Sinker Posted March 26, 2013 Author Report Posted March 26, 2013 I'm sceptical of the whole lead thing to be honest. Really, how much lead can there be in a pan that probably 30yrs old, and been used on an open fire to boil sap all that time? Frig, I handle lead all the time. I melt it and make weights, put sinkers in my mouth etc......a galv pan can't be any worse, no? This is a maple syrup boiling pan. It even has a plate on the side that says maple something....can't read it, its been burnt off. Looks like a great pan for $60......? S.
Twocoda Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 Great thread ...Excellent video TJ and sweet harvest so far Sinker...(pun intended)...Ive always wanted to do this but have never had the time....you guys are making it harder for me to come up with excuses...My better halfs uncle taps a few hundred trees every year....I have pitched in to help clean out his beer fridge while cleaning up the equipment a few times but now im thinking i want to buy my own beer and have people help me drink...I took a walk in the bush today to run the dogs and the flow is fast and furious....I think its going to be a bumper year for the maple boys.... Cheers
bigugli Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 Twocoda, if you have the opportunity to try your hand at it, don't let it slip by. I experienced the sugar bush as a kid, and was ever so glad to take the time to make that experience possible for my kids and many of their friends for a few years.
Sinker Posted March 26, 2013 Author Report Posted March 26, 2013 We've been having lots of fun with it. The beer consumed is the most expensive part .....and the whiskey S.
Twocoda Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 ive been divorced twice because of fishing ...lol...i wonder how the latest wife feels about me having a sap addiction...lol...
aplumma Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 ive been divorced twice because of fishing ...lol...i wonder how the latest wife feels about me having a sap addiction...lol... Once she tastes the end product all will be forgiven. Art
TJQ Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 LOL... he twocoda.. those are some old taps!! Great Picture of the drop!! Sunny day today crossing my fingers that shes gonna start to go! Still alot of snow , but the bases of the trees are starting to thaw. Sinker... ya.. its definitely not a money making proposition, thats for sure.
Nipfisher Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 If anyone is driving past atkinsons from barrie or toronto to north bay.. id get a couple of those barrels.... Ecotrex has them for sale T.J. $20 I think.
TJQ Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 Its so beautifulllllllll http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x3-Flat-Maple-Syrup-Evaporator-Pan-thermometer-port-3-4-drain-/151014000077?
Moosebunk Posted March 26, 2013 Report Posted March 26, 2013 "We've been having lots of fun with it. The beer consumed is the most expensive part .....and the whiskey." Ahhhh sweet syrup and smokey whiskey. Super spring combo! This has been an interesting thread Shane. Great way to spend the early spring, and get many things out of it for you and your family.
Twocoda Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 I cant say i have ever been a fan of maple syrup but yesterday i put in the time and did mt first boil...the end reault is two and 3/4s mason jars full....the hardest part of the process was to keep from sampling during the boil....i was targeting the viscosity of corn syrup but came up just shy of that....how do you experienced guys determine how thick it should be?
Sinker Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 I boil mine to 220 or so. Once it cools I check it with a hydrometer, and its pretty much bang on every time. To get that much syrup, you should have started with about 60 liters of sap?? S.
Twocoda Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 (edited) 3 five gallon pails worth....i just kept adding to the turkey deepfryer until it was all used up.....tastes awesome but i think i did something wrong.....it looks dark golden on a spoon but not so much golden in the mason jars.....im going to try another 5 gallons today and try to hold the temperature steady at 219 Edited March 27, 2013 by Twocoda
Sinker Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 That sounds about right if you go by the 40:1 standard ratio. With my set up, I'm getting one 500ml mason jar for each 5 gal pail. You can't really do anything wrong. Colour will vary. Each of my batches have been different. I did 2 litres last night that were much lighter than the previous batches I did. It will go quicker if you preheat a pot full instead of adding cold sap to your already boiling pot. S.
TJQ Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Yup.. i go from a heater to a boiler to the finisher... and ill be doing my first big collection this afternoon, and beginning to boil tomorrow for thew weekend.
Sinker Posted March 27, 2013 Author Report Posted March 27, 2013 I've collected 160 litres the last 3 days. Put 70 thru the boiler last night, but still havve lots to go. I haven't collected today yet either. Great week! S.
Twocoda Posted March 27, 2013 Report Posted March 27, 2013 Its supposed to be 8 degrees on saturday...might be good to make sure you pails are empty friday night....i boiled down 5gallons today and ended up with 500ml mason jar full of gold.... strange?...ill post pics later of the differences
TJQ Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 300 litres collected tonight... still 2 feet of slushy snow.. uhhgg.. got 40 more trees to collect form them start boiling after work to morrow for the weekend!! .. likely be collecting saturday again!
TJQ Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 I think im gonna have a ton of company Saturday for the "crepe party" Got Avery coming home and friends from Montreal and Toronto coming up... hope I can stay outta the "sap" lol Wifey is getting the beans ready (they are awesome) but Im making my Pea soup... (which is awesomer... but don't tell her i said that!)
Twocoda Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 ok so the dark one i made from a 15 gallon batch that i continuously kept adding to the pot....the lighter one i made from a 5 gallon batch without adding any aditional sap as it was boiled....the difference in colour is quite different but the viscosity is the same and the taste is the same but i find the lighter jar to be more appealing to the eyes....so i think i learned a lesson in technique for my personal preference I think ill use the darker syrup as a glaze for smoked fish....but the light stuff ill probably chug and chase it with a few beers...lol
TJQ Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 Wow that is a difference in colour.. Ive been eating home made for alot of years and as far as im concerned, once you go black... Well you know.. Lol.. I love it thick and darker. Personally i think that the industry pushes that grade a light stuff cause after that.. Its all profit loss. If it sits and theres no sugar in the bottom.. Ya didnt boil it enough. But thats just me.
TJQ Posted March 28, 2013 Report Posted March 28, 2013 Some one is gonna quote me.. I just know it... Lol
Sinker Posted March 28, 2013 Author Report Posted March 28, 2013 Wow....that one batch is really dark. Ya didn't scorch it did ya?
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