Author Topic: OT Maple Taps (Read 156736 times)

BrownTroutBoy · « **Reply #840 on:** Feb 20, 2014, 08:54 PM »

Tapped my first ever trees today! Got about a half gallon out of each one!

44 Degrees North · « **Reply #841 on:** Feb 21, 2014, 01:51 AM »

I don't know anything about collecting sap and I don't do it. The other day riding around in my oil truck I was looking at the damage the ice storm had done to the maples. I got to wondering, will this make the sap run harder in an effort to help heal the wounds the tree suffered or slow it down because of the excess bleeding do to the broken branches? Maybe it won't make any difference at all, the tree will just do it's thing. Who's the expert? I need answers so I can move on with my life.

vermonner · « **Reply #842 on:** Feb 24, 2014, 02:36 PM »

That's a tough one. What really makes the sap flow (as I understand it) is the pressure differential from inside the tree to outside the tree (why vacuum helps sugaring). Bearing that in mind, a large surface area where branches have broken off will be exposed and could(?) represent a greater surface area exposed to pressure differential causing greater sap flow? We have an old timer at our sugarhouse who has forgotten more about trees than I have learned, I'll ask him his opinion and I'd be surprised if he isn't right. Guy's an encyclopedia.

mainecountryboy · « **Reply #843 on:** Feb 25, 2014, 11:39 AM »

we got ours in now for a couple days

cmstearns · « **Reply #844 on:** Mar 05, 2014, 06:05 PM »

anyone tappin yet

ICEMAN-73 · « **Reply #845 on:** Mar 05, 2014, 06:33 PM »

plan on taping and getting set up Sat morning, should get enough to be boiling on Sunday!

woodchip · « **Reply #846 on:** Mar 05, 2014, 06:42 PM »

Spoke with a friend in Windham and he had harvested 40qts this passed week.

Raquettedacker · « **Reply #847 on:** Mar 08, 2014, 06:42 AM »

Is every one ready? Going to be good the next couple days....

bee · « **Reply #848 on:** Mar 08, 2014, 07:18 AM »

Anyone use a gas drill for tapping? I have one if someone needs one.

blufloyd · « **Reply #849 on:** Mar 08, 2014, 07:20 AM »

Can you mail it and how much? I'll pm my info.....

slt · « **Reply #850 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 12:06 PM »

Just wondering......I started this "off topic " thread 6YEARS ago and figured it would get pulled.......any other topic had a run this long

?? Funny thing is that I haven't tapped a tree since the year I posted it

TinyTim · « **Reply #851 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 12:10 PM »

Quote from: slt on Mar 10, 2014, 12:06 PM

Just wondering......I started this "off topic " thread 6YEARS ago and figured it would get pulled.......any other topic had a run this long ?? Funny thing is that I haven't tapped a tree since the year I posted it

A little bribe offering goes a long way...

mainecountryboy · « **Reply #852 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 12:11 PM »

we already have 35 gallons..started to boil some on sunday. didnt finish it cause we ran outta sap collected,now waiting till we get more

rude the dude · « **Reply #853 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 02:14 PM »

it's runnig pretty good at my house right now, started around 1

Westerly · « **Reply #854 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 02:22 PM »

We put a few out on Saturday - probably hold off on the rest until this weekend.

rude the dude · « **Reply #855 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 02:24 PM »

I'm about half tapped.

gamefisher · « **Reply #856 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 02:25 PM »

Quote from: Westerly on Mar 10, 2014, 02:22 PM

We put a few out on Saturday - probably hold off on the rest until this weekend.

(Image removed from quote.)

Good stuff right there Ryan, you and Iain are making me feel like a slacker.

rude the dude · « **Reply #857 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 02:31 PM »

you won't miss much Eric, after today looks like nothing till the weekend. I'll probably do the rest of mine this weekend to.

BrownTroutBoy · « **Reply #858 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 02:56 PM »

I put in a few more taps this weekend and boiled off my first 20 gallons from that last warm spell!

gamefisher · « **Reply #859 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 03:08 PM »

Quote from: BrownTroutBoy on Mar 10, 2014, 02:56 PM

I put in a few more taps this weekend and boiled off my first 20 gallons from that last warm spell!

Do you have a picture of the stove you built? Always like to see what people come up with for boiling inventions.

BrownTroutBoy · « **Reply #860 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 03:09 PM »

Ill take pics soon, it's a 55 gallon woodstove style I guess you would call it.

gamefisher · « **Reply #861 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 03:12 PM »

Quote from: BrownTroutBoy on Mar 10, 2014, 03:09 PM

Ill take pics soon, it's a 55 gallon woodstove style I guess you would call it.

That's all I have, you can make some great syrup on very primitive setups.

Do yourself a favor and buy yourself the $25 coffee urn for bottling, search back a few pages and you'll see what I'm talking about.

BrownTroutBoy · « **Reply #862 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 03:28 PM »

How important is the filtering? I filtered my finsehed good through a 50 or 100 mircon oil filter from work, it caught a lot of the junk but the syrup was still a little cloudy.

gamefisher · « **Reply #863 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 04:49 PM »

Quote from: BrownTroutBoy on Mar 10, 2014, 03:28 PM

How important is the filtering? I filtered my finsehed good through a 50 or 100 mircon oil filter from work, it caught a lot of the junk but the syrup was still a little cloudy.

It depends on how perfect you want to be. If for personal use and you don't mind a little sediment, don't worry about it, doesn't effect the taste.

BrownTroutBoy · « **Reply #864 on:** Mar 10, 2014, 10:50 PM »

How about texture and shelf life? most of it seams to have settled to the bottom of my mason jars.

gamefisher · « **Reply #865 on:** Mar 11, 2014, 04:45 AM »

Quote from: BrownTroutBoy on Mar 10, 2014, 10:50 PM

How about texture and shelf life? most of it seams to have settled to the bottom of my mason jars.

You will be fine, just might be a little crunchy at the bottom.

. Lots of times you can put it in the micro at the end of the jar for a few seconds and gain a little. It is more just an obsession to get perfect if giving away for gifts or whatever. If worried about it, just buy some plastic jugs, there is a reason why many use them.

. You really should take a glance back through this thread for ideas or better yet, take a peek at mapletrader.com., a lot of great info. there.

Looking at the forecast, I think there is a chance this could be a busted season. Doesn't look anything special right up to the 20th and then we go right into the 50's if you believe accuweather. $:-\$

BrownTroutBoy · « **Reply #866 on:** Mar 11, 2014, 02:46 PM »

Dosen't look good at all, the sap has run ok the last few days however.

rude the dude · « **Reply #867 on:** Mar 14, 2014, 07:00 PM »

Keychain · « **Reply #868 on:** Mar 14, 2014, 08:00 PM »

Put three testers out tonight. 2 dry and one was dripping as soon as I drilled. Gotta get up early tomorrow and get them all out. Hopefully I can get a bit tomorrow before it goes back below freezing on Sunday...

Keychain · « **Reply #869 on:** Mar 15, 2014, 11:26 AM »

I have 18 summer taps out now. Summer working, summer not...

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Author Topic: OT Maple Taps (Read 156736 times)