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Thread: 2020 Looking forward to looking back

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Fayston, Vt
    Posts
    122

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    If you are going to use gas in the future, if so you should talk to your supplier to have a hookup with shut off. I had this done in my shed/shack. This way you are using a cheaper supply and not need to refill tanks.
    I bought from Costco a 4 leg cook top with 3 high pressure burners. I use it now to finish syrup in pot, but I have a pan that fits on it, that I reduce a larger raw sap.
    Some people build these for personal use. Good luck
    2020 same
    2019 RB10 26 taps
    2018 RO Bucket RB5 taps 20, leg tank in shed w/2 5/16
    2017 18 taps
    2016 20 taps
    2015 21 taps
    2014 30 2 gravity line, 2 hotel pan concrete arch 35 g leg tank
    2013 LP hook up in shack buckets 12 taps
    2 burner cook top 2012 finisher on a bbq tanks
    2011 rookie 2+ gal
    8 taps w/ milk jugs
    turkey cooker
    50-60 up back maybe

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    Quote Originally Posted by to100 View Post
    If you are going to use gas in the future, if so you should talk to your supplier to have a hookup with shut off. I had this done in my shed/shack. This way you are using a cheaper supply and not need to refill tanks.
    I bought from Costco a 4 leg cook top with 3 high pressure burners. I use it now to finish syrup in pot, but I have a pan that fits on it, that I reduce a larger raw sap.
    Some people build these for personal use. Good luck
    Its actually something I've been pondering... I dont have a shack this year... I'm just pretty much out there in the elements this year. next year I'm going to build some kind of pallet/tarp structure to protect me from any wind. As far as the propane hook up, my house is oil and I dont have natural gas available so the tanks make the most sense in a strange sort of way. I do think I may get a 40 gallon/pound tank vs the standard 20 for a grill. I can still transport it at least to get it filled. It all depends on how big a generator we get for the house if I get a permanent tank.
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    2/25 Update

    Well Today I should be getting my new grill! VERY excited to try it out this weekend.
    I have been batching my sap, and currently have 1 gallon at about 12%. I have almost 4 gallons of fresh sap to boil down from a run yesterday. I THINK I am going to wait and freeze that tonight with whatever I get today (if anything since it didn't freeze overnight just about 33-35)

    I know I have a bunch of other threads where I have asked questions so I a going to put the info in here, along with what I have learned so far.

    #1 drill 2" NOT 1 1/2" especially in the older trees with thicker bark. Also do NOT mash the tap in... "tink tink thunk" and STOP... I hammered the taps in too deep and after a couple ok runs, I have almost nothing flowing aside from the 3 gallons I got yesterday from the 2 trees in the front yard by the road.
    #2 Don't use the regular grill. I am lucky to get 1 GPH boiling on that thing. Also do NOT surround the pan with 2 layers of brick because it will burn my current pan.
    #3 PATIENCE!
    #4 DEF check the boiling temp! 2/22 it was 210, 2/23 it was all the way down to 209.5!
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    NOW we are talkin!
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

  5. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    2/29 Update!

    So I retapped the trees in the same spot... jeez, I had 2 that were barely even 1 1/4 inch. Going to pay much more attention next year and be sure they are 2". I am holding off the 3.5-4 gallons of sap I have until tomorrow to boil it because I think I MIGHT get more, altho high temp keeps dropping. Monday looks perfect. 20 the night before and 50 durring the day.

    I'm currently being in the house the 100 or so oz I have of concentrate (about 15%) I didnt run the humidifier last night, and looking at my windows, I wont have to tonight lol.

    Interestingly enough, water is boiling at 209° today so 216-217 it is for the syrup. holding at about 214 as I type... I am VERY excited... might even splurge and make pancakes tomorrow!
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    and I have SYRUP!!!

    1st in the new home and omg it tastes like HEAVEN!

    thanks everyone for putting up with me and for all the help! I cant wait for the weather to cooperate so I can have another run or too!
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

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    My guess is all the headaches have been worth the effort. I would bet everyone in your family loves the taste of the homemade syrup. good luck and sty with it, the bug keeps growing on you.
    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

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pdiamond View Post
    My guess is all the headaches have been worth the effort. I would bet everyone in your family loves the taste of the homemade syrup. good luck and sty with it, the bug keeps growing on you.
    Yes they have! Wife will be back home today and we are going to have a big pancake lunch!
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

  9. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Weston, CT
    Posts
    473

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    Quote Originally Posted by TheNamelessPoet View Post
    Yes they have! Wife will be back home today and we are going to have a big pancake lunch!
    And my guess is that syrup will get you a free ticket out of the bed in the shed into the bed in the house.
    If you think it's easy to make good money in maple syrup .... then your obviously good at stealing somebody's Maple Syrup.

    Favorite Tree: Sugar Maple
    Most Hated Animal: Sap Sucker
    Most Loved Animal: Devon Rex Cat
    Favorite Kingpin: Bruce Bascom
    40 Sugar Maple Taps ... 23 in CT and 17 in NY .... 29 on gravity tubing and 11 on 5G buckets ... 2019 Totals 508 gallons of sap, 7 boils, 11.4 gallons of syrup.
    1 Girlfriend that gives away all my syrup to her friends.

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

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    Quote Originally Posted by Sugar Bear View Post
    And my guess is that syrup will get you a free ticket out of the bed in the shed into the bed in the house.
    Not sure it will get me THAT much, but at least she won't be as annoyed at me for asking every day I THINK it would run, if there is anything in the buckets the second she is home (1 hour before me) lol
    2020 - 1st year - 14 taps 1 Gallon Jugs + 4x 5-Gallon Buckets + Propane Grill + lots of headaches
    2021 - 2nd year - 19 Taps (and some free sap from a friend in the same town!) 145 or so OZ
    2022 - 3rd year - 46 taps (3 at home, 2 at neighbors, 38 at friends, and 3 at work) added ROBucket RB10, and Silver Creek 18x34x6 Divided Maple Syrup Pan w/warming Pan+Valve+Thermometer 6 Gallons 6 OZ!
    2023 And we grow some more... Starting with OldPostMaple.com!

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