Thanks, guys! That's notably different advice than I'd gotten previously -- namely, that I probably didn't need to clean my pans throughout a season, given the small size of my operation. But if you're cleaning every boil to every few hundred gallons, then I'm well overdue. No wonder I have so much buildup! I just picked up a bunch of vinegar and will be cleaning them out tonight. Credit to the wisdom of my sugaring elders!
2018: 70 taps on 3/16". New sugarhouse with Smoky Lake 2x5' hybrid pro setup.
(2017: year off; found a pregnant, very skittish cow in our sugarbush! Spent the season drawing her into our barn and learning about cow ownership...)
2016: 40 taps on 5/16", 2x3 flat pan on cinderblocks.
2010-15: 20 buckets, 2x3 flat pan on cinderblocks.
2005-09: 5-10 buckets, stovetop boiling.
2000-05: Involved with Williams College sugaring operation.