Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
When you tap in the barbed spout, do you still hear the change in tapping sounds, when you get to the right spot?
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2016 - 2 x 4 Randy Worthen built arch and pans 11 taps; 2.625 gallons of syrup!
2017 - 29 taps; 11.625 gallons of syrup!
2018 - 30 taps; 98 pints bottled! New sugar house being built, new equipment coming!
2019 - 125 taps; 50 gallons made! New 2x6 Smoky Lake Corsair arch, drop flue pan, auto draw. Smoky Lake filter press and Steam Bottler
2020 - 173 taps; only 35 gallons made.
2021 - 242 taps; New record! 50.5 gallons made!
2022 - 321 taps; New record! 80 gallons made!
Yes, the sound change is normal as is the hammer bounce. The Barb Spout does take a little more "precision" during tapping. You want to hit it squarely, otherwise it has a slight tendency to shift from side-side as it goes in. Nothing major, but it is noticeable at time.
The video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL16D9bAbIk give a bit of information.
People have also asked if it is difficult to put Arc-Flow fittings on tubing. It is not much different than a standard fitting. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQIACHdXb_A
Lastly, when these spouts are pulled, they will often pull away some bark with them. While it may be unsightly and may appear to be of concern to some folks, it should be noted that BARK is totally dead, so you're not damaging any living part of the tree. We've monitored taphole closure, and there is no difference between standard spouts and Barb Spouts. More realistically, it's a good indicator that as long as they are put in properly they do NOT come out of the taphole...that was one of the design features after all. Even though the spout barrel is shorter, they stay in the tree.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Thank you Dr. Perkins, and as a side note welcome to Michigan., when you arrive.
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
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu