I clean with hot water and vinegar every four boils (alternating flow).
I clean with hot water and vinegar every four boils (alternating flow).
2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO
2017 - 49 taps on gravity, 6 on buckets.
2016 - 19 taps on new 3/16 tubing, 24 on buckets
2015 - 51 taps, 26 buckets
2014 - 50 taps, 14 buckets, steel railroad toolbox converted into arch, new 2X3 continuous flow Phaneuf from Homestead Maple
2013 - 33 taps, 12 buckets, steel railroad toolbox converted into arch, steam table pans
2012 - 26 taps, 10 buckets, steel railroad toolbox converted into arch, steam table pans
We clean our 2x2 syrup pan every +/- 500 gallons through it at the maximum, never more than 2 boils between cleanings. We had a 2nd syrup pan made last year which has been great. If we have a boil around 300 gallons and expect more sap soon, we'll just do a pan swap after the boil and be ready to go for the next one. We let the dirty pan soak and clean it during the next boil so we always have one ready to go.
Occasionally we will give the flue pan a hot water rinse mid-season but usually don't bother as we need to make a dark syrup anyway. Even so, I believe what we have in the pot now will be a light dark. Last year we put 3300 gallons through the machine and never dropped below LT 45.
270 taps on 2 Shurflo's, 31 taps on 3/16" and 229 taps on gravity. 530 in all
Mountain Maple S3 controller for 145 of the vacuum taps
2x6 Darveau Mystique Oil Fired Evaporator w/ Smoky Lake Simplicity Auto Draw
Wesfab 7” filter press
IBC totes in the woods, 800 Gallon CDL bulk tank at the shack
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