2015 Season West Virginia Mapler

[Russell Lampron]

Big thumbs up to the RO. We processed 10,400 gallon of sap with 1 cord of wood, that would have normally taken 8 cords. Norrmal sugar content we would have made about 200 gallons of syrup on 1 cord of wood. Even that will make you proud Russ. Won't have much to do in the off season now but hopefully I will use the extra time to sell a lot of equipment and supplies and walk a few prospective sugarbushes for new customers.

I remember a few years ago when I was preaching the benefits of adding an RO that I posted a reply using your set up as ideal for an RO. At the time you were thinking Steamaway and didn't want to hear it. I am real happy for you. I knew you would like an RO if you had one. It is the best energy and time saving piece of maple equipment you can buy.

As you know I was one of the first smaller producers on here to get an RO and was quick to start spreading the word about how great they are. I was a little scared when I bought mine because of all of the myths that were floating around at the time. All of those have been proven false and even the smallest producers are jumping onto the band wagon now. Just look at all of the threads on homemade RO's. I went from using 1 cord of wood to make 10 gallons of syrup to using 1 cord of wood to make 100 gallons of syrup. Gone are the nights when I used to boil until 2am for days in a row just to get caught up. I'm sure that you don't miss the weekends when you spent the entire weekend boiling sap.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Russ,

You hit the nail on the head. I am glad I bought the steamaway and no regrets there. It really increases the boil rate to and probably adds another 50 to 60 gallon of syrup to a cord of wood. Costs almost nothing to run it, so they both have their place. It works great with the Deer Run because I have all the hot water off of it to wash it with every night, so it is a huge plus with it. Maybe one of these days you can get a good deal on a used steamaway. It just about cleans itself and is a big energy enhancement. Dollar for dollar, yes RO is best investment as far as rate of increase. Likely go to a CDL 600 RO in a year or two since I am a dealer for them.

[Russell Lampron]

I didn't know that you were a CDL dealer. If I were to become a dealer that is the company that I would want to hook up with. We already have a CDL/Leader dealer in town too so I'm sure that they wouldn't let me sell their stuff.

I was thinking of becoming a Lapierre dealer but don't really have the time or a place to store the supplies that I would want to have in stock. I'm not happy with the Lapierre fittings that I have been using either. The seam on the barbs doesn't line up correctly and leaves a place for a vacuum leak. It's a PITA to deal with and I am changing over to CDL and Leader fittings because of it. I love my Lapierre RO and like some of the other Lapierre stuff that I have though.

[Russell Lampron]

I didn't know that you were a CDL dealer. If I were to become a dealer that is the company that I would want to hook up with. We already have a CDL/Leader dealer in town too so I'm sure that they wouldn't let me sell their stuff.

I was thinking of becoming a Lapierre dealer but don't really have the time or a place to store the supplies that I would want to have in stock. I'm not happy with the Lapierre fittings that I have been using either. The seam on the barbs doesn't line up correctly and leaves a place for a vacuum leak. It's a PITA to deal with and I am changing over to CDL and Leader fittings because of it. I love my Lapierre RO and like some of the other Lapierre stuff that I have though.

Oops! I should have looked at your signature. I see the CDL and Sugar Hill dealerships listed there.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Just tired of paying to have everything shipped or driving 4 hours each way for supplies and equipment. Lot of small producers down here and everyone about in same boat. I have capacity to carry inventory and things just worked out last month for it. WV is really starting to make some syrup and more producers all the time. Just going to take time to build customer base and get word out but working hard already.

[Russell Lampron]

CDL makes good equipment and supplies so you hooked up with a good company. I'm sure that the producers in your area are happy to have a local dealer. I'm thinking that it won't take long for the word to get out and you have a regular clientele.

[802maple]

Good to meet you yesterday at CDL, I don't care what people say about you, you aren't that bad a guy. hahaha


Looking forward to someday meeting up with you in your stomping grounds.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Hopefully no one will say I'm a bad guy. Lol. Great meeting you too Jerry. Wish I could hang around you for a while. You have so much knowledge it is amazing.
Always have enjoyed talking to you nice to put a face with it. Enjoyed meeting your wife also as she is a really nice lady.

855 miles up to ST. Albans but worth it to go to dealers meeting on Thursday and at open House all day Friday and most of Saturday. Was able to finally meet Adam and Rachel Taylor from WV. Wonderful couple and they have a nice operation that is expanding. CDL really going in the right direction and making major changes to make sure the customer is takeN care of. Look forward to working with them.

[Russell Lampron]

Hopefully no one will say I'm a bad guy. Lol. Great meeting you too Jerry. Wish I could hang around you for a while. You have so much knowledge it is amazing.
Always have enjoyed talking to you nice to put a face with it. Enjoyed meeting your wife also as she is a really nice lady.

855 miles up to ST. Albans but worth it to go to dealers meeting on Thursday and at open House all day Friday and most of Saturday. Was able to finally meet Adam and Rachel Taylor from WV. Wonderful couple and they have a nice operation that is expanding. CDL really going in the right direction and making major changes to make sure the customer is taken care of. Look forward to working with them.

I was at CDL yesterday morning. I wish that I had known that you were there and that we could have met. Did you go to any of the other open houses? The only other one that I went to was Lapierre.

CDL is really going in the right direction with great products and an emphasis on customer service. When I have dealt with Lapierre in the past the customer service wasn't up to par with CDL and Leader but they have made a big improvement in the last couple of years.

My only complaint with CDL and Lapierre is that they should have had the burgers and dogs ready first thing in the morning. By the time that I had gotten there I had been up for almost 6 hours and would have rather have had a burger or dog than a doughnut.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Think they started serving about 1130 yesterday. Had bbq, hot dogs, hamburgers and other stuff last 2 days and it was good. I think I put it on here couple times couple weeks ago. Hoping to meet more of you guys. I was there all day Friday and left there about 2:40 yesterday. I didn't make it to any others got to meet some of people that I knew were coming up.