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Thread: Annoyed...

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
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    Default Annoyed...

    So... it was about 20-25 last night, and then 50 today. I have 13 taps, and got about 2 gallons IF THAT!

    Would using too much force on the taps when I put them in cause this?
    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!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    Tolland, Ct
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    Default

    all season I have felt like I didnt get enough sap.
    I drilled 1.5" for the taps (I put tape on the bit to make it easy). could I pull the taps, and re-drill to 2" and put the taps in?
    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. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
    Posts
    266

    Default

    2 of the 13 DO have this 😭

    I'm guessing I split the wood?
    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. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,391

    Default

    Just leave it alone. Some weeping on the outside is normal.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    Tolland, Ct
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DrTimPerkins View Post
    Just leave it alone. Some weeping on the outside is normal.
    is it normal to get so little though? I mean among 13 taps, I didn't even get 4 gallons?

    I feel like I've done something wrong.
    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. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2020
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    31

    Default

    Do you still have a heavy frost in the ground? If so it takes alot to get the roots warmed up enough to release any real amount of sap

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
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    266

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 4 Paws Sugar Shack View Post
    Do you still have a heavy frost in the ground? If so it takes alot to get the roots warmed up enough to release any real amount of sap
    no. haven't had any snow in over a month and ground is bare. we did have 30-35 high temps during the day the last 2-3 days.
    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!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2015
    Location
    Weston, CT
    Posts
    473

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TheNamelessPoet View Post
    all season I have felt like I didnt get enough sap.
    I drilled 1.5" for the taps (I put tape on the bit to make it easy). could I pull the taps, and re-drill to 2" and put the taps in?
    What size drill bit are you using? Are you certain it is the correct size? From your close up photo of the spout it looks like the spout is a little too far in the tap hole. Almost looks like the hole would have to be a little too big for that tap to be in that far, even if you took a carpenters hammer to it full steam.

    Also, if you do not drill a hole straight you will have seeping like the seeping photo shows. No matter what you do.
    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.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Tolland, Ct
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    266

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sugar Bear View Post
    What size drill bit are you using? Are you certain it is the correct size? From your close up photo of the spout it looks like the spout is a little too far in the tap hole. Almost looks like the hole would have to be a little too big for that tap to be in that far, even if you took a carpenters hammer to it full steam.

    Also, if you do not drill a hole straight you will have seeping like the seeping photo shows. No matter what you do.
    brand new Leader 5/16 tapping bit. I drilled at a slight angle "up" so that the tap is angled down a hair. I was very careful to go straight and not wobble in or out.

    Should it not go in past the check valve part?
    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!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Temperance Mi
    Posts
    411

    Default

    If you are on gravity, tapping 2 inches or even a little deeper if the bark on the tree is thick will get you way more sap. If you pull those taps you will probably need new spouts since they look to be driven in pretty far. I would try a couple and see if the volume picks up. Some trees just don't run well.

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