Are you using buckets on the red maples? If so, just to let you know they perform much better on a tubing system with vacuum.
Are you using buckets on the red maples? If so, just to let you know they perform much better on a tubing system with vacuum.
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
I used buckets my first year, on a mix of reds and sugars. The reds did flow less but they flowed.
On vac they are essential equal (in volume, not % sugar).
My trees were slow yesterday when I tapped, but by the end of today things picked up.
2025 - 160 taps, Shruflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO - 30 gallons
2024 - 160 taps, Shurflo 4048. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 Raised Flue. 5x400 RO - 19 gallons
2023 - 121 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 20 gallons
2022 - 103 taps. Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 XL, 4x150 RO. 23 gallons
2021 - 77 taps on Shurflo 4008. Sap Sucker 4-D. Mason 2x4 2020
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Trout Brook Valley
Weston, CT
I put about half my taps in yesterday, a little over 50 - Second half in today. Hard to believe it was 10 below a few days ago, sap was running yesterday - Looks like good weather ahead, for how long, who knows?
I have a mix of bags and buckets. I got three buckets and lids for free, so I purchased the bigger spiles for them. Interestingly, those bigger spiles were leaking yesterday after the subfreezing temps. They were running better yesterday. I don't think I'll ever produce enough to justify a vacuum system. Plus our trees are very far apart. We'll see how it goes. I think I'll be switching to all bags next year. There have been so many bugs in the buckets and now leaking sap.Originally Posted by Pdiamond
What kind of buckets? I have 5 gal buckets with 5/16 tubing going into a hole drilled in the lids. The tubing is a tight fit in the hole through the lid, so I have pretty clean sap, no bugs.
I tapped the trees I have on tubing only, that go to my main tank Sunday and yesterday (about 40 ish taps). I hope to get the bucketed trees tapped today.
2017 - 20ish taps on buckets, boiling outside in two baking pans
2018-19 - 70+ taps, 14-buckets, 50+ on tubing, homemade arch from oil tank in my barn
2020 - less taps, short season, but RO kit was fantastic! Gained a maple cat!
2021-24 - expanded into the neighbors yards! 50 taps on buckets and 40 taps on tubing
got 65 taps in so far, yesterday quite a few were dripping at a good pace, today only a couple were a slow drip
gonna finish up one property tomorrow and have a new one to check out this weekend
Tapped 88 today. All were running. The sap from the 35 on gravity 3/16 tubing was zooming through the tubing. I have 30 more taps to put out tomorrow.
2024 55 3/16 gravity, 19 5/16 gravity, 40 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator, Mason AUF arch.
2023 35 3/16 gravity, 30 5/16 gravity 53 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator.
Mason AUF arch
2022 35 3/16 gravity, 28 5/16 gravity, 50 buckets and bags, New RO Bucket rb15 kit.
2021 11 on 5/16 gravity, 30 on 3/16 gravity, 69 on buckets and bags. All sugar maples. Mostly large old trees.
I've got a little over 100 in, some full buckets this afternoon. Probably making some steam later tomorrow -
I collected my first 70 gallons of sap today. Sugar content was 2.6! I had to zero out the refractometer and check it again. 2.6! Once I run it through the RO I'll double that. What is everybody else getting with their sap sugar levels?
2024 55 3/16 gravity, 19 5/16 gravity, 40 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator, Mason AUF arch.
2023 35 3/16 gravity, 30 5/16 gravity 53 buckets and bags, RO Bucket rb15 kit, 5ft Phaneuf drop flue evaporator.
Mason AUF arch
2022 35 3/16 gravity, 28 5/16 gravity, 50 buckets and bags, New RO Bucket rb15 kit.
2021 11 on 5/16 gravity, 30 on 3/16 gravity, 69 on buckets and bags. All sugar maples. Mostly large old trees.
I boiled off about 150 gal. of 2% sap yesterday AM, then collected another 100 for Sat. What a crazy start, about 10 am a honeybee flies into the barn. With whats forecast for next week, expect to see buds on the trees, maybe mow the lawn in March this year. I miss the older weather. Several years ago there was a Feb. I had no sap, 0, for the whole month. It was just too cold to run.
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