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Thread: ice in buckets

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Stirling ontario
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    217

    Default ice in buckets

    Has anybody ever melted ice from partially frozen buckets and checked for sugar content?
    Rumours are it is just water while others say it will have sugar.I like some ice in my reservoirs!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Canaan NH
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    373

    Default

    I measured 0.2% in mine years back. Throw it on the ground.
    Boulder Trail Sugaring
    150 Taps on Vacuum
    Homemade 20"x40" Hybrid Pan - 15 gph
    Homemade Steamaway - 10 gph
    Waterguys single-post RO

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
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    Default

    There are several threads on MapleTrader about this. Do a search and you'll find plenty.

    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...ce-away-or-not
    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...Ice-in-buckets
    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...in-sap-buckets
    http://mapletrader.com/community/sho...e-toss-or-boil

    In general, research on this subject has demonstrated and maple producer consensus is to toss the ice (unless the bucket is almost completely frozen). The frozen component is mostly water, but can have a small amount of sugar entrained in it. It is kind of a poor man's RO. You might lose a small amount of sugar, but you'll save a lot of fuel. Now if you have only a few trees and a lot of fuel...keep the ice.
    Last edited by DrTimPerkins; 03-02-2021 at 08:53 AM.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Location
    Hartford, CT
    Posts
    30

    Default

    I’ve used freeze for years, works wonderfully. I leave 5 gal buckets out, and transfer the liquid the next morning, dumping the ice, usually about 1 to 2 inches thick.
    2019 LNG fired pot, 20 taps on 3/16, 10 buckets, gave it up after 3 gal.
    2020 New Mason 2x4 XL; 30 taps on 3/16

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Stirling ontario
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    Default

    What a great idea! Thanks to this sight... i would not have known.This year i'm going to take some brix readings of my own before freezing
    and then after ice is removed and also the melted ice!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Stirling, ON
    Posts
    43

    Default

    I filter my sap through an Orlon filter. A benefit of this is I remove all the slush and frail ice disks from the collection before I store it. I did this this past Sunday and removed ~30L of loose slush from a collection of 134L. The storage barrel should now be encased in ice which I can also avoid boiling when it comes time.
    50 trees, 1 spile per tree
    homemade outdoor fire box crudely made from concrete slabs
    5 steamer trays as pans

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Stirling ontario
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    Default

    i have now taken an inch of ice off my sap barrel, thawed it and checked the sugar content.
    a pretty consistent .04%

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    Good work, looks like the "others" were right, there is some sugar there. Is it worth boiling? Another decision in life.
    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

    www.mapleandhoney.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

    Default

    I typically toss the ice too. Definitely not worth boiling. But the reason I say "typically" and not "always" is that if you check the weather and it is going to be very warm, and you can't boil right away, it's worth keeping the ice in my storage barrel so the sap I add won't spoil. I would rather have 60 gallons of 1.8 sap than 50 gallons of spoiled sap.

    So always think about the forecast and when you can boil before tossing that ice.

    Cheers,

    Gabe
    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

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Albion PA
    Posts
    5,099

    Default

    Gabe is right on how better to keep your sap cool on a warm day! And you were going to boil it anyway.
    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

    www.mapleandhoney.com

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