2019 Tapping in Western Pennsylvania

[cjf12]

Started tapping Saturday and have about 550 in. 315 are in red maple rest are in my original sugar bush and are all sugars. Got to R O ing the reds sap this morning and it's only 1.1 %. Knew it wasn't going to be what I'm used to but was disappointed with it being that low. What's others experience with reds? Normal?

[Gary R]

Woke up to another 100 in the tank. Boiled early this morning before things froze up. A great week! About 950 gallons and about half way to my season syrup goal.

cjf12, That is common on my sugar bush. My vacuum taps are 90% reds. Season usually starts out just above 1%, may get to 1.4 on a run but comes right back down. I have a 3/16" bush that is 80% sugars, it might only be a tenth or two higher than the reds. Lots of variables to cause it. You have an RO! i'd love to boil concentrated sap. Good luck with the season!

[Dennis H.]

Holy cow Gary, didn't you just tap a few days ago? Being half way there already sure looks like it could be a banner year for you.

Good Luck

[a.clarke]

Started tapping Saturday and have about 550 in. 315 are in red maple rest are in my original sugar bush and are all sugars. Got to R O ing the reds sap this morning and it's only 1.1 %. Knew it wasn't going to be what I'm used to but was disappointed with it being that low. What's others experience with reds? Normal?

I haven't tapped any reds until this year so I don't know what is normal for them but my 45 reds that I am tapping this year have been doing okay. The one run that I have collected so far was at 1.8%

[helptheold]

Just fired up our RO machine for the first time, it's working great. Started with 2% and it's coming out around 6%, fingers crossed it will go up later. I'm so very excited about this!

[sbedilion]

Just fired up our RO machine for the first time, it's working great. Started with 2% and it's coming out around 6%, fingers crossed it will go up later. I'm so very excited about this!

Very nice! The RO is so nice. Hopefully it runs smoothly for both of us all season!

Im in the middle of a big evaporator build. We scrapped a ton of 3in square tubing at work and the welders are teaching how to weld

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Im about 75% of the way done. front pan is a 2x3 flat and the top/rear is a 3x4 flat. Because of the 3in tubing...this thing is turning out huge! haha. Someone going to call the Peters Twp fire department thinking the steam is smoke. hahaha

[Dennis H.]

That is one beefy looking evap.

[sbedilion]

very. haha. its free material so beefy is going to have to do.

[Gary R]

Hi Dennis, My plan is to go to 20 gallons and stop. We don't sell it so it's just family and friends. Speaking of friends, one of them wants to help in lieu of 5 gallons of syrup. Thing is his idea of help is firing the evaporator and drinking beer. I mentioned my wood pile needs replenished. Haven't heard from him since Things ought to be good for you guys this week. Hope all is going well.

[Sugarmaker]

Was thinking of tapping Monday. Long range weather forecast doesn't look like much warm weather in Feb. Never know till its over. Feels about right time of the calendar to tap.
Gary,
Aaahhh yes the VHS vanashing helper syndrome!
Sbedillion,
Nice fab work on the new rig!
Regards,
Chris