COVID-19 pricing/ gouging

[Bruce L]

Prior to COVID-19,could go to local TSC store here in Canada and pick up the corner post insulator that Leader carries for about $2.49 each. It’s what I use at the end of my mainlines to screw into the tree ,then tighten the wire on the insulator. Now post COVID-19 the price has skyrocketed to $24.80 EACH!!!!!!!! That’s not a typo,just an example of a rip-off that I won’t be a part of.

[Pdiamond]

Is that for just one or a pack of 25?

[Bruce L]

That’s for one!! I see online that TSC in U.S sells a pack of 4 for $21.99, still quite a markup from what it was,but not near as bad as here in Canada

[DrTimPerkins]

...but not near as bad as here in Canada

Maybe you can make a trade with someone for prescription medications, in which case the gouging is in the opposite direction and has been for decades.

[maple flats]

Very interesting read, even though I skimmed it. The only thing I'll add is the time you will lay the freshly filled containers on their side. If it was addressed and I missed it, sorry, but I far prefer to lay them for at least 30-60 seconds. While 5 might be OK, 30 is more certain to kill any mold spores, and mold spores are on everything.
Your enthusiasm reminds me of myself in my first season 19 years ago. I started with a half pint, bought used. I started with mini tubing systems, most were 2-3 taps into a 5 gal cooking oil jugs that had been thoroughly cleaned that I had gotten from a local Chinese restaurant. In the caps I made a hole by heating a tapered rod and melting a hole, I tried drilling and never got a good hole without major breaking. Under the cap I placed a hose clamp to prevent the tubing from pulling out. I then emptied 2x each day, hauling a carrier on the back of my 4x4 compact tractor. I had several extra jugs. I could fit 12 jugs in my carrier. I took in 12 jugs empty. At each collection point, if a jug was under half full, I unscrewed the cap and poured the sap into an empty on my carrier, then replaced it, if a jug had half or more in it I swapped for an empty.
I started with 27 taps, after 1 day's flow I said "I can handle more" and added taps, doing it a few each day, until I got up to 79 taps. At that point the sap really started to flow, so every jug was full or overflowing each time out. I had outsmarted myself. I was boiling 24 hrs a day, my wife covered when I was at work (I then drove school bus thus lots of time during the day) and we took turns sleeping. I got so far behind that some sap spoiled. I had never even considered finding someone to give or sell the sap to.
My suggestion is be careful on how many taps you set unless you line up a buyer to sell or give some to. Have fun, and don't grow too fast, enjoy the journey! box of 50 drive in hooks used by utility companies for less than $1 each. These are the ones that you see on utility poles, made to drive in with a hammer but threaded for removal. I drilled a 5/16 hole into a tree, then hammered them in. I attached the mainlines in such a way, that I could pull it closer to the tree, unhook the line, back the hook out 2-3 turns as needed then re-hook. They worked very well. The only issue was that they came in boxes of 50. link: https://www.comstarsupply.com/aerial...re/j-hook.html I see they list now at $1.90, don't know what quantities, check it out.

[BAP]

Very interesting read, even though I skimmed it. The only thing I'll add is the time you will lay the freshly filled containers on their side. If it was addressed and I missed it, sorry, but I far prefer to lay them for at least 30-60 seconds. While 5 might be OK, 30 is more certain to kill any mold spores, and mold spores are on everything.
Your enthusiasm reminds me of myself in my first season 19 years ago. I started with a half pint, bought used. I started with mini tubing systems, most were 2-3 taps into a 5 gal cooking oil jugs that had been thoroughly cleaned that I had gotten from a local Chinese restaurant. In the caps I made a hole by heating a tapered rod and melting a hole, I tried drilling and never got a good hole without major breaking. Under the cap I placed a hose clamp to prevent the tubing from pulling out. I then emptied 2x each day, hauling a carrier on the back of my 4x4 compact tractor. I had several extra jugs. I could fit 12 jugs in my carrier. I took in 12 jugs empty. At each collection point, if a jug was under half full, I unscrewed the cap and poured the sap into an empty on my carrier, then replaced it, if a jug had half or more in it I swapped for an empty.
I started with 27 taps, after 1 day's flow I said "I can handle more" and added taps, doing it a few each day, until I got up to 79 taps. At that point the sap really started to flow, so every jug was full or overflowing each time out. I had outsmarted myself. I was boiling 24 hrs a day, my wife covered when I was at work (I then drove school bus thus lots of time during the day) and we took turns sleeping. I got so far behind that some sap spoiled. I had never even considered finding someone to give or sell the sap to.
My suggestion is be careful on how many taps you set unless you line up a buyer to sell or give some to. Have fun, and don't grow too fast, enjoy the journey! box of 50 drive in hooks used by utility companies for less than $1 each. These are the ones that you see on utility poles, made to drive in with a hammer but threaded for removal. I drilled a 5/16 hole into a tree, then hammered them in. I attached the mainlines in such a way, that I could pull it closer to the tree, unhook the line, back the hook out 2-3 turns as needed then re-hook. They worked very well. The only issue was that they came in boxes of 50. link: https://www.comstarsupply.com/aerial...re/j-hook.html I see they list now at $1.90, don't know what quantities, check it out.

Dave, I think you posted in the wrong thread