North East Ohio 2021

[Kh7722]

This week was good with boils on both Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm pretty sure I have the new H20 Even Flow auto draw dialed in...

First boil on Tuesday was up and down as I kept fighting foam in the pans and playing with the draw off temp by hitting two buttons which caused the valve to open and dump under-density syrup into my tank.

Unknowingly I was calibrating the unit - and who knows what else - but the "manual" is a bit light on the details to say the least.
Made me crazy until Wednesday's boil when I realized that all I had to do was hit either an Up or Down Arrow to adjust temperature.
Once I had that figured out, I was able to adjust for density at will and set about 2 points heavy to correct what I had in the tank.

Now very impressed with how smoothly it operates. When it senses syrup is at the set temp it cracks open just a bit, then more as needed to maintain that temperature - it's fun to watch.
Also really cool to see the draw off temp adjust automatically with changes in barometric pressure - saw a 2/10ths of a degree change during Wed boil.

Anyway, I'm at 10 gallons made so far and getting ready for more this weekend.

Those auto draws sure are amazing, the best thing to do is just let them be and self adjust, biggest thing ive learned is not to adjust after first draw off. It will usually be heavy syrup. After the boil balances out then adjust if needed

Otherwise it was a record week for sure boiled 6 times in 4 days and concentrated to 10-11 percent each time, sure does fly at level. Hopefully a good freeze will keep everything moving

[heus]

I have made around 21 gallons so far (I used to make that much or more in a day ). Waiting for a new ro membrane to come in the mail. Boiled raw 1.8% sap yesterday. Weather forecast looks good long term. Going to use my new 18" vacuum filter for the first time today.

[johnallin]

I ran the vac just long enough to pull about 20 gallons of yellow “junk” that had been sitting in tube from the 70 degrees we had Thursday. After about 1/2 hour, nothing came in, so I shut down.
Looks great for today though.
Hope your membrane comes in Jason- I think you’ll need it today

[johnallin]

Just bottled up 5 gallons from Tuesday boil. Amazing taste Amber Rich. Still have another 4-5 from Wednesday and what’s coming in right now to boil off tomorrow. This is fun [IMG][/IMG]CD7E908C-AE7C-4396-B104-B09E7F373B91.jpg

[CrossBroMaple]

Hoping for a longer season but I’ve had to pull a couple soft maples off of the tubing due too budding...anyone else seeing this?

[woodburner]

No soft maples out here but what little came in today doesn’t look good. Heard the spring peepers the other day so the end is near. Getting some slime in the releaser boot already.

[Kh7722]

Hoping for a longer season but I’ve had to pull a couple soft maples off of the tubing due too budding...anyone else seeing this?

We are on all red maples, buds are still pretty tight in the woods. Freeze last night brought in about 1500 gallons today alone. We make syrup all the way through flower buds which i figure id still more than a week away, hoping for a few more boils. The guys i used to boil with were on all sugars and we slways went as long as them. Think we are still good for a bit longer.
Kevin

[hungryhollow]

Wow that's a short season.

I am just doing it for a hobby. I give most of my syrup away. I had 55 taps and had to boil almost every day.

[johnallin]

We are on all red maples, buds are still pretty tight in the woods. Freeze last night brought in about 1500 gallons today alone. We make syrup all the way through flower buds which i figure id still more than a week away, hoping for a few more boils. The guys i used to boil with were on all sugars and we slways went as long as them. Think we are still good for a bit longer.
Kevin

I’m with you Kevin.
Don’t see trees leafing out for a while yet. Not enough warm weather.

[CrossBroMaple]

Not seeing much sap this weekend so far either. Its really dry here too.