North East Ohio 2024

[Darrel Wright]

Has anyone else noticed their leader sap hydrometer giving bad measurements on the very low side? We were measuring as low as .6 towards the end here, but it would run through the R/O removing slightly less than half the water, and come out as 2% concentrate. Something doesn't add up.

Full orchestra of the froggies were singing last night in Hiram. It's too early! I'm toying with the idea of trying Birch and/or Beech.

[berkshires]

Has anyone else noticed their leader sap hydrometer giving bad measurements on the very low side? We were measuring as low as .6 towards the end here, but it would run through the R/O removing slightly less than half the water, and come out as 2% concentrate. Something doesn't add up.

Full orchestra of the froggies were singing last night in Hiram. It's too early! I'm toying with the idea of trying Birch and/or Beech.

You need to correct for temperature. The hydrometers are calibrated to around 34 degrees F. If it's really warm, you might need to add as much as 0.4%.

Cheers,

GO

[Darrel Wright]

Thanks, yes, didn't realize it was that large an adjustment but still with the temp it was at, around 55, that would explain only about half the discrepancy.

[WoodButcher]

Thanks, yes, didn't realize it was that large an adjustment but still with the temp it was at, around 55, that would explain only about half the discrepancy.

I've used one similar to this for a long time for making both beer and maple and they work fine for my use, and much more durable than a hydrometer for sap. I carry it around in my back pocket when I want to check buckets, and checking RO readings.

Just a thought...

Brix Refractometer with ATC, Dual Scale - Specific Gravity & Brix, Hydrometer in Wine Making and Beer Brewing, Homebrew Kit https://a.co/d/iULJzxr

[johnallin]

in the event we get a good freeze over Saturday and Sunday…

Going to start vac backup tomorrow, clear out any nasty sap from the lines and make way for one last tank.
Sugars are still looking good, but the reds are flowered and ready to pop.

[Darrel Wright]

Interested to see what you report, I struggled with the decision but decided to shut it down. Sugars do look like they have a ways to go. I'm sure I cheated myself out of a few gallons.

[johnallin]

in the event we get a good freeze over Saturday and Sunday…

Going to start vac backup tomorrow, clear out any nasty sap from the lines and make way for one last tank.
Sugars are still looking good, but the reds are flowered and ready to pop.

Going down to 30 degrees tomorrow, I checked the reds, they are flowered but buds have not opened.

Vac on this am, have maybe 50 gal of real cloudy sap so far but will keep on until the freeze hoping to clear out any junk sap and fire back up with the thaw coming Monday-Tuesday. This year is the worst for us since 2012, likely ‘cause I didn’t tap until mid Feb.
Stopped to see Fred at Richard’s today to get supplies (bottles) as I’m feeling fairly confident we have more syrup to make.

Talked a bit about MT and how difficult it’s been to log in and how much he wishes he had a Leader Clear Press.

[fred]

As I only remember part of that conversation I am at least glad the format is back to normal and we've retained all the past 25 years of debate and info past along.

[johnallin]

We were in sub 30 degree temps both Sat and Sunday. With the warmup forecast for today, I turned the pump on this morning at 8.
By 2 this afternoon maybe 30 gal had come in which was junk in the lines so I dumped it.
By 6 pm it had freed up some and was somewhat clearer - had about 50 gal - dumped this also with hopes that I'd cleared out the lines.
I'm hoping it'll run tonight and tomorrow and we'll get one last boil in...buds here on Little Mountain are still not broken open.

[Darrel Wright]

Still running up in chardon?
We're having a neighborhood pancake breakfast on Saturday so I left 2 gravity lines running to collect up enough so the evaporator can be in action then. Put it in the pan and just bringing it up to a boil and stopping every day. Still coming in this afternoon.
Btw anyone do this before, or know what temp you need to go up to to halt bacteria? I presume boiling is probably overkill.