Maple Sugar 2022

[Stephen1]

Dumb question, do you just drill a hole and push in a tube for the jug on a tree method?

I drilled holes, gently pounded in a plastic tap, then attached the tubing to the tap. I do plan on testing out just inserting the tube into the drilled hole next, as I'm out of taps.

You coulld do that for sure, the sap will even run down the outside of tube...

[IndiLina]

Dumb question, do you just drill a hole and push in a tube for the jug on a tree method?

I drilled holes, gently pounded in a plastic tap, then attached the tubing to the tap. I do plan on testing out just inserting the tube into the drilled hole next, as I'm out of taps.

You coulld do that for sure, the sap will even run down the outside of tube...

I beveled the end of the tube to create a tighter fit. 

[IndiLina]

Boiled today in NC.   

[Chuck White]

Now, that picture brings back some memories!

Thanks for posting!

[IndiLina]

Now, that picture brings back some memories!

Thanks for posting!

First time using my grandpa's old boiling pan I saw him use when I was a kid, so brought back some memories for me, too. 

[Stephen1]

I remember doing that. We had cement blocks though, not stumps. looking good

[Corley5]

A sign of things to come    I figure we'll start tapping around February 12th.  Our first run last season was 2/22 and then is didn't run again for three weeks 

[IndiLina]

First little bottling of the year.    

[rastis]

I’ve been watching the temp trends to see when to tap. Right now it’s looking like 2/9 to tap. I have 144 taps on vacuum and produce about 60 gallons a year, boiling on a 2x6 modified with AOF and boil right around 50 gph 

Mike, that fiber filter is still yours if you want it. You coming up this way soon or shoot me your address and I’ll mail it. 

[Stephen1]

We are still solid in winter here. Our normal tapping is March 10

[OH logger]

Gonna run out normal 200 buckets this year. That’s enough to keep it as a hobby. We are adding a Smokey lake auto draw this year I’m excited about and a little scared too. If I have to go unload logs or do something else I hardly trust dad to keep an eye on the draw off. If his phone rings the draw off is the last thing on his mind. 😆. Last year we had a real close one. I had to go in the house and I got back out and he was 3 degrees over where we were drawing at. 😯. Should be a great addition. As long as it works right 👍🏿

[Corley5]

Our Marcland auto draw has always worked very well.  But it's always watched just in case.  Never trust a machine

[mike_belben]

just saw this carl, thanks buddy.  i will PM you in a minute

its starting to feel like im behind, but last year i tapped on valentines and it was a dud for 2 more weeks.  was that on account of the wacky year or .. ? 

[mike_belben]

im totally not ready.  

[GAB]

On Feb 18 in 1981 (my dads 55 birthday) he boiled enough sap with a 5 x 16 rig to make a barrel (31.25 gal.) of syrup between his morning and evening dairy chores.  Then old mother nature froze everything solid for 3 weeks.
When it comes to agriculture mother dictates.
GAB

[Jdock]

Here in Nw NC I tapped my trees last Sunday. Roughly 14 taps on 3/16 tubing. Over the weekend I boiled about 3 qts of finished syrup. 3/16 tubing is awesome. One 2 day run yielded over 30 gallons from 7 trees

[OH logger]

(Image hidden from quote, click to view.)


im totally not ready.  

Lol. By the looks of your weather you should be ready 🔨

[mike_belben]

I cant remember the last time things went how i planned. 

[rastis]

Finished tapping about 7:00 last night and most trees were dripping. Replaced about 300 feet of tubing due to tree rat damage. Checked the controller this morning and vacuum should kick on when it hits 38 today. Maybe boiling tonight.

[Joe Hillmann]

Dumb question, do you just drill a hole and push in a tube for the jug on a tree method?

I drilled holes, gently pounded in a plastic tap, then attached the tubing to the tap. I do plan on testing out just inserting the tube into the drilled hole next, as I'm out of taps.

If you take a piece of PEX pipe ( I think I use 3/8 but not sure) you can gently heat it with a torch while rotating the pipe in one spot above the flame.  Once the pipe starts getting plastic you can pull on both ends and the spot that was heated gets narrower.  While still stretching the pipe dunk it in cold water to make it solid again.   Then cut the pipe where you heated it.  Now that end tapers from the full diameter of the pipe to whatever you stretched it down to.  That taper can be pushed into a hole in the tree that is just a tiny bit smaller than than the original pipe diameter.
That gives you a nice tight, leak proof fit between the pipe and the tree.  I am cheap so that is how I make all of my taps.  If my description isn't clear enough I can post some pictures if you need.