+ Reply to Thread
Page 8 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789 LastLast
Results 71 to 80 of 84

Thread: Backyard Syrup Enthusiasts 2020

  1. #71
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Norway, Maine
    Posts
    43

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by West Sumner Sugar View Post
    It is recommended that you change your taps yearly. Obviously not many of us could afford to do this. But as the years go by bacteria forms in the taps and tees and when the sap slows at night it causes the bacteria to back into the tree which will cause it to heal up hence shortening your season. Changing the taps and tees/drop lines should get us back to year 1 production rates. We are also testing check valve taps this year to see if there are any benefits to this.
    Let me know if you see a more pronounced production rate with check valve taps v. regular ones, I would be interested in hearing! Hopefully your new evap comes soon especially since you sold your old one!
    Tucker Adams

    2022 - 105 Taps, 58 on buckets, 40 on shurflo, 5 on 3/16 gravity across southern Maine with primary bush in Norway. Aiming for 30 Gallons this Year.
    2021 - 64 Taps in Norway, ME (mostly on 3/16 tubing) - 16 gallons with a 225 gallon sap donation.
    2x4 AOF/AUF Oil Drum Evaporator with Badgerland Pan
    1/2 finished 12x16 Sugar Shack

  2. #72
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,391

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by West Sumner Sugar View Post
    ....Lots of new drop lines to prep. 5 years on tees and taps is to long as we have seen huge drops in production on our original 3/16 runs, even with Shurflo's on them.
    By that point, just from a sanitation standpoint, you'd be down to about 50-60% of Yr 1 sap yield. It could be even less if you had serious plugging issues.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  3. #73
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,391

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tuckeradams2012 View Post
    Let me know if you see a more pronounced production rate with check valve taps v. regular ones, I would be interested in hearing!
    Lots of research information on the subject of sanitation influences of spouts and drops on yield at: https://mapleresearch.org/search/?_sf_s=sanitation
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  4. #74
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Greenwood, Me
    Posts
    974

    Default

    Thank you

    I change out my drops and tees yearly so I just wanted to make sure.
    2024 - New Maine resident, 12X12 sugar shack under construction
    2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
    2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO

  5. #75
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    West Sumner, ME
    Posts
    250

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DrTimPerkins View Post
    By that point, just from a sanitation standpoint, you'd be down to about 50-60% of Yr 1 sap yield. It could be even less if you had serious plugging issues.
    You are correct, we used to think we had leaks in the system resulting in lower yield. Hoping to be back at 100% or close to it with new tees, drops and taps.
    West Sumner Sugar House
    West Sumner, ME
    500 +/- Taps - 2 x 8 CDL Venturi - 3 Shurflo Solar Systems - MES Dolly 300
    https://www.facebook.com/WestSumnerSugarHouse

  6. #76
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Peru, Maine
    Posts
    1,044

    Default

    If our 3/16” line works good, I think I’m going to try:
    Year 1: all new with smartspouts
    Year 2: new tees and zap bacs
    Year 3: new tees only
    Year 4: all new again and restart cycle

    Only 34 taps for us so not really a cost issue. I do not plan on trying to clean the lines.
    305 taps on 2 Shurflo's, 31 taps on 3/16" and 229 taps on gravity. 565 in all
    Mountain Maple S3 controller for 145 of the vacuum taps
    2x6 Darveau Mystique Oil Fired Evaporator w/ Smoky Lake Simplicity Auto Draw
    Wesfab 7” filter press

  7. #77
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Mount Vernon Maine
    Posts
    217

    Default

    How about boiling taps for 10 minutes like you're purifying water? Will that kill the bacteria? I'm essentially thrifty at heart, but I don't want to sacrifice sap flow just to save $20. I have been boiling taps each year since 2013 just because it seemed like a good idea. I boil my drill bit too.
    Two 2x4 concrete block arches with three steam trays each
    Tapping in Mount Vernon since 2016, 30 to 70 taps, 5/16" tube to 1.5 to 3.5 gallon buckets, some trees on collective gravity tubing to 5 gallon buckets.

    Mostly sugar maples, a few reds on 200 year old homestead

  8. #78
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    I've done that and had good results. Now saying that those have been taps for buckets hanging on trees and taps with tubing down to 5 gallon buckets. I do add baking soda to the water while boiling, then put the taps in.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  9. #79
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Mount Vernon Maine
    Posts
    217

    Default

    Probably a silly question, but why the baking soda?
    Two 2x4 concrete block arches with three steam trays each
    Tapping in Mount Vernon since 2016, 30 to 70 taps, 5/16" tube to 1.5 to 3.5 gallon buckets, some trees on collective gravity tubing to 5 gallon buckets.

    Mostly sugar maples, a few reds on 200 year old homestead

  10. #80
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    Helps to clean some of the wood debris off the taps.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

+ Reply to Thread
Page 8 of 9 FirstFirst 123456789 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts