OFF TOPIC-T-handle auger for tapping maples

David Martin · Mar 12, 2019

That's probably a good thing. Looks like it should boil down Maple sap. DM

flexo · Mar 12, 2019

sorry can't find the English version for this video! try your luck if you Don't understand french canadian.

Square_peg · Mar 12, 2019

Maine20 said:
Just barely starting to run for my trees. It got up to 42 today should drop in the 20s tonight. Later this week the temps look better. A lot of my trees are shaded by pines so a temp swing from mid 20s to mid to upper 40s is ideal. Trees with lots of sun will run at temps closer to feezing.

My best flows are when we have nightime temps in the low 20's and daytimes temps in the high 30's or higher. Clear weather in winter usually produces this in the PNW. When the clouds roll in it brings rains the nights don't freeze. When it doesn't freeze the taps shut off like somebody turned off the spigot. But when the freeze comes back the sap flows again.

Maine20 · Mar 15, 2019

Evaporator wood prep. It’s all Ash, mostly used the Woodslasher.

This will make 1.5-2 gallons of syrup.

This was a 12-14 inch log. I usually grab some split wood from the wood bin and re split it, but the bin is running a bit low.

Dusty One · Mar 15, 2019

Quite a process....Thanks for sharing....See you for pancakes in the morning

Square_peg · Mar 16, 2019

Maine20 said:
This will make 1.5-2 gallons of syrup.

You're lucky you have a wood fired evaporator. I burn propane. I was getting about 2 quarts of syrup for 4.5 gallons of propane. Then I added a fan to blow on the pan. Now I'm getting about 3 quarts of syrup from 4.5 gallons of propane.

Maine20 · Apr 1, 2019

Finally got to boil some sap. It’s been a historicaly slow start to the maple syrup season in the north east.

45 gallons of sap later - 1 gallon 20 ounces.

Fmont · Apr 1, 2019

I was boiling the other day with friends. Wood fired evaporator. Love the faint hint of smoke. Our trees were really productive this year!

Square_peg · Apr 1, 2019

Maine20 said:
Finally got to boil some sap. It’s been a historicaly slow start to the maple syrup season in the north east.

Wow! Totally opposite out here on the west coast. We've just had the driest March on record. Lot's of sunshine and 2 days that made it up to 79° in Seattle. It's been damn nice. Syruping season ended a month ago. With climate change we have to tap early now.

Oh, and I had waffles for b'fast yesterday with some of this year's syrup. Real tasty!

P.S. - Your yield is closer to what we get out here. That's low sugar for East Coast sugar maples.

Maine20 · Apr 2, 2019

In past years my first boil would be the first weekend in March (sometimes earlier). This season it was the last weekend of March. A 40:1 ratio is the general rule of thumb for New England, although big, full crown trees in full sunlight will do better then that. I would say my trees are kind of average. In previous years I would cheat by leaving the syrup a little thin, it still tastes great, you get more and it filters WAY easier. I have an improved filtering system now so I can finish it completely with a hydrometer, and not pull my hair out trying to filter it.

If anyone is interested in doing this (crazy) hobby check out tapmytrees.com It’s a great source to get started.

Square_peg · Apr 2, 2019

Maine20 said:
In previous years I would cheat by leaving the syrup a little thin, it still tastes great, you get more and it filters WAY easier.

Yeah, but thinner syrup makes your pancakes soggy. I like to warm my syrup in a small dish and dip bites into it. No sog factor this way.

Past years I've just let the sugar sand settle out and then just pour off the top. But I finally sprung for the filters this year.