Backyard Syrup Enthusiasts 2022

[CanterburyMaple]

I have to say, I get a real kick out of reading how everyone's doing here with their season! Love the evaporator on skis, exciting to hear about miles of tubing going up, and the tapping updates and expectations make me smile every time. It has been an early season for me, but this is just my third. So far I have collected about 115 gallons of sap on 70 taps, but I'd say half of that was on only 35 taps. I didn't have a tap in before Feb 20 last year. Most trees on my street are barely dripping today, but maybe the summer weather tomorrow will have them run some more. I'm already starting to shake with anticipation for what looks like a big run March 3-6th. But the most fun part for me today is that my dad came down and has been manning the evaporator (chopping/feeding firewood, scooping foam, tinkering with the warming pan feed) while I work my 9-to-5 and bring him a new bucket of RO-ed sap every hour. He is totally obsessed after 1 day of "the business" and we haven't even bottled yet haha! What a blessing to enjoy this hobby. Thanks to all on here who've given advice and make it that much more enjoyable with your updates. Boil on!

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

We're behind and going to miss any sap this week. Still finishing up a new mainline install. Hopefully by Sunday we have the new line done and all the taps in. Should be around 475 this year I am guessing. I think we missed some but not sure it has really started going yet. We'll be ready after the next cold snap.

[Mvhomesteader]

I have to say, I get a real kick out of reading how everyone's doing here with their season! What a blessing to enjoy this hobby. Thanks to all on here who've given advice and make it that much more enjoyable with your updates. Boil on!

Amen brother! I couldn't have said that more succinctly. My father's been gone for 20 years, and I know he would have been right here enjoying the joy of maple, along with a bunch of other homestead pursuits. Enjoy your dad's involvement!

I am also early this season. I collected almost another 35 gallons today, so I'm going to boil tomorrow on the nice day. That is my record for earliest boil, I think. If not it's pretty close. I expect another 60 gallons between when it warms overnight, tomorrow, and tomorrow night, so probably another boil this weekend to keep the stock down. I did notice that 5 day run next week. Great way to start March! Good luck to all!

[Mvhomesteader]

First boil today netted a gallon, quart and 1.5 pints off 68 gallons. This calculated to a ssc of 2.07%. I find that somewhat disappointing as I usually start out nearer to 2.5%. I swear it gets lower each year. We'll see what the next boil brings.

The new arch arrangement cooked off at over 12 gph, which cut my boiling time considerably. I'll be at it again Sunday with probably 55 gallons.

[CanterburyMaple]

That's great news on the new arch, MV! I'd like to consider something that can get me more than 4 gal/hour. I've collected almost 120 gallons of sap so far, and made close to 3 gallons of syrup. I'm mostly red maples, and I've been delighted to be near 2% sugar, so I guess it's all relative. Last year I stayed at 1.5-1.6% most of the year, which was surprising because I understand sugar content drops as the season goes on.

[In da bush]

That's great news on the new arch, MV! I'd like to consider something that can get me more than 4 gal/hour. I've collected almost 120 gallons of sap so far, and made close to 3 gallons of syrup. I'm mostly red maples, and I've been delighted to be near 2% sugar, so I guess it's all relative. Last year I stayed at 1.5-1.6% most of the year, which was surprising because I understand sugar content drops as the season goes on.

What’s your setup? 4gal/hr can be cranked up with some easy improvements. Adding a pre-heater and a hood will do wonders for keeping the boil rolling, and if you can add a fan, DO IT,you won’t regret the investment.

I run a 2x4 flat pan on a beat up mason arch w/fan,PH,hood,float and can get 12-15gal/hr. Little tweaks go a long way. The PH was easy enough to put together with 1/2 copper/fittings less than $75, hood was free-stainless steel clothes dryer drum cut in half, fan was $65 on Amazon. I love the entire process of the season, BUT don’t wanna spend the entire night boiling.

The PH was my first crack at sweating copper. After a few practice joints and a few YT vids, you’ll be a pro for this.

Good luck and have FUN!!

[Mvhomesteader]

That's great news on the new arch, MV! I'd like to consider something that can get me more than 4 gal/hour. I've collected almost 120 gallons of sap so far, and made close to 3 gallons of syrup. I'm mostly red maples, and I've been delighted to be near 2% sugar, so I guess it's all relative. Last year I stayed at 1.5-1.6% most of the year, which was surprising because I understand sugar content drops as the season goes on.

My set up was quite inexpensive. I needed 26 concrete blocks, a bag of mortar mix, and two bags of concrete mix. I formed a block around a 6" stove pipe and lined the inside with bricks from around the yard. The stove pipe came from the metal bin at the transfer station. I did need to buy the steam trays. One of the six pans acts as a warming pan so I can keep feeding the others. The two arches use just under 1/6 cord of wood per boil.

Speaking of boil, I did #2 today converting 51 gallons of sap to 1 gallon and a half pint for a ssc of 2.08%. The flavor of this early syrup is really delicate. It was the first time I've boiled twice in February. How strange to have had two decent runs in February but have to wait till at least March 5 to start another. This batch I boiled today was from 2/23, the really warm day. Everything remains frozen ever since. In fact my storage buckets had an inch of ice on all sides so the boil was slightly slower while the ice melted in the warming pan. Quite a pain actually.

A break in between runs is a good chance to catch up on back burner items!

[CanterburyMaple]

What’s your setup? 4gal/hr can be cranked up with some easy improvements. Adding a pre-heater and a hood will do wonders for keeping the boil rolling, and if you can add a fan, DO IT,you won’t regret the investment.

I run a 2x4 flat pan on a beat up mason arch w/fan,PH,hood,float and can get 12-15gal/hr. Little tweaks go a long way. The PH was easy enough to put together with 1/2 copper/fittings less than $75, hood was free-stainless steel clothes dryer drum cut in half, fan was $65 on Amazon. I love the entire process of the season, BUT don’t wanna spend the entire night boiling.

The PH was my first crack at sweating copper. After a few practice joints and a few YT vids, you’ll be a pro for this.

Good luck and have FUN!!

Appreciate the inspiration and encouragement I have a simple cinderblock set up with 2 steam pans, so I'm working with slightly less than 2 feet by 2 feet of pan exposure. Been using the front pan as kind of a warmer, and I run a siphon from a bucket on a chair into it for "Continuous feed" and then scoop into the back pan which is always rolling boil. Fan is a good suggestion. I think at least adding a 3rd pan so I can have 2 rolling would be the way to go for next year for sure. And I've been lazy/scared on dipping my toes into the copper soldering, but your encouragement is getting me to move that way!

And now I'll expose more of my ignorance: How does a hood help with the keeping the boil going?

[In da bush]

Sounds like you got the bug, welcome to the party!!
No ignorance in an honest question. The hood,in conjunction with the preheater, keeps the temperature up and the steam is hotter than 212. It’ll condense and roll down the inside of the hood,into a gutter, and can be kept for cleaning at the end of your boil. Poke around the maple equipment sites and you’ll get the gist of what it is.

[Mvhomesteader]

And I've been lazy/scared on dipping my toes into the copper soldering, but your encouragement is getting me to move that way.

I use plenty of flux on the fitting/pipe and keep the heat slightly off the copper. When the flux melts off and bubbles, solder placed on the fitting near the flame will melt into the fitting. If it doesn't flow in, it's not hot enough. I usually run the solder around the fitting to make sure I didn't miss a spot, and it helps to have a rag handy to wipe off solder goobers before they set up. Try some test pieces first. It's kind of fun! You'll develop a knack for it once you get going.