February Journal 08, GO TIME

[danno]

The 30x8 found a new home today. Nice meeting you Doug and Greg. Hope you guys made it through the lake effect up north. Looks like it started a little earlier then expected.

Now that the old girl is gone, I guess it's time to show off the new girl. Lots of great ideas, as usual, came off the Trader - including the dog chain tie downs for the stack and one piece hood. Thanks WV, look familiar? And, ofcourse, big thanks to Parker for putting me on the rig.

[PATheron]

Thanks for the posative feedback you guys. Im not sure exactly how much sap I got. I really kind of think it was over 2400 gallons or at least that. I drew off 50 gallons and flooded the pans with concentrate and basically sweetened them so maybe the numbers jive. I dont really care I just want to make syrup. I took it off the evap at density, actually I was running it off heavy for a while till I got the hang of it. I toned it down though. After everyone left I broke out the rocket fuel. Small seasoned hard maple from a thinning. I was boiling pretty much continuous with foam to the top of the flue pan and the syrup pan boiling way up there. Got greedy on one of the last draws and the fire was down just before the draw and I firgured what the heck and stoked it. The syrup pans in the front boiled over the devider and mixed and I lost my draw for a while. Then when it came talk about a draw. Couldnt find anything in the syrup pan that wasnt syrup. Filled a 5 gal bucked pretty much. Started to get a little scared but figured Im a sugarmaker now Ive got to boil like ive got a pair. If I didnt have an ro and the sap ran like it did yesterday. Id open up the valves and run it down the creek before id boil that much raw sap. I just dont have it in me. Holy cow I think Matt took the end of my mains and plumbed them in the pond but it seemed to be 2% sugar. Syrup tastes good. What do you guys think 50 gals of fancy is worth in the barrell? I think you guys up north better get ready becouse I think you are going to have a good season with the temps and all the snow cover your season is going to be awesome. Theeron

[jemsklein]

well we are about 2 weeks away and im all ready (i think) hopfullt this year is a good year so last year sucked here we had 100 taps and made 40 liters now we got 400 taps hoping to make 400 liters

[PATheron]

Jemsklein- Keep us posted when you get your first big run. Im cuious to see how your evaperator does for you. Hope things work good. You should see some pretty big sap with that many taps. Theeron

[Sugarmaker]

Theron,
Nice job! Sounds like you are in the syrup business!
Jems
We will get the weather soon for some good runs.
Jim,
Glad to see your back and building a cream machine.

Just lounging in the lazy boy here in NWPA! If anyone can help me with this syrup problem let me know!

Jim and Chase thanks for the firing mitts!

Chris

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

If you get $ 2.50 lb, it would be $ 1,400+. Not bad for a days work.

[Parker]

Danno- that is a sweet rig for sure,,,I am looking forward to hearing what kind of evap. rate you get with it,,,,bet it will suprise you,,,kdid you put a blower on it?

[tapper]

Theron,

Or if you retail it all in quarts it is over twice that $1400.00. Better yet turn it all into candy and that would be a realllll good one day return on your investment.

[H. Walker]

If you get $ 2.50 lb, it would be $ 1,400+. Not bad for a days work.

A days work?? I think you forgot the 11 months preparation that he had to get a days pay!!

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Oh, trust me, I know all about the 11 prior months as it is a year around job for me too. I was using PMA(positive mental attitude) to show what kind of reward he got in ONE day for all the work he did.