Tapped in Chester... sorta
Not quite everything that could go wrong did. But...
- On my fifth tap I broke my bit, and didn't have another
- I somehow lost one of the spiles, and didn't bring a spare
- Batteries for my drill started dying almost immediately
So I still have a bunch of taps I haven't drilled yet, and I'm going to have to go back to drill deeper a bunch of the ones I've done (that are only like an inch deep - as far as I could get the dying drill to go). And you know that rule about how you're supposed to drill straight in and out only once? That went right out the window - was desperately trying to coax every mm out of the drill, with pulling the drill out of the hole, removing shavings, and putting it back in to get a little more depth, multiple times. I'm not sure if the batteries have reached the end of their life, or if it's just my fault for trying to charge them in an unheated garage (around 45 - 50 degrees).
Gotta thank Paul Sena of Hickory Hill Farm (a LaPierre dealer listed on the site) for saving my bacon yesterday. I drove up to Worthington where he and his partner Dave had a bit for me.
So I have to go dig out that bit and put a tap and bucket on that tree (I'll get whatever I get - there'll probably be a fair bit of leakage around the tap), finish drilling some of the short holes, and put in four more taps. Wouldn't be as big a deal, except my sugarbush is a two hour drive from my house!
Seems like every year I mess something up. One year I somehow didn't have the lids for a bunch of buckets. One year I ran out of gas on my drive there. And nearly every year I forget to bring my keys to the cabin. Oh well, gotta have a sense of humor about it.
At least my season has begun!
Gabe
Last edited by berkshires; 02-16-2022 at 12:32 PM.
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