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Thread: Some good days ahead but I'm done for 2018

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Northern Indiana
    Posts
    100

    Default Some good days ahead but I'm done for 2018

    Have about 20 gal. Of syrup made, my reds and silvers are budding out (90%of my bush) and sap production is slow to nothing, my few sugar maples are doing awesome but not enough to justify holding back my other spring chores...2018 was a good year for me, not great, but good...see ya next year!
    (The next week or so should be great if your trees aren't budding)
    2016:100 taps added a JD 1023 sub compact tractor
    2015:break (new baby)
    2014: 70 taps, replaced my concrete arch with a manufactured
    2013: Added 15 more taps and a 18x24 warming pan
    2012 : 36 Taps, 2x4 divided pan on a concrete arch
    2006-07: Assisted an 'Old Timer' with 200 tapps, and his wood fired evaporator up in Wis.
    1986-1993: 5 taps, Boiled on a wood stove in Northern Mich.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

    Default

    Are you on tubing or buckets/bags? If on tubing the holes remain open longer. As to the buds, do you see any green yet, if no green the sap is still good to boil, if any green is visible it's done.
    Have a great year, til you again do maple, may next year be your best ever.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Northern Indiana
    Posts
    100

    Default

    Bags and buckets
    2016:100 taps added a JD 1023 sub compact tractor
    2015:break (new baby)
    2014: 70 taps, replaced my concrete arch with a manufactured
    2013: Added 15 more taps and a 18x24 warming pan
    2012 : 36 Taps, 2x4 divided pan on a concrete arch
    2006-07: Assisted an 'Old Timer' with 200 tapps, and his wood fired evaporator up in Wis.
    1986-1993: 5 taps, Boiled on a wood stove in Northern Mich.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Munster Indiana
    Posts
    103

    Default

    Yeah I'm done for the year also. Tapping all silvers so it's usually a short season for me. Made about 13 gallons this year so I'm fairly happy

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Pulaski County, IN
    Posts
    18

    Default

    I am on a north facing slope down in a hole so my sugar maples don't show any signs of budding yet. I have enough wood to keep going but I tapped about 7 weeks ago so if will weather stays fit I will see how long tap holes in the the tubing system keep flowing. I am about a 1 hour drive south of Lake Michigan

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Westville, IN
    Posts
    23

    Default

    Banner year and the sap keeps flowing. With the 15 day weather pattern it could keep going for another 2-3 weeks. Absolutely the perfect "storm" for clear sap up here in northwest Indiana. I think the trees are making up for the poor season I had last year. The only problem now is I've neglected other aspects of the farm, other job and family. So, I'll call it quits next week (I think). When all is said and done should be just over 100 gallon finished. Great year and enjoy the summer.
    2011 forest inventory
    2012 feet wet with 30 taps
    2012 friends 2x4 pan
    2013 all in 250 taps on buckets
    2013 Patrick Phenauf 2x6 with steam hood
    2014 350 on vac and buckets
    2014 Indiana Vacuum 20cfm
    2014 Deer Valley RO250gph

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valme...18208831548247

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    Lebanon, IN
    Posts
    291

    Default

    After 8 1/2 weeks, 3,282 gallons of sap, 63 1/8 gallons of syrup (52:1) and about 225 visitors to the sugarhouse everything has pretty much quit running so we're calling it for the year.
    Doug
    Maple Creations
    Coatesville, IN
    350 taps on 5/16 tubing & 4 Lunchbox pumps
    MemProTec Concentrator 300 RO
    Wood-fired 30"x8' D&G Model 500 raised-flue w/Steam hood & blower
    Smoky Lake finisher, D&G filter press,
    http://www.facebook.com/maplecreations

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Pulaski County, IN
    Posts
    18

    Default

    We finished up this past weekend. We did much better then our goals were. Collected 4715 gallons of sap and made 76 gallons of syrup. The taps slowed considerably the last week (9th week). The new to us tubing system really extended our season. I am now ready for springtime chores that are pilling up so it was a good stopping point.

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