I walked my lease today. This is the one I did not get to tap last season because of my health issue. I was pleasantly surprised. Just checked the mains and maybe 30% of the laterals. So far much less damage than 2 years ago. Also decided how I will change at the tank and add more vacuum. Will use the existing chassis on the Surge pump. Will just unbolt the Alamo 30 and bolt on the Alamo 75-100. Then will put on a new 9HP Honda in place of the 6.5 HP Honda. Then I'll rework the remote gas tank stand. It had 1 tank of 4.5 gal, the new will have 2 tanks that size, plumbed together for 9 gal to feed the 9 hp engine. That Alamo had the drippers opened up, if that seems too slow I'll put on some after market drippers for more oil.
I've been making drops, want at least 400 ready for my crew coming on Sat. Then the following weekend is the maple conf. and the following Saturday maybe finish the drops and lateral repairs, to tap if the weather looks right during the following week. Lots to do. In the week days I'll get the taps around the sugarhouse ready. There plan the 225 I had last year and about 75 new. The lease should end up with 650-700. Going to shoot for 24" vacuum this year on the lease and 27" at the sugarhouse. Then for 2020 maybe a better vacuum pump at the lease to try for 27" there too.
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.