Tapping 2010

[Turtlecreek]

Just a quick update in between fireings. I got the half pint all firede up and we are boiling!!!!! This thing is much faster than the old evaprosink (sink evaporator I used the last 2 years), it really works great! Its burning so hot that there is no smoke comming out the stack with the blower on. I can't tell you how awsome it feels to be making syrup again WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! Now I feel like theron

[Gary R]

Way to go Turtlecreek! It was a beautiful 40 today. Did not boil though. Some buckets only have a cup of sap. But others have a gal. Still running. I will be boiling tomorrow

[Dennis H.]

Congrats on the evap Turtlecreek. Now you will be using the 1/2pint for a year or two and want to upgrade again right??
I know after this season I am looking to upgrade to a real evap, I am not sure if it will be a new, used or homemade one.

The temps here are in the mid 40's and the sap is running, just not as good as it should. I am pretty sure the snow pack in the woods is what is slowing the down the sap. We are slowing getting rid of the white stuff though so in another week I am sure it will be alot better.

I will not be boiling today but I did last night. I had enough for 3 hours worth of boiling. It is to get cold tomorrow so I will boil what I got today tomorrow.

[farmall h]

Dennis H, how's the vacuum on the Bender's working. Are they helping with the slow run?

[Paddymountain]

Started boiling this evening,had about 150 gallon of sap collected. At 50 gal per hr evap rate it sure goes down quick. should be done in another hour.

[stifflej]

Well, I put my first ever taps in yesterday, maybe got a gallon of sap so far, but not much more running, and another storm coming tomorrow, so I don't expect much for at least another couple weeks.

[Turtlecreek]

Well the pan is sweet!! It was almost really sweet, but I caught it just in the Nick of time, I thought I had it taken care of before supper then I was thinking all of the time during supper I better check that pan. Good thing I did, it was down to about an inch or less and still boiling, there is syrup on the draw off side. The gradiant is good though sap on the left and syrup on the right. I put water on the remaining fire cleaned out the fire box and closed the devider between 2nd and 3rd channel. WOW THAT WAS CLOSE!!!

Now a question how do I start this thing up again? If I start to put sap back in the left side will the syrup and sap sort themselves out again?

[mapleack]

What a busy four day weekend! The snow slowed us down a lot. Right now we've got about 650 taps in, the rest will get done next weekend. Tanks are all washed and set, sap was running today but didn't gather to be sure of how much. we finished hooking up our first vacuum releaser in the dark at about 7pm. Now if my dad will finish plumbing the vacuum pump tomorrow we'll get vacuum on 316. Still have another releaser to get hooked up on a 220 tap woods that have check valve spiles. Left the sugar house at 9 tonight the head tank is washed and the stacks up. Still have to install pan gasket before firing. We spent way too much time today hauling out the years worth of accumulated junk. The weather forcast for tomorrow might mean a decent run and our first boil of the year, it'll take at least 300 gal to get going and sweeten the pans. Good luck to all!

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Where's Matt Emerick???? Haven't heard from here for a long time.

[Dennis H.]

Yes the Vac is helping on these slow days, I don't think I would have any sap if I was on buckets. I don't think this season is ever going to get into full swing. Just when the weather is looking good they change the forecast and we get another spell of so-so weather. But atleast the vac is getting me some sap to boil down.

The Benders are working great I had to add a SS nut for added weight on the float now it is running smoooth.