--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
Finishing my first big batch from the weekend, looking like about 3-4 gallons!
Screenshot_20230222-210553.jpg
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
I hear ya! We're going to do our second bottling this weekend which should put us at 13 gallons so far for the season. We typically average about 18 gallons, some due to mother nature some due to us getting tired and calling it a season when it get toward the end of March. What an awesome run it's been for February though! Glad to see some snow tonight, just doesn't feel the same collecting and boiling with no white stuff on the ground
Weather sure is funny,we are way ahead of last yr,1st boil was march11-431 gal syrup- this year feb 13 made 145 gal already-hoping for a great season
Filtered everything down and bottled, by far the cleanest syrup I've ever made (i.e. virtually nothing gunking up the filter cone) and came out a beautiful copper color for this first run. My family all agreed it was the best tasting we've ever had from our own trees, very buttery:
PXL_20230223_203158324.jpg
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
2023 650+ taps 4-4x40 Frankenstein ro
2022 - 500 taps 77 on shurflo the rest on Gast 3040 vacuum pump 1" main, DIY 2 post 4x40 RO, NEW to us 30"x8' oil-fired with preheat/hood
2021 - 205 taps (150 on shurflo, rest on 3/16 gravity) RO Bucket 4 membrane
L48 Kubota tractor
1954 Ferguson T0-30
www.hopcitymaple.com
Bottled 5 gallons today, put us at 11.5 gallons so far for the year.
Havent had any sap since 2/22 but am glad i tapped on the 9th as i made just over 7 gallons of Amber on my 45 taps which isnt too shabby. I finished off the sweet in my divided pans and cleaned the pans up, was starting to get a lot of bubbles towards the end in the my syrup channel which i always assumed to be because of niter buildup. Trees are looking like they will stay frozen for a while and we finally have some decent snow for snowmobiling, so im not complaining. Curious to see how the rest of the year goes and if i feel inclined to put out some pales on drops to up my season totals.
--
2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system