I am tapping all the maples I have that are big enough. You are lucky to have that option. But.... if I had more I would be building a sugar shack and a big arch.
I am tapping all the maples I have that are big enough. You are lucky to have that option. But.... if I had more I would be building a sugar shack and a big arch.
Steve
SE Pennsylvania
2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6 deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6 deep pan - 16.5 pints
I've got plenty of trees; the problem is just the blood, sweat and tears getting to them. I have this one stand of red maples (see pic), about 2-3 acres, at least 1/2 of them are tapping size but they're surrounded by briars, multiflora rose, poison ivy, brush, etc. I can barely get my ATV into this patch and close enough to the trees. It would be impossible with snow on the ground.
Maple grove.jpg
2020 - 1st year - 13 black walnut taps - 4 bottles syrup
2021 - 50 taps, 22 black walnuts/28 red maples - 4 gallons syrup
2022 - 54 taps, 11 black walnuts/41 red maples, 20 on solar shurflo vacuum - 8.5 gallons syrup
2023 - 47 taps on 45 red maples, 43 on solar shurflo vacuum
Steve
SE Pennsylvania
2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6 deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6 deep pan - 16.5 pints
Make a pathway thru it. That has to be great bedding and protection for wildlife. I would love to have that on my place. I see spots for a couple of deer blinds.
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
If I had a tractor and brush hog, it would already be cleared out. It's a travel route and bedding spot for deer. Always lots of tracks and rubbed-up trees. The lower field on the far side is usually planted w/corn and there's a creek on the far side of that. Definitely a good spot during archery season.
Last edited by Openwater; 03-03-2021 at 08:43 AM.
2020 - 1st year - 13 black walnut taps - 4 bottles syrup
2021 - 50 taps, 22 black walnuts/28 red maples - 4 gallons syrup
2022 - 54 taps, 11 black walnuts/41 red maples, 20 on solar shurflo vacuum - 8.5 gallons syrup
2023 - 47 taps on 45 red maples, 43 on solar shurflo vacuum
Steve
SE Pennsylvania
2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6 deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6 deep pan - 16.5 pints
Had a good weekend for me, we collected about 18 gallons of sap last night. The down side was the sugar content was definitely lower than it was earlier. I dropped from 1.75 to 1.25.
Steve
SE Pennsylvania
2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6 deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6 deep pan - 16.5 pints
Taps were running dry and I got less than a quart yesterday so we pulled the taps. Ended the season with 1.5 gallons of syrup. We all seem to like this years syrup more than what we had from the last 2 years so that is good!
Steve
SE Pennsylvania
2022 - 13 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 17.25
2021 - 18 taps, RO5, 21x24 SS pan with pre-warmer pan, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove - 12 pints
2020 - 13 taps, RO5, backyard made wood fired 55gal drum stove with 2 lg 6 deep pans - 6.75 pints (very warm winter)
2019 Rookie Season - 14 taps, RO5, turkey fryer with 6 deep pan - 16.5 pints