I tapped yesterday. Two trees were trying to run. I have 1 spile leftover. I missed a tree somewhere, now to figure out where it is.
I tapped yesterday. Two trees were trying to run. I have 1 spile leftover. I missed a tree somewhere, now to figure out where it is.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
2025. 62 taps.
Today was supposed to be mostly sunny and +7 by noon time. It was very foggy this morning and is still really overcast and the temperature only +2. I thought today the taps would be gushing but that is not the case. The lines are dripping, but at this rate I will not have enough to boil tomorrow.
I had hoped a sunny warm day would have helped to melt the ice in the barrels. Ice floats and it is blocking me from pumping out the barrels. I used my ice spud to break up the large pieces in the barrels. I am tempted to take the ice out, but because all of the sap froze, my feeling is that I would be throwing out sap with the water. I might take it out and let it melt in a pail.
I did walk the lines and fixed some air leaks. Early this morning expecting a warm day I brought a lot of the accessories to the evaporator shelter thinking maybe a might do a boil late morning. I also did a final cleaning of the steam pans with white vinegar and a good rinse.
What I am finding is the things that I have control over such as my forms on my ATV trailer to hold the pails, and the quick connect cord going from the ATV to the pump all is working great. Things that you cannot control like the weather and or a brand new pump for the RO not working, are the challenges that you have work around.
Tonight will stay above zero so the taps should flow into the evening, but may shutdown tomorrow.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
63 taps in since yesterday and 1 tree in full sun dripping +3*c for the past 2 days and rising in the next few days, snow levels are going quick. If we get the temperatures forecast for the next week things should open up.
+10*c and sun tomorrow and sun friday might even get things going but slim chance.
I'm aiming for 80 to 90 taps which will be tomorrow's job and lots of sap
2019 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 44 taps 13 Liters syrup
2020 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 51 taps 21 Liters syrup
2021- New homemade 2x3 evaporator and flat pan 80 drop lines to buckets
2022- (,)1350L naturally ROd sap 44L syrup
2023- "\_(°°)_/" 1100L sap 30L syrup not accurate due to natural RO
2024 { ';' }1862L sap 52L syrup 52 drop lines to buckets
Being my first year, I thought once they started flowing, away we go. Today did not get near as warm as forecasted. One set of pails (9 taps,7 buckets) yielded one gallon and another set of pails (27 taps, 17 pails) yielded 2 gallons. So although it is flowing, it is not flowing fast. I checked with some other locals and it is still slow for them as well. We have so much snow still.
The lines are doing a little better.
I removed the ice from the barrels and poured out the sap into pails. I am hoping that, plus what I gather in the morning, will be enough for my first boil. The sap was still running in the lines at dusk and the temperature will stay above freezing, so maybe it will run for a little while longer.
Edit: 8:45 pm, temp 3.4° C, the sap is still running in the lines.
Edit: 9:45 pm, temp 3.2° C, the sap is still running in the lines.
Edit: 10:45 pm, temp 2.8° C, the sap is still running in the lines. I heard my first spout hissing tonight. Tapped it and 95% of the sound disappeared, but I could not get the last little bit to stop.
Edit: 11:45 pm, temp 2.6°, the sap is still running well in the lines. It would be nice if there were close to 20+ gallons in the morning, in addition to what I have for my first boil.
Edit: 12:45 am, temp 2.5°, the sap is still running, maybe slowing a bit. It will be interesting to see if it is running when I wake up and if it is, how long does it run for, without the temperature not dropping below freezing overnight
Bedtime, big boil tomorrow!
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-16-2022 at 11:48 PM.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
All tapped in 85 in total and sap flowing in smaller trees, nothing in 20" or bigger
Full sun and +12*c today and the next few days look decent
2019 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 44 taps 13 Liters syrup
2020 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 51 taps 21 Liters syrup
2021- New homemade 2x3 evaporator and flat pan 80 drop lines to buckets
2022- (,)1350L naturally ROd sap 44L syrup
2023- "\_(°°)_/" 1100L sap 30L syrup not accurate due to natural RO
2024 { ';' }1862L sap 52L syrup 52 drop lines to buckets
hey ,just saw your post,,, kinda funny we're pulling taps here in Connecticut , hope you do well ,we have nights in the 40's and days in the 50/60's
2022,,140 dropline tap n,bucket ,,25 treehangers
2021,,125 " " 25 tree hanger spile n pale
2020,,R.O. triple filtering system
2019,,85 dropline tap n bucket 55 gallon barrel stove,
2'x3' evap with dbl on top pre-warming pans.
2018,,60 tap n bucket dropline,propane burner
2017,, 35 home made spile n jug ,propane burner
These were my edits last night:
Edit: 8:45 pm, temp 3.4° C, the sap is still running in the lines.
Edit: 9:45 pm, temp 3.2° C, the sap is still running in the lines.
Edit: 10:45 pm, temp 2.8° C, the sap is still running in the lines.
Edit: 11:45 pm, temp 2.6°, the sap is still running well in the lines.
Edit: 12:45 am, temp 2.5°, the sap is still running,
The sap ran all night and despite not dropping below freezing overnight ran all day. Not much in the buckets, but there were 17 gallons from the lines in the morning and I got 9 more gallons part way through the day.
I boiled today for my first time ever and boiled 45 gallons. I will finish the nearup tomorrow.
With my RO down, I am sort of glad for the slow sap flow.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
585 tapped
Pulled 150 gallons out of the woods tonight
Slow start to the year for sure
2010 40 buckets- 4 gals finished
2011 80 buckets- 14 gals finished
2012 105 buckets- 8 gals finished
2013 maxed at 130 buckets- 24 gals finished
2014 new max at 240 buckets- 18 gals finished
2015 newest max 240 buckets-+48 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22.5 gals finished
2016 150 taps on 3/16 gravity- 23 gals finished
2020 250 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22 gals finished
2021 385 taps on 3/16 gravity 25 gals finished
2022 385 taps on 3/16 gravity- 26 gals finished
It has not dropped below zero the last two nights, but the sap has kept running, however slowly.
The pails are two days worth, the first area 9 taps, 7 pails = 2 gallons, the second area 27 taps, 17 pails = 10.5 gallons. The collection barrels for one day, 8 gallons, 8 gallons and 9 gallons. I have 40 gallons, plus whatever I collect tomorrow, to maybe boil tomorrow. Tonight will stay above zero as well. There will be some rain to help get rid of some of the snow.
Today, my beaten down paths to the pails were soft and I sunk through several times, well past my knee, falling twice.
I finished the sap I boiled yesterday, this afternoon. It went well.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0e9N...cBPKK_4FP3kxtQ
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8 pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
430 taps. Close to 100 gallons total sap. Enough to sweet the pans. Slow start for sure. Really want to test out the new and improved vacuum filter.
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