Maple syrup thread
 

I currently have been getting flow erratically for the past two weeks, great flow yesterday. Season looks to good and long (2 good weeks) in IL this year, sometimes it only lasts a day or two. I tap silver, red, norway, and sugar (black) maples. All seem to produce just as good, depends more on the location and tree imo.

Look for days above freezing and nights below freezing.

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Best of luck with the season.

When you are done I'll buy a couple of gallons if you have it for sale.

I know it isn't cheap.

My grandfather did it for many years.

Happy syruping!

CC

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Ditto:

Maybe not so much,
but if you have any extra
guarantee you, you will not
have any unused....:biggrin:

If you do ship it in plastic :s1:

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

I don't produce enough to sell, only about 2 gal a year. Would love to expand some day though.

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Never hurts to ask !!

Keep on Keeping on..


:biggrin:

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

I need to find a source of pure sap for brewing beer. It's been something I've been wanting to try.

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

it's flowing now, so call a maple syrup supplier and find out if they ever sell to anyone in your area. KY is about the southern limit to syrup production.

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Girrrrrrrrrrrrrr !!!!!!















Dam YANKEES !





















:beer:

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

I will be taking a course on Arpil 15 on tapping and syrup making from Manitoba maples and birch trees. I've seen it done, but have never done it myself.

:coolbeer:

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

some pics today

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

oops forgot to focus,

also had to show off the bees during this heat wave of 45 degs

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Hey Rip, I thought Norway maples were slightly toxic due to the milky sap. Bad rumor??

sb

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

I'm still alive--the sap runs clear just like the others. Unless your talking during the summer, in which case it is milky then. I stop collecting when the buds break and nights are above freezing.

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Well, I "went for it" this year and built a big Maple sap evaporator from various design ideas found on the maple specific web site suggested by Gknowmx: http://mapletrader.com/community/

The results were very good,
I used an old oil tank which I cut just below the top curve.
The evaporator took about 1 day to build. I used several metal cut off blades in a circular saw to complete the cuts along the top of the tank and the opening for door in front. I then welded and bolted angle iron around the perimeter of the top of the tank along with several cross braces to help strengthen and give a flat/level area for the pan to sit on. I used a 2 1/2" hole saw to cut 3 draft holes into the front, one of which I inserted a pipe drilled full of air holes which extends into the fire and can be used with a blower (in the future) to make a hotter fire to boil faster.
The top waste piece from the tank was inverted and welded at an angle to the inside to direct the fire and heat towards the bottom of the pan (similar to a processional arch), another scrap piece was cut and used as a baffle at the rear of the firebox.
I used 3/4" boiler insulation to line the door and firebox which slows heat from escaping out the sides helping it to direct the heat to the boiling pan. After the evaporator is moved to a permanent location I will line the interior with fire bricks.

This evaporator works really well, I can boil about 40 gal down in about 4 or 5 hours just as it sits without the modifications/improvements that will be added later such as fire bricks and a blower. After I move it into a sap house that still needs to be built, I will give it a paint job with high temp paint.

We started with only 6 tapped trees and now have 31, this just a test year an I hope to expand next year.

The first set of pictures were collected online for building ideas
the second set is my evaporator creation and a few pictures of the final product (which tastes great!)
So far we have made about 1 3/4 gallons of syrup, the weather has been to warm and the sap is no longer flowing good.

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

yeah, season is over here too. only lasted about two weeks

Re: Maple syrup thread
 

Heat maple syrup and baking soda together. Cancer cure! The syrup acts like a Trojan Horse, carrying the killer baking soda into the cancer cell. Instant death for the cancer. Hahahahaha. Screw you Big Pharma and Cancer Society frauds.