The OFFICIAL MAPLE SYRUP thread

Forerunner · #81 02/13/13, 12:50 PM

Go with the heavy stainless spiles from Atkinson Maple Supply, Oro Station, Ontario......

Best in the industry, in my opinion, and I drive mine with a light carpenter hammer, no distortion at all.

http://atkinsonmaple.com/company_info/ordering_info

chickenman · #82 02/13/13, 02:22 PM

My trees ran fairly well yesterday. I picked up about 35 gallons of sap. I'm going to combine it with my partners and cook it off tomorrow. This is almost as exciting as checking traps.

HappySevenFarm · #83 02/13/13, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solidwoods

I'm shopping taps/spiles. I see the ss sheet metal type and cast aluminum and plastic.
The sheet metal type require a insertion tool?
Seems like the cast would hold up a little more.
Any opinions?
Thanks
jim

I would say it depends what you're using to catch your sap with. I tried the metal types but with using gallon milk jugs and plastic kitty litter containers the weight of the sap tends to cut the plastic on the jugs and you find them on the ground with no sap.

I use the blue plastic ones that you attach tubing to and they work well with the plastic containers.

bassmaster17327 · #84 02/14/13, 05:12 PM

I studied how to ID maple trees, four trees that I tapped I am 100% sure they are maple because I ID them whe they had leaves. The other three that I tapped I id by the branches and bark so I am not 100% sure they are maple, they did start dripping sap right after I drilled the holes. Do other trees drip sap like a maple does? I am hoping to get 1/2 gallon of syrup from seven taps, is there any chance of that?

HappySevenFarm · #85 02/14/13, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassmaster17327

I studied how to ID maple trees, four trees that I tapped I am 100% sure they are maple because I ID them whe they had leaves. The other three that I tapped I id by the branches and bark so I am not 100% sure they are maple, they did start dripping sap right after I drilled the holes. Do other trees drip sap like a maple does? I am hoping to get 1/2 gallon of syrup from seven taps, is there any chance of that?

It will depend on type of maple and size of tree. The sugar content is going to vary on types and even the size of the tree. I think if you have good weather you can probably expect close to a quart of syrup per tap for the season.

fatrat · #86 02/14/13, 08:30 PM

Hey Bassmastser,

I've never done maple syrup but I can tell you how to tell if the tree you tapped is maple, just taste the sap that comes out as soon as you drilled the hole. When I was a kid I used to lick the sap dripping out of a maple tree because it was sweet. By the way some say you can tap birch and walnut too.

HuskyBoris · #87 02/14/13, 08:38 PM

I've dabbled a bit in syrup making but only ended up with a few quarts of it,I couldn't find my taps one year so we used 30.06 and 300 mag brass for substitutes,worked pretty well too

7thswan · #88 02/15/13, 07:42 AM

Yes, I didn't even look for taps. I took 1/2" copper pipe cut about 3 inches long.Then drilled a hole in the top, only one side thru. I pound into the tree( in a pre-drilled hole in tree) then stick a nail in the hole in the copper,this gives me a place to hang a used orange juice jug with a peice of twine. I could just hang from a nail in the tree,but don't like to do that.

Studhauler · #89 02/18/13, 07:35 PM

Bump.

HappySevenFarm · #90 02/21/13, 02:14 PM

I think this morning was the most I've done at one time this year. Almost a gallon. One thing I've found out the last 4 weeks is that I'm working away from the farm way to much. I can't enjoy life or the farm at the moment!

HappySevenFarm · #91 02/24/13, 08:27 PM

I just finished making another half a gallon of syrup then went and collected 13 gallons of sap. Hopefully I'll get some more tomorrow to boil down on tuesday. It's almost time for me to pull my taps and start getting on with some other spring projects.

stirfamily · #92 02/25/13, 02:23 PM

Putting in taps today. Weather looks like it's going to be pretty good, upper 30's in the day, 20's at night. Just read an article in Grit magazine where you can also tap Norway Maples. Got a couple I might try this year.

Missy M · #93 02/25/13, 04:37 PM

I've boiled just over a gallon of syrup. Trees are still flowing, but spring is coming and I've got 5 eggs in the bater ready to hatch Thursday. I'm almost ready to pull taps. Hoping for one more good boil - about another 1/2 gallon.
I ran my syrup through an old flour sack dish cloth this last time and it was so clear.
Thank you for the suggestion.

woodsy · #94 02/25/13, 05:00 PM

The old standard galvanized spiles work just fine, dime a dozen, well not quite anymore but cheap enough, tap in gently with a hammer.

quietintheland · #95 02/25/13, 06:45 PM

Sap was running really nice today. Some of our taps gave us 2 gallons over the past 24 hours. This has been our first time sugaring. It has been a rewarding experience.

A few questions for those more experienced in sugaring:

1. I constructed my own evaporator using cinder blocks. The trays (I'm using 3 lasagna trays) sit straddled atop the cinder blocks which are two high. Right now I don't have any stove pipe or chimney. Some sites mention about running a pipe and chimney in an evaporator like this. How would I go about adding one? If it would get me a hotter fire, I'd be willing to invest a few dollars. Because right now with my setup I'm able to evaporate only about 2 gallons per hour.

2. Does anyone have an inexpensive source for quality tubing that you use with the blue plastic spiles? I've seen prices ranging from $.25 - .50 / linear foot locally.

3. I'd like to also invest in a 5 or 10 gallon capacity evaporator tray. A draw off valve would be nice, but not completely necessary. Any recommendations?

4. Anyone here tap any other trees other than maple? I have a few Birch and Walnuts, but I understand that the sugar content is lower (at least according to the article I read today in Grit Magazine).

Happy sugaring!

QuietInTheLand

woodsy · #96 02/25/13, 07:18 PM

If you are just starting out , backyard sugarin' is a good resource

Studhauler · #97 02/25/13, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quietintheland

3. I'd like to also invest in a 5 or 10 gallon capacity evaporator tray. A draw off valve would be nice, but not completely necessary. Any recommendations?

4. Anyone here tap any other trees other than maple? I have a few Birch and Walnuts, but I understand that the sugar content is lower (at least according to the article I read today in Grit Magazine).

Happy sugaring!

QuietInTheLand

3. ebay or maple trader . com I got my pan from a guy on maple trader.

4. I have heard of people tapping basswood trees (ash leaf maple). I might try some of them next year.

Studhauler · #98 02/25/13, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stirfamily

Putting in taps today.

I haven't even tapped yet. If the weather holds it could be soon. Looking forward to it since this will be my first year.

I had a few people recommend that I use 5 gallon bucket and run tubbing from each tap into a bucket right below the tap. Will the sap freeze at night in that short one or two foot pice of tubbing? And if it freezes will it thaw in time to get the sap that is running the next day?

Forerunner · #99 02/25/13, 07:40 PM

As of tomorrow morning, we will be getting awful close to joining the 75 gallon club.

chickenman · #**100** 02/25/13, 07:46 PM

We've done a little over 4 gallons so far. The weather hasn't been great. We've only had a handful of what I'd consider optimum days. Today was one, but it took the trees a long time to get thawed out. We currently have about 75 gallons or so of sap to cook off tomorrow.

Time spent boiling sap has been good. Male bonding, micro-brews, and good food, with syrup as the payment. How can you go wrong?