2021:30 gal 2023:50 gal Total since 2010: 2047.5 gal
Tapping the same trees my great, great and great grandfathers tapped.
Ran 725 gallons through the RO, sweetened the pans and made 6 gallons of syrup. To most that’s not a lot but after missing last year I’m just happy to be making syrup again. Got to use my new filter press and I am very impressed. Had visitors from Albion, Sugarmaker and Scott R. Glad they stopped in to keep me straight. If you can believe the extended forecast then next two weeks for around here looks real good. Fingers crossed.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
Trees slowed down again today. Long string of freezing nights starting Tuesday if extended forecast can be trusted. Spent today cleaning the RO and a little bit of basic maintenance to get ready for next week.
Last edited by Father & Son; 03-02-2023 at 11:36 PM.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
Everything slowed down around here today. Snow and low 30’s things never got going. Much the same for tomorrow.
The Maple Taste and Tour for NW PA is tomorrow and Sunday.
For a list of participating sugar houses go to www.pamaple.org.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
After a couple of days below freezing, some snow, and otherwise winter weather today warmed up and the trees reset and woke back up. 185 taps on a Sap Guzzler brought 400 gallons of 2.0%. Low tonight in the 40’s, should run all night. Busy day ahead.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
Ran all night Thursday into Friday. Over 3 gpt. Grade lightened up to Amber Rich. Saturday never thawed enough to run and now on Sunday 4-5 inches of snow and cold. We’re having February weather in mid March.
1B8FAE81-6522-4456-899F-3E139693D696.jpg
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"
Tank overflowing Monday at 10:00 pm. 325 gallons of 2.2%. Tonight looks like it might be the last freeze for at least a week. This will probably be the end of the season for this area. Set the pump up in the morning and run it till the trees shut down. Hopefully 36-48 hrs and see what I can end up with.
12 x 16 Sugarhouse, 12 x 16 Woodshed
2 x 8 “The Mutt” Evaporator with Marcland Drawoff
Leader oil fired arch, Dallaire raised flue, Smoky Lake syrup pan and hoods with pre-heater
New Leader Clear Filter Press/Air Diaphragm Pump
5” Hand Pump Filter Press from Daryl-One of the first three! On loan to a friend.
Deer Run 250 gal/hr RO
A Very Understanding Wife
"At any time during the day you're only 10 seconds from disaster!"