Hi Spud, Marc from Deerfield NH. When I started to convince my self to tap the trees hear I had to learn the cost to do so. Seven years ago I was just a resident care taker of the 22 acres. So I made the expense to get in the sap. I have learned from you and others this about using vacuum. Yup I can get sap when it is running. I now have the deed to the acreage. Now evaporator this year. I have done some boiling but its nuts. I have been trading sap for syrup from the producer down the rd ho have been sugaring for 44 years. Seven more years of bricklaying. I will re do the slapped up shack to a real one.