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Thread: How do you accurately measure the amount of sap you collect?

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Bristol, VT
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    Why not just weigh the sap and convert to volume? Should be pretty darn accurate.
    About 750 taps on High Vac.
    2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
    Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
    Springtech Elite 500 RO
    14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
    16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
    www.littlehogbackfarm.com

  2. #12
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    Oct 2005
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    Rock Creek, OH
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    Bias plays a huge part in any experiment. It is best to measure it with a meter. You can't lie to yourself that way. Unless, you want the numbers to turn out how you want them - instead of what they are.
    Make sure you check out our YouTube Channel.
    https://www.youtube.com/bissellmaplefarm

    www.bissellmaplefarm.com

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
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    North Grenville
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    Quote Originally Posted by OneLegJohn View Post
    Bias plays a huge part in any experiment. It is best to measure it with a meter. You can't lie to yourself that way. Unless, you want the numbers to turn out how you want them - instead of what they are.
    Sorry, but I'm not catching your drift. Please explain.
    Been tapping since 2008.
    2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
    2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
    2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
    2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
    2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
    2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
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    Albion PA
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    I bring all my sap into the sugarhouse on a truck. 325 gallon poly tank with several markings on it. I try to mark down all the sap gallons and the sugar content from a run. This season I gathered a little over 8000 gallons for our small to mid sized operation. Made 183.5 gallons of syrup I see the sugar drop a little below 2% in the last couple of runs. So it too about 45 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup. About 650 taps of my own and 40 or so from a friend after several weeks into the season. So made the quart per tap on short run tubing.
    I like to keep the final records on a wood board that hangs in the sugarhouse.
    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

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  5. #15
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    Apr 2009
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    Quote Originally Posted by OneLegJohn View Post
    It is best to measure it with a meter.
    But how do you know your meter is accurate? The OP is talking about pretty small amounts of sap so a meter is likely overkill anyway....
    About 750 taps on High Vac.
    2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
    Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
    Springtech Elite 500 RO
    14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
    16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
    www.littlehogbackfarm.com

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

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    I put the sap into my pre-warming tray a quart at a time. I keep track of every quart that goes onto the evaporator.

    GO
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    North Grenville
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    That's basically what I am doing, only with a 2l jar, usefully marked off in both metric and imperial. Been working fine! Just a little slow when I get a run of of 70l at a time...
    Been tapping since 2008.
    2018 - 17 taps/7 trees...819l sap, approx 28l syrup
    2019 - 18 taps/8 trees...585l sap, 28l syrup...21:1 ratio
    2020 - 18 taps/8 trees...890.04l sap...gave away about 170l, 30l snafu'd....23l total for me from approx 690l
    2021 - 18 taps/8 trees...395l sap, 12 l syrup
    2022 - 18 taps/8 trees....7 sugars 1 red due to #2 having surgery so had the season off....582l sap, 18.5l syrup
    2023 - 18 taps/8 trees...all sugars again. 807l sap, so far approx 14l syrup

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

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    I don't find it slow because I don't want to put more than that in the evaporator at a time anyway, or risk killing the boil. To know how much I'm gathering, I just eyeball it as I collect it. I usually am within a gallon or less of my estimate.
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

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