UVM has some interesting reading about how many taps per line to maximize vacuum.
Place a pressure gauge at the start of the line- we are able to get 28" of vacuum- crazy
UVM has some interesting reading about how many taps per line to maximize vacuum.
Place a pressure gauge at the start of the line- we are able to get 28" of vacuum- crazy
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
I boiled 32 gallons today and made 4.2 L, which was a little more than I expected.
I made the sailor hat again in the cone filter. I had a 16 long stainless steel pipe, that I stood up in the pot and it supported the top of the sailor hat. I had the pipe because I bought it to go through the garage wall to pump sap from a barrel to a proposed RO. I did make the hole in the garage and I did have the pipe through the whole, but ultimately no RO last year. I still have to fix up the hole better.
It actually worked really well.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/02d6...3bQBdmcxWJGQpw
More sap to come over the next two weeks. Our ice will be out a month early this year.
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.
I guess I did not stick with my original goal: “My goal is at the end of the ice fishing period, near the end of March, to tap the trees for 7 to 10 days, to gather about 120 gallons of sap, to make 3 gallons of syrup or so.”
I started in December and I have already doubled the planned syrup.
Boiling a small batch today, 17.5 L. Should make 1.5+ L based on past performance. I am close to taking it off the fire and finishing it. Last time I made syrup in the pan.
Edit: I made 2.4 L today from 17.5 gallons of sap. Not all syrup shown in the picture.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/027v...R674d2oOaI7dtA
My experience from the last two years allows me to let the pan get shallower as I finish my boil and get the sap, real close to the finished product.
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-04-2024 at 03:52 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.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. You are very lucky to have such sweet sap. That's great for you!Originally Posted by Swingpure
GO
2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
2017: 15 taps; 4.5 gal
2018: 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
2019: 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
2020: New Mason 2x3 XL evaporator halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
2021: Same Mason 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals (too much sap!)
2024: 17 taps, 5.3 gall
2025: 17 taps, 4-5 gall
All on buckets
Boiled again today, boiled 32 gallons and made 4L of syrup.
The cone filter in the sailor hat shape, supported by the 16 stainless steel pipe, is still working great.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0d1L...k61YC2bhuHy_Eg
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.
I boiled 37 gallons yesterday ander finished, filtered and bottled 4.5 L of syrup.
FFor the first time I had a real problem with the cone filter, especially after using a sailor hat configuration of the filters. I used three brand new prefilters and the same orlon filter. It took a long time to filter this relatively small amount. After pulling individually each of the prefilters, there was still a fair amount of syrup to go through the orlon filter, and I really had to manipulate it to allow syrup to go through.
I always clean it before using, but perhaps I need to do a better jobs of cleaning it or maybe they have a life span.
Edit: When I cleaned them today, I realized yesterday I was rushed in cleaning them before using them and did not clean one side of it well and that is why I had the problem yesterday. I am super cleaning it today.
I will also move from 3 pre-filters to five.
Of all of the things I sold, that I wish I could get back, was my DYI vacuum filter. It worked fast, filtered well and I would lose very little syrup in the process.
My original goal was to make 12 L of syrup, then 30 L of syrup. I am over 35 L now. We have about a week’s long cold spell then we will have flow again. I am not sure how many more boils I will do. Essentially whatever I make now will be for giving away to family and friends.
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-19-2024 at 02:42 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.
I rebuilt my cone filter stand, to better suit the sailor hat style. Made out of scraps, it is not pretty, but should work. Although having the optimizer would be ideal, so far I am finding the stainless steel pipe support, adequate. Perhaps next year I will get the optimizer. We will see what my maple fever will be like, next fall or spring.
In the second picture, you can see part of the metal pipe in the pot. All simple no cost things.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/094w...3Kc07LroXIbKhg
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0adU...NCsSzjTL_3Lxaw
Have I said I miss my DYI vacuum filter.
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.
I am designing and building a vacuum filter attachment for my buddy. He has the CDL 5 gallon SS filter and bottling rig. Looks like the one that you are filtering into. The one where the cone filter fits perfectly into it and has the spigot on the bottom to bottle. Will try to post pics once done. Found a perfect ss veggie steamer pot with all the holes in it at a thrift store. Fits like a glove. Design is such that no holes are cut into the CDL rig.
Thanks, I look forward to your pics.
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.
Today I am boiling, 73 gallons of sap. It is my final boil. As I collected today’s sap, I pulled the taps and brought the pails in.
Sap will still flow well here for a week or more, but today is a good day to wrap this season up, while I am still enthusiastic.
I certainly made more syrup than originally planned. It was a good season from mid December to near the end of March. For the most, part I collected at a rate I could handle and boil and bottle before supper. I had two long days and today will be a third.
Edit: Made 7.75 L of syrup for a total of 48 L of syrup.
I will have changes for next year. I want to think about them before I finally decide. I will be pulling the lines on a neighbour’s property and mostly focus on trees on my property. Whether I will put up lines again on my property or have drops to pails, is to be determined. Whether I continue with my fire bowl method of boiling or make a different evaporator with a larger pan, is to be determined.
Edit: The cone filter still gave me troubles today. I had to throw out 1/4 L of syrup that would not make it through the filter, with 5 prefilters, and the filter in the sailor hat configuration. It worked great at first. I definitely will have to do something different next year.
After having my stroke last Spring and initially giving up on making maple syrup, every drop of syrup I make is bonus.
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-27-2024 at 10:19 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.
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