Maple Syrup Season

[landtracdeerhunter]

Another early year for Maple Syrup .With the warm up coming this weekend into next week, I installed maybe 12 taps on some extra trees. Tapped a few last year on the 17th. Sugar concentration was extremely low as early sap usually is. My best was on March 8th last. I remember it well walking in  the woods with caution as 75mph. wind gusts give no mercy to the trees.  Will most likely hold off tapping the rest until February, but that is highly fluid on the weather. . Only upgrade this season is a larger transport tank, so only one trip need be made, ( I don't hope, LOL).

How is everyone else doing?

Edited January 16, 2018 by landtracdeerhunter

[Doewhacker]

Ill come see this thread in February, I'm hoping to add more taps as usual and hit the total from last year or exceed it (5 Gallons finished).

[G-Man]

Yep weather looks good for it ..Hope producers get a long season with beautiful light sap

[philoshop]

I'm currently heating my house with a sugar maple tree that my brother salvaged for me. It was dead and the Town cut it down. Best of luck in your 'sugaring' efforts.

[corydd7]

I'm trying maple syrup for the first time and will have more sap then I can handle. However I have no clue what the best low budget way to boil down the sap would be. I hope to make 3-5 gallons on syrup (200 gallons of sap). Suggestions? 

[Paula]

Ok so wegmans sells some syrup, not sure where it comes from. Is that about the same as what you all get?

[WNYBuckHunter]

I have a brand new chunk of woods to start tapping this year! I probably wont get started till mid February though. I have no idea where most of my stuff is right now lol.

[WNYBuckHunter]

57 minutes ago, corydd7 said:

I'm trying maple syrup for the first time and will have more sap then I can handle. However I have no clue what the best low budget way to boil down the sap would be. I hope to make 3-5 gallons on syrup (200 gallons of sap). Suggestions? 

I have done it with a 5 gallon metal pot (turkey fryer) and a turkey fryer burner. It takes a long time that way, as you dont have much surface area for the water to evaporate. If you can find a large, flat pan, maybe 9 or 10 inches deep, you can build a stone or brick base and burn wood under it. That would be faster. Thats what Ill be doing this year.

[Doewhacker]

I made a stove out of a barrel and some stove pipe all was bought from a salvage guy for cheap. 

I cook in a commercial size pan like in the link, you can get them on Amazon cheap. 

https://www.amazon.com/Winware-Aluminum-Roast-Inch-Lugs/dp/B001CIEJTM

I am considering adding another stove and pan to cut cook down time when it’s really running good and I’m sick of cooking. 

[greg54]

4 hours ago, Paula said:

Ok so wegmans sells some syrup, not sure where it comes from. Is that about the same as what you all get?

I look forward to maple weekend in NYS, that is when I buy my syrup when it is nice and fresh. I don't know about the stuff at Wegmans though.  But maple syrup season makes me think though!

[landtracdeerhunter]

20 hours ago, corydd7 said:

I'm trying maple syrup for the first time and will have more sap then I can handle. However I have no clue what the best low budget way to boil down the sap would be. I hope to make 3-5 gallons on syrup (200 gallons of sap). Suggestions? 

Their is a ton of information on Youtube about do it  yourself evaporators. Use some of it with a grain of salt though. Barrel stove with 6" depth steam table pans work good, but I burned my barrel out in two seasons. A blower on the intake helps, acting like a forge. Make sure your fire hits the bottom of the pan for a more efficient boil , what ever fire pot you use. Good luck!

 

Added: The larger the pan surface area with a good hot fire. higher the evaporation rate.

Edited January 17, 2018 by landtracdeerhunter

[landtracdeerhunter]

20 hours ago, Paula said:

Ok so wegmans sells some syrup, not sure where it comes from. Is that about the same as what you all get?

Mine is 100% real maple syrup. If it's called maple syrup, it has to contain real maple syrup. Maple industry is real strick about this. Other wise, it's just processed cane sugar with artificial ingredients.

[Paula]

1 hour ago, landtracdeerhunter said:

Mine is 100% real maple syrup. If it's called maple syrup, it has to contain real maple syrup. Maple industry is real strick about this. Other wise, it's just processed cane sugar with artificial ingredients.

Ok gotcha. 

[greg54]

Maple weekends this year are Mar 17-18 and Mar 24-25. Time for maple syrup and maple doughnuts!

[landtracdeerhunter]

On 1/18/2018 at 6:24 PM, greg54 said:

Maple weekends this year are Mar 17-18 and Mar 24-25. Time for maple syrup and maple doughnuts!

Ah yes, the maple donuts, LOL. 

 

[landtracdeerhunter]

I broke a plastic tap off inside of a tree last season. Wasn't sure what it would do to the tree so I drilled it out, just to be sure.

[Steuben Jerry]

Going to tap a few this week for a short boil down next weekend. Going for that sweet light colored stuff.

[Dinsdale]

Selling a steam table pan set up for someone looking for a hobby size. 

Good to sit on block or cut the side of a 275 oil tank for cheap arch.

$75 in N. Dutchess

25"x 43"; 1/4" steel welded custom frame and 3 commercial grade pans. Will fit any standard full sized pan. 2@6",1@4" to finish in are included....

[landtracdeerhunter]

On 1/31/2018 at 7:18 PM, Dinsdale said:

Selling a steam table pan set up for someone looking for a hobby size. 

Good to sit on block or cut the side of a 275 oil tank for cheap arch.

$75 in N. Dutchess

25"x 43"; 1/4" steel welded custom frame and 3 commercial grade pans. Will fit any standard full sized pan. 2@6",1@4" to finish in are included....

If you were closer to me, it would be sold. The iron alone is worth more;  getting the pans free. 

Edited February 4, 2018 by landtracdeerhunter

[Lawdwaz]

8 minutes ago, landtracdeerhunter said:

If you were closer to me, it would be sold. The price is just in the steel; getting the pans free. 

He travels this way occasionally.........the $75 would sure help pay tolls and fuel cost.

[Dinsdale]

55 minutes ago, landtracdeerhunter said:

If you were closer to me, it would be sold. The iron alone is worth more;  getting the pans free. 

I was going to put it on MapleTrader.com; but tried a local hunt forum and here first, thought it was a good deal but surprised to find no interest yet.

I do get to Buffalo area each year to see family, but have no plan to be there before this maple season at the moment.

[landtracdeerhunter]

1 hour ago, Dinsdale said:

I was going to put it on MapleTrader.com; but tried a local hunt forum and here first, thought it was a good deal but surprised to find no interest yet.

I do get to Buffalo area each year to see family, but have no plan to be there before this maple season at the moment.

P.M. sent.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Nearly made 50 degrees here yesterday . The sap poured out of some trees.  Picked up 40 gallon this morning. Can't wait to smell that maple steam.

[WNYBuckHunter]

Due to unforseen family issues this year, Im not making syrup. Hopefully next year will work out.

[landtracdeerhunter]

On 2/16/2018 at 1:53 PM, WNYBuckHunter said:

Due to unforseen family issues this year, Im not making syrup. Hopefully next year will work out.

Sorry to hear that WNY;   I'll send you a trial of my fresh syrup;  after season is over.