Tapping in Western PA

[sbedilion]

The cold spell was a nice break but im itching for this weeks flood gates to open.

New labels arrived today.

IMG_0009.jpg

[Gary R]

Chatted with Sugarmaker the other day. Hope to get up there soon. Here's a picture of my BAT mobile. It works good but doesn't really like deep snow. We usually have mud.

Randy, better get it in gear! tomorrow looks like the day to start boiling. Good Luck!BAT mobile - Copy.jpg

[Sugarmaker]

Gary,
You were supposed to put another coat of wax on the BAT moblle!
Humm,
We might get a small run today? Things are just starting to thaw!
Looking good!
Regards,
Chris

[Gary R]

The neighbors balked at using my entire operation. They put up 33 buckets yesterday and will do a few more tomorrow. They boil on a flat pan on a fire place in a log cabin. I'll get a picture in a few days. I'm going to haul some sap from my 3/16" tubing over there. I need to make sure they get good long boils in The best thing is I get to watch and drink THEIR beer!

Chris, I realized no matter how well I waxed the BAT mobile, it wouldn't be as pretty as your sap hauler

[Sugarmaker]

Gary,
Best of both worlds: Them boiling and you consuming their frosty beverages. Don't forget to keep mentioning your rigs boiling rate, and the amount of time they still need to boil, and if they want you to bring them another tank full of sap? Just kidding Have fun!
BAT mobile is looking good As is!
We may be boiling Thursday afternoon/ evening based on the current forecast. Man it is going to be cold tonight, and will take a day or two to thaw out!
Canned up 9 gallons of nice Amber syrup yesterday.
Regards,
Chris

[sbedilion]

Boiled down 100 gallons yesterday down to about 10 gallons concentrate. I have about 2 gallons finished and now 2 batches of concentrate (about 10 gal each) that I need to finish. That should give me about 4 gallons finished so far. I haven't checked the barrels from yesterday's small run but I'm assuming with today's temps I'll have another 100gals to gather after work.

I've been really disappointed with my sap's sugar content. I'm right at 1%-1.5%. I have 3 lines on 3/16th gravity (roughly 75 taps)....but I honestly dont know what type of maple they are. I will have to get a few pictures and post them. I don't mind collecting low sugar sap this year...but next year I will definitely build a small RO system to help. Does sugar content raise some as we get closer to spring? Last year I taps several huge sugar maples with bags...I miss them (haha).

helptheold.....were you at the liquor store yesterday? i stopped in to buy some wine to drink while sitting by the fire. the cashier goes..."you smell like campfire". i told him i was making syrup in my driveway, which is why i smelled like campfire. He told me a woman just left that mentioned she had tapped some neighbor trees.

[Sugarmaker]

Boiled down 100 gallons yesterday down to about 10 gallons concentrate. I have about 2 gallons finished and now 2 batches of concentrate (about 10 gal each) that I need to finish. That should give me about 4 gallons finished so far. I haven't checked the barrels from yesterday's small run but I'm assuming with today's temps I'll have another 100gals to gather after work.

I've been really disappointed with my sap's sugar content. I'm right at 1%-1.5%. I have 3 lines on 3/16th gravity (roughly 75 taps)....but I honestly dont know what type of maple they are. I will have to get a few pictures and post them. I don't mind collecting low sugar sap this year...but next year I will definitely build a small RO system to help. Does sugar content raise some as we get closer to spring? Last year I taps several huge sugar maples with bags...I miss them (haha).

helptheold.....were you at the liquor store yesterday? i stopped in to buy some wine to drink while sitting by the fire. the cashier goes..."you smell like campfire". i told him i was making syrup in my driveway, which is why i smelled like campfire. He told me a woman just left that mentioned she had tapped some neighbor trees.

The RO will help you boil a lot less. Or you might find some sugarmaples to bring the sugar content up to 2%.
Good luck in your syrup making.
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Cold last night in, in the low teens, sun is out and its looking good for this week to make some syrup about Thursday. Looking at the calendar this is about the time I would usually start to tap. Jumped the gun this year . Will see how that shakes out at the end of the season.
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

Taking a shot at the forcast. This is what we should be seeing by Wed evening or Thurs evening?
Made a gallon of first run syrup into candy today.
In the "getting ready again" mode
Water heater went south in the sugarhouse. Elec. company will be out to fix that. Seems to be running on just one element.



Regards,
Chris

[sbedilion]

black maple?

IMG_0078.jpg

IMG_0074.jpg

IMG_0082.jpg

IMG_0082.jpg

all my trees look like this...getting 1% sap. will it get better?