Eastern Ontario 2020

[TurkeyJohn]

Hey Folks,
I've got a small 4x2 continuous flow pan that I use on top of my barrel burner....I typically have been doing batch boils, but really want to leverage the continuous flow part of it and looking for suggestions....

1. Should the draw off tap be at the front of the barrel where it's cooler or at the back where it typically runs hotter?
2. How often should I be boiling to keep the nearup from getting skunky, is weekends often enough or should I draw off when done, store and put back in come the next weekend?
3. I use a small tin prewarmer so wondering if I should go larger to a hotel pan or as long as the sap is warmed a bit, am I good...?

I've been bombing around the forum getting info but don't see any commentary on these details....

Turkey John

[Big_Eddy]

Hey Folks,
I've got a small 4x2 continuous flow pan that I use on top of my barrel burner....I typically have been doing batch boils, but really want to leverage the continuous flow part of it and looking for suggestions....

1. Should the draw off tap be at the front of the barrel where it's cooler or at the back where it typically runs hotter?
2. How often should I be boiling to keep the nearup from getting skunky, is weekends often enough or should I draw off when done, store and put back in come the next weekend?
3. I use a small tin prewarmer so wondering if I should go larger to a hotel pan or as long as the sap is warmed a bit, am I good...?

I've been bombing around the forum getting info but don't see any commentary on these details....

Turkey John

1) As long as your pan boils at the front, it's usually preferred to have the draw off at the front where it is slightly cooler, as that gives you more control and makes for less "emergencies"
2) it all depends on temperatures. If it is going to be warm - you don't want to leave your pans full for more than a couple of days. Early in the season (like now) if the sweet freezes, you can leave it as long as it stays frozen with no concerns. Better to be happy than sad so if in doubt, drain and freeze / refrigerate / bury in snowbank.
3) Any additional heat you capture from the steam is heat that doesn't need to be added later. Every bit helps. Just be careful with your placement so condensation on the outside of the warming tray does not drip back into your pan.

[TurkeyJohn]

1) As long as your pan boils at the front, it's usually preferred to have the draw off at the front where it is slightly cooler, as that gives you more control and makes for less "emergencies"
2) it all depends on temperatures. If it is going to be warm - you don't want to leave your pans full for more than a couple of days. Early in the season (like now) if the sweet freezes, you can leave it as long as it stays frozen with no concerns. Better to be happy than sad so if in doubt, drain and freeze / refrigerate / bury in snowbank.
3) Any additional heat you capture from the steam is heat that doesn't need to be added later. Every bit helps. Just be careful with your placement so condensation on the outside of the warming tray does not drip back into your pan.

Great info Eddy, have been messing with this for a few years and got the new pan last year, but didn't work quite like I wanted it too....thanks again...

[jungmaria]

Is a couple days run on the ground usually enough to clean the lines? Last year was my first on 3/16. Tapped yesterday am hoping the run yesterday & today would be enough to have lines clean for (hopefully) next week's run. Do you replace all your taps each year? I didn't for the ones that seemed in good shape and still had alcohol in the drops.
Thanks in advance, I've been lurking here for a couple of years now and you've all been such a great source of info!

[PaulRenaud]

Weather forecast for northern side of Lanark county looks promising this coming week, but the week following looks touch and go for daytime freezing. Seeing mixed forecasts from different weather providers.

The big local producers on evaporators have already tapped, but I'm on buckets so I usually wait a week or so before I tap.
So guess I'll be tapping on Monday.

Has anyone measured the Brix levels yet to compare to last year?

[MarkReynolds]

I'm just east of London, I tested my sap between 1.8-2.2 I knew it would be as good as last year were my avg the whole season was 3.5.

[Bricklayer]

Got 200 tapped after work today then it got too dark. Fixed some damaged drops and lines also. Nice to not have too much snow in the Bush. First time I’ve ever tapped in the pouring rain though. Then when I was done it stopped raining. Of course.

[Bruce L]

Got another 240 or so tapped this morning between bus runs before it started to rain,should hopefully finish tapping second bush tomorrow morning. Found two destroyed drop lines,had just been through the bush last week making repairs. Little buggers have gone into hiding now that I have the pellet gun at the sugar house,before that they used to chatter at me from the walls and roof when I walked by

[Clinkis]

I managed to get almost all my 400 taps in on Sunday. Put the last few in yesterday and fired up the vacuum pump. I spent most of the afternoon fixing leaks and sags. Let it run on the ground for a couple hours to flush the lines and then started collecting. Tank was 3/4 full by 9 last night when I shut down the pump. Spent most of the evening getting things setup and cleaned up in the sugar house. So I think I’m almost ready to go! Probably do my first boil Wednesday afternoon.

[Galena]

Hey Wisers, I should be tapping this coming weekend. My bush maples should go well but the big ones always take much longer to start.

BUT....I have to finish up the reno project I foolishly undertook thinking I could get it done in 1 week...welllet's just say this'll learn me to not go tackle a 600sq ft popcorn ceiling removal/sanding/mudding/painting going into sugaring season ever again!!! Just finishing drinking rocket fuel now so I van get up there and hack away at the remaining 200sq ft or so. I may have a very short season this year.