Tapping Pennsylvania 2019

[deacm]

WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THE NEXT BEST TIME TO TAP? (I only have buckets so keep that in mind). It looks like we are starting Feb 20th to get about 4-5 days here in NW PA of High 30's/Mid 20's (day/night) which makes it tempting to set up and tap. Then it shuts down for about a week until around March 5th when we get 40's/20's for well over 2 weeks! Maybe I should just wait for the good long run? Opinions?

[weaver]

Just got tapped in this weekend. 61 taps on buckets. Just have to finish up the sugar shack now. Weather looks great here thu- Sunday.

[minehart gap]

deacm, why do you say it shuts down when you get 40's/20? That temperature variation is when I get some of my best runs. Combine that with changing barometric pressure and sunshine and look out. You might need to collect a little more often so the sap doesn't spoil but could be great sap flow.

I think I would already be tapped

[Sugarmaker]

Deacm,
Good to hear from you.
I think you should tap this coming Tuesday or Wed. Looks like we may have some good runs?
Roll that unit into the drive and get boiling!
Regards,
Chris

[Sugarmaker]

I went a little too far today. The filters probably had a half a pint of sugar in them. I believe that means I was at 219 too long.

Not sure there is any problem being at 219 too long! Its when you get to 230 you have issues BTDT! Are you sure it wasnt sugar sand in the filters?
BTW we are generally around 217 F when we make syrup. Water boils at about 210.5 here.
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Not sure there is any problem being at 219 too long! Its when you get to 230 you have issues BTDT! Are you sure it wasnt sugar sand in the filters?
BTW we are generally around 217 F when we make syrup. Water boils at about 210.5 here.
Regards,
Chris

It was like sand. It threw me off since there was almost none the other time I did it

[Paddymountain]

Just finished up boiling 220 gallons of 2% sap, and made 4 gallons of syrup. I had collected on
Saturday morning. I kind of forgot that it was really nice here that day. when I checked a drum last evening
with about 40 3/16 taps running into it; I was surprised to see how much was in it.
Anyway, I got out after lunch and collected sap. Right now at 820 gallons of sap.
Sugar content not too bad, but a little ice in the barrels, so probably running a little high.
Glad I boiled tonight, because I believe Thursday and Friday will be really good. Looks like a good balance of freeze and thaw
for awhile!!

[Sugarmaker]

It was like sand. It threw me off since there was almost none the other time I did it

Steve,
Not sure but will ask? Are you familiar with sugar sand? Or niter (correct name for sugars sand)?
Regards,
Chris

[Skeller001]

Steve,
Not sure but will ask? Are you familiar with sugar sand? Or niter (correct name for sugars sand)?
Regards,
Chris

No sir, never done this before

[Sugarmaker]

Steve,
Sugar sand occurs when we bring sap to syrup. It can be light to heavy as far as the quantity and can change during the season. Also the color can change too. Sometimes light colored early and dark brown to purple at the end of the season. Lots of info out there on sugar sand. Basically you dont want to eat it. Therefor most folks strain/ filter the sugar sand out with filters. You can let it settle out but it can take days.
I did a short talk on filtering at LEME (Lake Erie Maple Expo) 2 years ago.
Hope this helps a little.
If you can go to a local sugarhouse that is making some syrup it may help you. Every sugarhouse runs a little different. So just keep a open mind and try to scale things to fit your size and needs.
Regards,
Chris