Sinker Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 I only really need help with filtering, and sometimes bottling....and of course clean up. Its been mostly time constrraints, and ran outta propane for some reason on the first batch. Almost done the second batch now. S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakerguy Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Battling the darn wind here today. Buckets getting blown off a lot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Yeah, its messing with my heat too. S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavertail Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 This thread has got me thinking. I've always been curious about the process but know very little about it. I have 3 large sugar maples on my property...roughly how many trees do you need to tap to make a litre of syrup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakerguy Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) This thread has got me thinking. I've always been curious about the process but know very little about it. I have 3 large sugar maples on my property...roughly how many trees do you need to tap to make a litre of syrup? If there sugar maples you can probably count on close to 1L per tap of maple syrup. Could be less could be more. Depends on how fast spring comes in. If the temps start staying above freezing and the days get real warm the tree starts using that sap up for the buds and the sap quality goes down hill fast. Edited March 17, 2015 by lakerguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakerguy Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 (edited) This thread has got me thinking. I've always been curious about the process but know very little about it. I have 3 large sugar maples on my property...roughly how many trees do you need to tap to make a litre of syrup? Get yourself some taps and buckets and make some syrup! It's very rewarding knowing you made it. There's enough of us on here to give you some advice gladly. Edited March 17, 2015 by lakerguy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 7 litres finished now. I'm all caught up, but sap is running like crazy! S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted March 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Good stuff. Hey, do you use the S.S. spiles, or the plastic ones? If you use the standard S.S. ones, what size of drill bit do you use and how deep do you drill? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted March 18, 2015 Report Share Posted March 18, 2015 Mine are the old cast spiles. 7/16 bit and brace....no power tools allowed lol I drill about an inch and a half or so....depends on the treee, the bark, etc..... S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beavertail Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Get yourself some taps and buckets and make some syrup! It's very rewarding knowing you made it. There's enough of us on here to give you some advice gladly. Well that settles it...bought 4 pails today and just tapped my trees. Hopefully not too late, can't wait to see what happens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Crap.... cant believe i missed this thread.. life is so busy. now its time... 400 taps and counting... http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/ Looks like another week for us before we start to collect!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 Good stuff TJ. I was awaiting your updates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenboater Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 400 and you're not running lines ? man that's hard work hauling all those buckets worth the effort though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 400 and you're not running lines ? man that's hard work hauling all those buckets worth the effort though Its more about getting the friends and family out.... http://howtomakemaplesyrup.com/maplesyrupjournal/2015/03/19/sapcicles/ Sapcicles for the next few days.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokestackLightnin Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 (edited) First boil complete and the sap is running today and should run real well tomorrow. Here's a picture of the first haul. Edited March 19, 2015 by SmokestackLightnin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 First boil complete and the sap is running today and should run real well tomorrow. Here's a picture of the first haul. SWEET!! Literally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 That pan is nice! Mine isn't ideal but it was only $20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenboater Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 I need to survey the trees on my property, has to be more than one sugar maple lol. if there's a bunch, will have to see what atkinsons has for small batches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokestackLightnin Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 SWEET!! Literally! It's a good year around here, very sweet. Good luck with your season, you take it to a different level then what I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SmokestackLightnin Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 That pan is nice! Mine isn't ideal but it was only $20 I had it made by a friend 10 years ago and it has boiled down a lot of sap. He also made a cart with a shelf for the burner and wheels. Although you're not moving it when it's full of sap. Doesn't matter what you use, there are setups from people on here that look awesome. What matters is you're doing something that has been done for numerous generations and you're getting the satisfaction in the end that you made it yourself. When I first started I had a few kids "help" out and they enjoyed the experience. These same kids are now 14 - 18 years old and they call me each spring and ask when are we tapping trees and when are we boiling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 A bit of advice/feedback needed here: A few of my taps are leaking below the spile, dripping down the bark. I'm still getting some sap, but not all of it. I kind of 'winged' it by using the largest drill bit I had, but it's not really the proper size. I assume that my holes are either too big of too small, or even too deep...?? Should I stop being a cheap bugger and buy a dedicated bit? What size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted March 19, 2015 Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 7/16 is the universal size for spigots and tubes as well. buy a good one. ya cheap bugger lol tap in 1 1/2" and make sure its secure - but the leakage happens, sometimes if you drive it in too deep as well, a small crack under it will facilitate leakage.. (crap.. thats sounded like expert advice lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted March 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2015 7/16 is the universal size for spigots and tubes as well. buy a good one. ya cheap bugger lol tap in 1 1/2" and make sure its secure - but the leakage happens, sometimes if you drive it in too deep as well, a small crack under it will facilitate leakage.. (crap.. thats sounded like expert advice lol) Right on, thanks. Do you find you have to hammer them in pretty hard, or do they just fit snug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJQ Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 just good and snug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinker Posted March 20, 2015 Report Share Posted March 20, 2015 If I get a leaker, I give it a couple more whacks with a hammer lol.....it does happen though. S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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