I also am trying Bob's Barb spouts this year. It's nice to work with someone who is so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.
I also am trying Bob's Barb spouts this year. It's nice to work with someone who is so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do.
Remember to keep on ticking while the sap is dripping.
2016- 50 buckets. Made 4 gallons.
2022- 3750 taps + Smartrek! Made 1300 gallons.
2023- 3750 taps after removing a pump house and connected two woods. Made 800 gallons.
2024- 3750 taps 1384 made.
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
Any improvement in sanitation at the spout and dropline typically will result in an increase in sap yield. Antimicrobials reduce the level of microbes in the taphole, which delays the tree wound response and keeps tapholes flowing at a higher rate for longer. Previous versions of antimicrobial spouts could not be certified for organic maple production (the MVM versions can) and tended to be fairly costly, so the economic benefit was lower.
https://mapleresearch.org/search/?_sf_s=sanitation
Dr. Tim Perkins
UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
https://mapleresearch.org
Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu
John Allin
14x18 Hemlock Timber Frame Sugar House 2009
Leader 2x6 w/Patriot Raised Flue Pan 2009
Leader Steam Hood 2014 - Clear Filter Press 2015
Leader Revolution Pan and SS Pre-Heater 2016
CDL Hobby 250 RO & Air Tech L25 Hi Vac Pump 2019
06' Gator HPX to collect wood & sap
14' Ski-Doo Tundra for winter work in the woods
Great Family 3 grown kids+spouses and 7 grand kids who like the woods
7th Gen Born in Canada - Raised in Chardon Ohio - Maple Capital of the World..<grin>.
What’s the coldest temperature someone is able to tap? Any thoughts?
825 Taps
CDL Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump
H2O Electric Releaser
2024- 825 taps 17725 gallons of sap
2023- 825 taps 17325 gallons of sap
2022- 800 taps 12375 gallons of sap
2021- 350 taps 3815 gallons of sap
I have tapped below 0 deg f before if I knew the sap was going to run the next week. Do what you have to, to get the job done to get all the sap you can because it takes some time to get the vacuum tightened up.
Blaisdell's Maple Farm
started on a 2x2 pan in 2000 with Gramps buckets
custom built oil fired 4x12 arch by me
Thor pans Desinged by Thad Blaisdell
4500 taps on a drop flue 8-4 split
Finally some above freezing temps! Anything flowing in Vermont yet?
2024: 28 taps, 7 gallons. RB5 purchased but not opened :-(
2023: 30 taps, 17 trees, 11 properties, Sugar Maple & Norway. 2x3 flat over propane & kitchen finish. ~11(!) gallons.
2022: 9 taps, 5 trees, 4 properties. 3 hotel pans on 3 Coleman 2-burner stoves burning gasoline; kitchen finish. ~3 gallons.
2021: 2 taps, 1 sugar maple. Propane grill then kitchen finish. ~Pint.
All years: mainly 5/16" drops into free supermarket frosting buckets. Some plastic sap buckets hanging on 5/16 sap-meister.
We were flowing while tapping yesterday in the Upper Valley.
Tapping since 1985 (four generations back to early to mid 1900s). 200-250 taps on buckets and then tubing in the mid 90s. 2013- 275 taps w/sap puller 25 gal. 2014-295 taps w/sap puller 55 ga. (re-tapped to vacuum theory) 2015-330 taps full vac. 65 gal, 2016-400 taps 105 gal, 2017-400 taps 95 gal. 2018-additional 800' mainline and maybe 400 new taps for a total near 800 taps. 2x6 Leader WSE (last year on it) supported by a 250 gph RO.
Wind, snow depth, and some serious cold last weekend, have this current run a bit underwhelming. Next week looks like ideal sap weather for northern and central VT.
173 on 3/16 natural vac for 2023
36 buckets
2 x 5 Smoky Lake Hybrid pan on a custom arch
RB25 from RO Bucket
12x24 salvaged sugarhouse built by wife's grandpa
1965 Massey Ferguson 165 tractor to haul sap.
the sap flow today is certainly underwhelming but expected with the weather we've had this winter. i got about the same flow from last weeks warm up. just enough to make you think, "ok, here we go" but at the end of the day... nope. next week certainly looks like the start of the season!
Awfully thankful for an understanding wife!
“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
- Vincent “Vince” Lombardi
Good luck to all!