Backyard Sugaring

[PhilNH5]

Well last weekend was so beautiful in NH that I set the maple taps a little early. Used the BX2200 to make a path. That was fun.
Grabbed the wrong size bit and the first tap was to small for the hole /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
All my precious sap running down the bark of the tree. This is a catastrophy of near biblical proportions. Run back to the garage - run not drive 'cause I can outrun the BX for the short sprints! Grab some pipe tape and run back to the tree. I wrapped the tap with the pipe tape and tapped it back into the hole. Now it fit great and and the sap was running out of the spout.
Drive back to the garage to get another drill bit, put up the pipe tape and head out to the next tree. Must of been the fresh air (I live in Derry, NH - I love to say I enjoy the fresh Derry aire /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif ) or maybe the anticipation of my maple syrup to be. Any ways I fogot to change to the new smaller bit. So sap starts running down th bark again! Repeat the above foolishness of running to the garage for pipe tape, etc.
But I get it under control and then set the last 3 taps without any hysterics. Yep - I have the misfortune of only having 5 sugar maples. Just enough to make it worthwhile. But I sure do envy Alan40, Sugarmaker and Youare.

Anyways that nice weather must like the Derry air as much as me 'cause it hung around all week. So the sap didn't run. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
But it is supposed to get cold tonight and I am optimistic that soon I shall be boiling down.

Phil

 

[alan40]

Hi Phil, sounds familiar. Was dumping what little sap I got the other day in my gathering tank happened to look down and my valve was leaking. Panic!! Ran to the garage got the exterior cap filled it with silicon and rammed it on. No more leak. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Boy was I happy. Got about 25 gallons and that's been it for the week. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Need about 75 gallons to start up my new evaportator. I'll try to attach a picture.
Boy sugaring is fun no matter if your big or small. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Lazy]

Hi
How many gallons of sap do you need to make a gallon of syrup and the approx. cost to produce per gallon?

Charlie.

 

[DocHeb]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( approx. cost to produce per gallon? )</font>

I'd be careful there - that's like asking a fisherman how much per pound his fish cost, factorin' in the boat and trailer. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Or expecting a ROI (Return On Investment) report for a tractor implement purchase.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
very true, kinda like the cost of fire wood I'm sure it's cheaper to buy

Charlie.

 

[alan40]

It depends on the sugar content of the sap but usaully around 40 gallons of sap to get a gallon of syrup.
I'll never get rich making maple syrup the way I do. It's one of those hobby things for me. We give the syrup as gifts and our own use. It get's me outside to cut wood in the summer and breaks the winter boredom up here. It's like farming in a way. Just when you think you have it figured out mother nature comes along and throws a wrench in the system. Keeps it interesting! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Take care

 

[DAP]

Our ratio is about 20 to 1. Also depends on just much your cookdown ends up. 40 to one sounds a lil high to me.

 

[Youare]

A week ago number 3 son and I put out 47 buckets and taps, no plastic line for us yet. The sap ran good once then the weather stayed too warm for a couple of days.

Looking for a run after the snow today. Many people think it is going to be a poor year, won't know until it is over. It sure is enjoyable to connect the trailer to the tractor head up the road and gather what sap each tree will let us have.

Even if you get just a little it all tastes good on hot pancakes or whtever else you like to sweeten with good natural sugar.

Randy

 

[alan40]

Hi Doug yep it is a little high but my sugar content averages out around 2.1-2.4 percent. The big guy down the road is at 1.8% As you know areas do vary and at the syrup conferance everyone was using 40:1. Just a good referance number I guess.

47 is a good number of taps to have. I don't have pipe line ether. Your right about the taste. Your own is always better.
Take care and good luck.