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Thread: Illinois tapping

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Walnut,Il
    Posts
    101

    Thumbs up Illinois tapping

    I have been busy repairing lines and scouting for new trees to tap. I did a logging job last fall and needed to reroute some of my lines. I wouldn't let the loggers touch my maples lol. I managed to get most of my preseason work done before this artic blast. Looking to start around the 10th of February with 100 taps as my goal. Good luck this year everyone.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    I am going to be around 150 taps this year. And this will be my first year on RO. Lets get past this artic weather and see what early Feb brings
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Rockford, IL
    Posts
    175

    Default

    Great to hear from you dogpatch and mol1jb. Almost thought it was going to be any early start this year til the blast came. Looking at 115 taps and we are going vacuum this year. last year was 27 gallons of syrup shooting for 50 plus. I have almost all my parts except temp controller. Need to assemble the tote set up with pump, finish making drops, run the 3/16 line, and clean out the storage containers. Would have been ready but had to make a trip to Arizona for a funeral for my last grandparent. Hope everyone has a great season!
    2020
    8th year making sugar
    120 taps second year on vac

    2x4 Divided pan.
    Homemade RO 4x42XLE
    Shurflo 4048 pump

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TreeTapper2 View Post
    Great to hear from you dogpatch and mol1jb. Almost thought it was going to be any early start this year til the blast came. Looking at 115 taps and we are going vacuum this year. last year was 27 gallons of syrup shooting for 50 plus. I have almost all my parts except temp controller. Need to assemble the tote set up with pump, finish making drops, run the 3/16 line, and clean out the storage containers. Would have been ready but had to make a trip to Arizona for a funeral for my last grandparent. Hope everyone has a great season!
    You will be very happy with shurflo on a temp controller. I did that last year and it was very efficient. Last year I tapped earlier than usual in January and regretted it with a cold snap that followed. Ill stick to February tapping from now on.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    A couple of warmer days ahead but I am still holding off tapping as next week is back into the winter temps.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    I must recant my previous post 😉. I tapped 140 on Saturday. I woke up and checked the weather and outlook was favorable for at least the middle of the week.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Naperville IL
    Posts
    21

    Default

    I put in two taps in the front yard on Saturday to use as a gauge of when to do the rest. Both were dry went drilled in, but one made about a quart of sap yesterday. That particular tree, however, buds out 3 weeks before everything else (it looks like they may pop in 2-3 weeks, while the rest of the trees in the yard still look very dormant). The other one is still dry, and was my best producing tree last year. I'm in the western chicago suburbs.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Newton, IL
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Greetings from Southern Illinois... looking to tap 15-20 trees this Saturday. 2nd year tapping maples. Hopefully we can catch some good weather for the sap to flow down here.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Looks like the weather is looking good later this week. How is everyone doing? My RO has been used once and Im itching to use it again 😊
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Walnut,Il
    Posts
    101

    Default

    Put 39 taps in today. Plan on another 40 or so tomorrow, hope to finish Thus. Weather may be finally headed in the right direction.

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