My plan 2022/23

[Swingpure]

Why are you pulling the sweet out of the pan each time? If it will be a while before you boil again, you just have to bring the sweet back to a boil every few days or so. Much less often if it's really cold.

GO

Thanks I did not think of that.

There are a few 12° F nights ahead, if I boil Sunday can it last until Thursday, or will it need a boil like Tuesday.

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[berkshires]

Thanks I did not think of that.

There are a few 12° F nights ahead, if I boil Sunday can it last until Thursday, or will it need a boil like Tuesday.

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If that forecast holds true, absolutely. Only reason I would think otherwise is if your pan is not covered, or if it gets sun on it. Otherwise it's never going to even defrost from slush between Sun and Thurs. Just make sure everything (including any sap in preheaters or whatever) has come to and remained at a boil for a few minutes. If there's anywhere (preheaters, transfer boxes, etc.) that doesn't boil, either pull it out and add it to the pan while the pan is still boiling (you can replace with water to keep from scorching if it's exposed to heat) or take some boiling sap and flush that area out with that.

GO

[sublime68charger]

I need to find time to get threw your thread, so far I'm on page 2 but its been a fun follow so far.

Hope your having a great season this year!

[Swingpure]

I will have my second boil tomorrow. I have taken the advice offered and I have placed ceramic blanket material between the back of the pan and the basestack. It is touching both, but it is rated for 2300 F continuous use.

I have also placed a sheet of sheet rock behind the basestack to protect the tarp and wood that are behind the basestack. The tarp partially melted last time.

I have already removed the 5 gallon plastic pail that I put over the stack. My fear is one time I will forget to remove it and that will be a mess. Thank goodness I have a long roof rake to put the pail on and off the stack.

The forecast is slightly improved and I should be boiling every second day of in some cases everyday, although with relatively minimal new volumes. Hopefully as the days get longer the volumes will increase so that I can have a draw off or two, some of the times.

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[aamyotte]

Instead of using a plastic bucket on your stack you could use a steel ash bucket. If you forget it worse thing that would happen is smoke in your shelter.

[Swingpure]

Instead of using a plastic bucket on your stack you could use a steel ash bucket. If you forget it worse thing that would happen is smoke in your shelter.

I consider that but the ash bucket does not have the diameter or depth to put it on and take it off easily with the roof rake. J will keep my eye open for a light metal 5 gallon pail.

[Swingpure]

The boil today is going well and uneventful. Nothing to fix or improve.

Today I purposefully have a 3” sap level, which is likely why I will not make syrup today, but I am getting close.

I have 3” of sap depth because on Tuesday I will bring it to a quick boil so that it does not freeze solid on me and I have no fresh sap to add. I will boil again later on Thursday and I will have sap to add.

I was able to control the rocket effect without losing my efficiency, by simply not overloading the firebox. I think I used less wood in doing so.

Less than an hour left to add wood.

Edit: I decided to save 5 gallons, plus have the extra depth for Tuesday’s quick boil.

Should I remove the float for the two days? It will drop to -10 C / 14°F one night.

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[Pdiamond]

The float box will be okay, but I would remove the hose from the head tank so it does not freeze. Even if it does freeze it will thaw quickly once you light a fire.

[Swingpure]

The float box will be okay, but I would remove the hose from the head tank so it does not freeze. Even if it does freeze it will thaw quickly once you light a fire.

Thanks. I had removed the hose. I also drained the head tank. I just got the pan covered up as the snow arrived. I actually had about 10 gallons of sap left. I may boil that down to 5 gallons tomorrow on the turkey fryer and induction stoves, just to put a boil on it.

If I do the quick boil on Tuesday, I should have a real boil on Thursday, Friday Saturday and maybe make syrup each of those days.

Edit: I checked the sap temperature at 10:30 pm and it is still holding its own at 90°F. It is currently -5° C / 23° F.

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[Swingpure]

Why are you pulling the sweet out of the pan each time? If it will be a while before you boil again, you just have to bring the sweet back to a boil every few days or so. Much less often if it's really cold.

GO

Do you have to bring it to a boil or could you say bring it to 150°? I put my pan cover on last evening once sap had stopped evaporating off, (the float box stopped adding sap). I would say when the sap had dropped down to 120° or so when that happened. I can’t remember exactly. It was 90° last night and 43° this morning. I can see tomorrow when I heat it up again, it will likely be slushy with the -9 C / 16 F temps overnight.

Is the purpose solely to heat it up to prevent it from freezing, or is it also bacteria prevention of the “sweet” and that is why you need to bring it to a boil?