I collected 29 gallons from 90 buckets, and am boiling right now, looks like a good week to sugar.
I collected 29 gallons from 90 buckets, and am boiling right now, looks like a good week to sugar.
Hey Farmer James- yep we're in the middle of a good run! Good luck with your boil.
12 taps for 2009.
30+ for 2010.
30+ for 2011.
2012- Still holding around 30+ with no help in sight.
2013-Still a loner but what a Fantastic yielding year
2014- Forever a loner
2017-Still here, after trying to kick the habit.
Down to 15-20 taps with the intent to save my marriage.
Sap Haulers- Kids NADA, I tried but I'm on my own.
Buckets and Sap Saks, 4 steam pans, Block Evaporator, and single burner propane for finishing.
http://s778.photobucket.com/home/Valleyman_bucket
Just collected 35 gallons, YTD=85, and am boiling away.
Thanks, and good luck to you and all of the sugar-makers out there!
Trying to beat the snow forecast for tonight.
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
Snow on the ground makes for a good run, or at least that is the hope. 60's on tuesday.
Small time boiler here. So far I've boiled enough sap for 144 ounces of syrup. It seems like each boil gets darker in color. Is this common?
I'm also interested in what you smaller operations are getting for ratios. I know 40:1 is the rule of thumb, but my maple trees aren't supporting that theory.
Thanks for any input.
your mileage may vary.
look up the jones law. if you know the sugar content of the sap, you can be quite precise about finished volume. and yes, it varies. it can vary on the same tree within the season. the 2% number used as shorthand is just an average.
I would like to know if anyone here has used both methods on the final boil, hydrometer and thermometer. I'm curious if anyone has tested the same boil using both methods to see how accurate they are. I am using a hydrometer and was wondering what the difference is between the two, and if one is better than the other.
Thanks
Hydrometer is what you should use. It is the "true" measure of sugar content in the finished syrup.
Temperature varies. It is only a working point. The temperaure that you are at syrup will change day to day. Sometimes it will change hour to hour. It will also change depending on how hard your boil is and where the probe is at in that boil.
2008 4 buckets
~
2016 1300 vac tubing
18x24 sugar shack
2x6 Grimm Lightning w/preheater on natural gas
7" full bank press
CDL 600 RO
2000 Sonoma w/ 200gal tank
2003 Duramax w/ 500 gal tank
2 sap guzzling kids
very patient wife!
Same ol' addiction