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Thread: western mass 2018

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    westfield ma
    Posts
    438

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    yeah ive removed taps from a few largely swollen reds but im still tricking along ( making a few last gals of dark syrup for making beer) the guy places him order every year and wants the darkest stuff i can make , but im sure the buddie end is right around my next corner . my bro in law pulled his taps in blandford yesterday, saying his trees had slowed and didn`t want to drag along anymore . it has been a great season syrup totals wise , but holy cow it took lots of gals of sap to get there...... hopefully next season yields a large amount of sap again with higher ( my normal ) sugar content lol good luck to those of you still going or still waiting
    2x6 leader WSE with AUF, hood,preheater
    waterguy RO
    leader 16 gal custom water jacketed canner
    10 in short stack wes fab filter press
    540 taps on tubing with vac & always adding
    2- benders running 25" hg from GAST vac pumps
    few stainless bulk tanks
    1978 chevy 1 ton 4x4 dually
    IH T340 dozer with 6-way blade

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

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    How did you two do for the season?

    I had very low sugar, despite tossing a lot of ice this year. So not as much syrup as I'd hoped. But I had a good time, and made some **** good syrup. Enough for me, family, and friends. And my wife didn't kill me. So it's all good.
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  3. #33
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Savoy, MA
    Posts
    490

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    I'm still going strong at 2,000 ft. and no sign of slowing down. I can barely keep up with the sap flow. I've been collecting full buckets every day. My trails are all still covered with about a foot of packed snow which makes collecting sap easy with a snowmobile.

    I've made more syrup this year than I've ever had, though like everybody else, I experienced low sugar concentrations in the sap. I think I'll have some good flow this week and will probably pull my taps and buckets next weekend.
    16x24 Timber Frame Sugar House
    Mason 2x4 Evaporator
    90 trees on buckets

  4. #34
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Chesterfield MA
    Posts
    488

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    I had 2% plus for two weeks. It dropped to 1 1/2% end of last week. We should hit our 10 gallon goal this year or darn close to it. We collected a total of 493 gallons of sap for the season. My 3/16" cranked out the sap for 10 days straight. Now it barely drips. It was short and very sweet for us.

    Bigschuss, I bet you have another solid week to 2 weeks or run left.
    1st Year Turkey Fryer Guru-10 taps and No Clue
    2nd Year Warming Pans on a Barrel Unit-25 taps Still No Clue
    3rd Year 2 X 3 Divided Pan on a NEW Homemade Barrel Unit-45 taps Starting To Learn
    4th year (2017) Mason 2 X 3 Inside Small Shack-85 Taps I Think I'm Addicted!!

  5. #35
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Savoy, MA
    Posts
    490

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    Quote Originally Posted by johnpma View Post
    Bigschuss, I bet you have another solid week to 2 weeks or run left.
    That'd be a good bet johnpma! I think you're right.
    16x24 Timber Frame Sugar House
    Mason 2x4 Evaporator
    90 trees on buckets

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Chesterfield MA
    Posts
    488

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    93 Taps (including 18 buckets) (12 taps on 3/16” tubing, balance on 5/16” gravity)
    Collected a total of 483 gallons of sap
    Produced 9 ½ gallon of syrup (dark amber early, and light amber late)
    This was a record year for our small operation
    1st Year Turkey Fryer Guru-10 taps and No Clue
    2nd Year Warming Pans on a Barrel Unit-25 taps Still No Clue
    3rd Year 2 X 3 Divided Pan on a NEW Homemade Barrel Unit-45 taps Starting To Learn
    4th year (2017) Mason 2 X 3 Inside Small Shack-85 Taps I Think I'm Addicted!!

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

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    Wow! That's over a gallon per tap. Nice work!
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Western Ma.
    Posts
    39

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    We have experienced a good year this year too. We are up to 14.5 gallons so far this year. I am at 2150 feet elevation and I think I will get this week and then that will be it. My sugar content was all over the map this year. 1.5%-3% was the norm. Last weekend was 2%. Some good syrup though.
    Pure Mountain Maple
    Lapierre Mini-Pro
    12x16 sugarhouse
    John Deere 1050 4wd
    John Deere 2130 HFWD
    2- 35 gallon leg tanks, one 65 gallon leg tank
    100 gallon sap feed-tank
    Started with 12 buckets on a flat pan 2013
    2023 - 55 taps. all buckets

  9. #39
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Stockbridge,Ma
    Posts
    285

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    Finally finished packaging everything today and we had a good year. Made 317 gallons on 1100 taps, no vacuum. Maybe next year.

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