Suggestions on a good hydrometer
We wound up breaking a hydrometer on our last day of boiling. Thankfully we had a spare on hand. Now looking for a replacement one and have a few criteria-a mark blown into the glass to show if the paper slips and a stretched out scale (shows every .2 Brix). Anyone have a suggestion? The descriptions of the ones we've looked at aren't the most helpful.
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 raised flue on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket 80gph Single Post
100 taps on buckets
This is what I use https://www.smokylakemaple.com/produ...up-hydrometer/
John Allin
14x18 Hemlock Timber Frame Sugar House 2009
Leader 2x6 w/Patriot Raised Flue Pan 2009
Leader Steam Hood 2014 - Clear Filter Press 2015
Leader Revolution Pan and SS Pre-Heater 2016
CDL Hobby RO & Air Tech L25 Hi Vac Pump 2019
06' Gator HPX to collect wood & sap
14' Ski-Doo Tundra for winter work in the woods
Great Family 3 grown kids+spouses and 7 grand kids who like the woods
7th Gen Born in Canada - Raised in Chardon Ohio - Maple Capital of the World..<grin>.
I'll second the Smoky Lake hydrometer and murphy cup. Can't make a mistake using them.
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
Smokey Lake hydrometer and murphy cup. The best.
2x3 Patrick Phaneuf Divided Pan
Homemade arch
RB20 RO Bucket
121 taps total
Sugar Shack in future
Wife into it as much as me
Also do homebrew
http://s928.photobucket.com/albums/ad121/ZMANSYRUP/
I use this one from Bascoms, marked in 0.2 increments, state of Vermont certified and has a red line in the glass at the top for marking the paper.
https://bascommaple.com/collections/...products/hsy12
Sugaring for 45+ years
New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around
I also use smoky lake gold Vermont certified hydrometer and Murphy cup. It makes this step in the process WAY easier.
D. Roseum
www.roseummaple.com | https://youtube.com/@roseummaplesyrup
~112 taps on 3/16 custom temp controlled vacuum; shurflo vacuum #2; custom nat gas evap with auto-drawoff and tank level gas shut-off controller; homemade RO #1; homemade RO #2; SL SS filter press
~30 gallons / year
+1 on the Smokey Lake Gold Series Hydrometer and Murphy Cup
Agree on both, although we use a Murphy Float more than the Murphy Cup.Originally Posted by Gord
Last edited by DrTimPerkins; 03-26-2021 at 12:12 PM.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Another vote for the Murphy float/SL hydrometer. Sanity saving devices.
Last edited by Ghs57; 03-27-2021 at 01:34 PM.
Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014
175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph
Thank for the replies, everybody. We do have the Murphy Cup (so that's half the battle). Most of the posts recommend the Smoky Lake Gold series and was curious what attracts people to that? Is it one thing in particular or just overall? The hydrometer we broke was the regular syrup hydrometer by Smoky Lake.
Daniel & Eleanor Bliese
Heritage Woods, LLC
SW Michigan
Smoky Lake 2x4 raised flue on Corsair arch
The RO Bucket 80gph Single Post
100 taps on buckets
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