Specific gravity readings

[PeterHolmes]

I have a refractometer and now that sap is running here in the Hudson Valley of NY, I thought I'd test out the sap from each tree. I only have 10 taps in at this point.
I am seeing an average 1.006 but I see variation tree to tree. One tree at this point is the winner at 1.010, but then others fall below 1.005.

I wonder if anyone who is tapping a small number of trees makes decisions on future tapping of the same tree based on these readings?
I am guessing that the readings will change for a given tree through the sugaring season, right? I'lll learn this the hard way since I want to play with this refractometer that I have.

Am I being anal worrying about the specific gravity of each tree I tap-- remember I only tap a few tree.
I was really thrilled to find that tree at 1.010. It is in another location than the ones that are averaging.

Thanks!

--Peter

[DrTimPerkins]

If you can only boil a certain amount of sap and have plenty of trees, it makes some sense to collect sap from those that have the sweetest sap. Make sure you measure them all at about the same time, since sap sugar content is fairly dynamic, and changes from day-day, over the course of the season, and from one season to the next. Regardless of the specific brix value, the relative RANKING of trees will stay about the same. So measure your group of trees all about the same time and choose those with the highest SSC to collect from.

Or you can do what many who have caught the maple bug do...get bigger equipment, then find more trees, then bigger equipment, then more trees...and repeat until your wife catches you or your money runs out.

[Sunday Rock Maple]

Or you can do what many who have caught the maple bug do...get bigger equipment, then find more trees, then bigger equipment, then more trees...and repeat until your wife catches you or your money runs out.[/QUOTE]

LOL

[ir3333]

does a refractometer reading of 1.005 mean 1%?
I have a sap hydrometer that reads brix.

[DrTimPerkins]

does a refractometer reading of 1.005 mean 1%?

https://www.brewersfriend.com/brix-converter/