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Thread: Cleaning buckets after dumping spoiled sap?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22

    Default Cleaning buckets after dumping spoiled sap?

    Hi, just wondering what you do after dumping a bucket of spoiled sap. Do you need to worry about cleaning the bucket out? Just thinking that there may be some bacteria or whatever (just my overactive brain) still in that might cause it to spoil again faster?

    Or just don't worry about it as it's minimal, it happens on its own anyways, and you'll boil it off eventually?
    2017 - 5 gravity taps, 2 pan block arch, 1gallon syrup
    2019 - 18 gravity taps, 5 pan block arch, 4gallons
    2020 - 25 gravity taps, 2x5 arch, RB10 kit, 7 gallons
    2021 - 25 gravity, 75 on 3/16, 2x5 arch, RO10 kit, 13 gallons
    2022 - 85(?) on 3/16 tubing

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Covington, New York
    Posts
    1,680

    Default

    Tomorrow I will have the same here, and I will be trying to catch one more run early in the week. I'll likely go around to my buckets with a bucket of warm water and at least do a quick rinse.
    Noel Good
    1998 to 2009: 15 taps on buckets, scavenged fire pit and pans
    2010: New 2x4 SS flat pan w/preheater
    2015: New to me Lapierre 18x60 raised flue, new shack, new everything!! 59 taps 23.75 gallons
    2016: 85 taps 19 gallons
    2017: Purchased 2.5 acres and tubed half with 3/16. 145 taps total 49.25 gallons
    2018: 200 taps (162 on 3/16ths 38 on buckets) New NextGen RO 63 gallons
    2019: 210 taps 73.5 gallons
    2023: 210 taps 89.75 gallons
    www.wnybass.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    I just cleaned my tubs for the second time this season. They were getting a little gooie. I use a mild solution of clorox and water, and scrub and rince with some sap in the tub. Dump out. The bacteria will remain in the bucket if you dont brush it and rinse. Getting close to the end of the season as wnybassman mentions. This precleaning will make the final clean up easier too. Just my 2 cents.
    Regards,
    Chris
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
    12" SIRO Filter Press.
    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
    One Golden named Maggie, Norwegian Forest Cat named Lucy
    Too many Cub Cadets
    Ford Jubilee and several Allis WD's, and IH tractors
    1932 Ford AAB ton and a half, dump truck

    www.mapleandhoney.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22

    Default

    Ok well I'm basically done after making 3 gallons. So it might not matter for me other than as you say, it could make the cleanup easier.

    I just can't imagine bigger operations on buckets or sacks cleaning them out if this happens. But maybe they don't let it get this far.
    2017 - 5 gravity taps, 2 pan block arch, 1gallon syrup
    2019 - 18 gravity taps, 5 pan block arch, 4gallons
    2020 - 25 gravity taps, 2x5 arch, RB10 kit, 7 gallons
    2021 - 25 gravity, 75 on 3/16, 2x5 arch, RO10 kit, 13 gallons
    2022 - 85(?) on 3/16 tubing

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    Our operation is small, only 650 taps. 30 plus tubs to clean, so not too bad. Most folks running sap into big tanks may or may not clean them during the season depending on lots of factors. If the temps stay nice and cool, the containers, whether buckets or tanks will stay much cleaner. Warm temps can cause the sap to start to work and mess up the tanks quickly. Syrup may still be very good. but could drop a grade. Sap can also spoil during those warm temps and cause ropey syrup.
    Keeping all the maple equipment as clean as possible should help you make the lightest grade of syrup possible with that sap. Remember anyone can make dark syrup! You can only make light syrup if your doing a bunch of things right! Again just my rambling.
    I should go look at the tubs to see if I need to gather. We have wet snow this morning! (Sugar snow!0 Probably only 100 + gallons of sap out there total! But that could be 2 gallons of finished syrup a some point, worth $100 per gallon if sold in pints!

    FWIW We did have 400 buckets at one point and rarely did they get washed during the season. But they did get collected when the sap ran.
    Regards,
    Chris
    Last edited by Sugarmaker; 03-31-2019 at 08:30 AM.
    Casbohm Maple and Honey
    625 roadside taps + Neighbors bring some sap too!
    3x10 King, WRU, AOF and AUF
    12" SIRO Filter Press.
    2015 Ford F250 PSD sap hauler
    One Golden named Maggie, Norwegian Forest Cat named Lucy
    Too many Cub Cadets
    Ford Jubilee and several Allis WD's, and IH tractors
    1932 Ford AAB ton and a half, dump truck

    www.mapleandhoney.com

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