Maple Sugaring

[coastie]

So this is my second year making maple syrup. Last year I had 5 taps. THis year I put in 15. Overall it hasnt been that great a season. With the funky weather the sap hasnt been running as well. I also made the mistake of putting some of my taps on the north side of the trees which reduces the sap. I just use tall coffee cans for buckets and a scrap of corrugated roofing as a cover. I collect the sap every day and store it in the blue 7 gallon water storage containers from Walmart. I just bury them in the snow to keep them cool. Last year I boiled sap on a turkey fryer with a big pot. It worked well but I used a lot of propane. THis year I built an evaporator out of cinder blocks, a 6" deep steam table tray and part of an old Jotul stove. I use a large coffee can with a hole in it as a preheater. I block the hole with a nail. As the sap in the boiler evaporates I pull the nail out and refill with warm sap. THis helps maintain the boil. I have found that I need to keep the fire as close to the front under the tray as I can. I figure I boil off about a gallon and half an hour. I already have a list of improvements I want to make next year but I am pleased with the unit. I finish the syrup off on a Coleman stove using a candy thermometer to monitor the syrup. We have made 5 pints plus a little from 23 gallons of sap collected so far. Here are some pictures of the evaporator:

[Chrisg67]

nice! this is my second year too. 19 taps, same as last year. i am tapped in westminster, ma and we are having a great year this year. it sure is fun and rewarding

[jmjkd]

that is Awesome!!!

[WBspectrum]

My brother and I used to do this when we were kids, maybe about 5 years running. Would evaporate on the stove, that got expensive and the parents complained. Decided I'd do it in the fireplace over hardwood logs instead. Well me being me, a klutz, bad things happened. I'm kneeling in front of the fireplace stiring the half evaprated sap when I end up dumping in all over my thighs and knees. I of course tried to brush it off with my hands. Needless to say when a thick sugary liquid hits your skin it stays hot. Of course I end up in the ER, the skin on my hands, thighs and knees were just sloughing off. Christ that hurts just remembering it. Next up, the time I was casting miniballs for my TC Renegade and had the 10 lb pot of lead blow up in my face...another hospital trip and explanations by my mom why her son spent so much time there

[coastie]

My goal is to get up to about 25 taps. It is a fun and relaxing thing to do. I love standing around the evaporator and just watching the fire and the bubbles. The kids enjoy it too. It gets them up in the woods and out of the house.

Right now my limitation is the evaporator. I am going to pour a small slab to build it on this summer and I am going to try to find an 8" deep pan. I have found that feeding this thing is like cooking on a woodstove. Little wood is better than big and you need to feed frequently. Also using good wood makes a huge difference. I am burning some junk chestnut to get rid of it but have started to mix in oak and it is much improved. I think if I fill the cinder blocks with sand to provide better insulation I can increase my evap rate. I look at those bigger SS pans that some guys make and they are great. If my sorghum takes off I may invest in one but I cant justify it for a gallon of maple syrup.

I am going to make my preheater better. I am going to find a 2-3 gallon SS stock pot and put a petcock on it. That way I can adjust the feed of warm sap into the evaporator.

I need a better sap storage. The jugs work well until they freeze. I bring them into the house to thaw before I boil. I think I am going to pick up a couple of 20-25 gallon barrels that you can remove the whole top. That way I can get in easier to break up the ice.

I need to break down and buy some real aluminum sap buckets. The coffee cans work well for most of my trees but on a good day my bigger trees will overflow the can. Going to hunt Craigslist and junk shops for some. 5-6 should cover the big trees. Most of trees are small.

[Hiltonizer]

From what I understand, even a lot of sap equals very little syrup. On my yard I have two very old sugar maples, is it even worth attempting? I presume its too late in the year to bother now anyway, but for next year?

[Fixxah]

My goal is to get up to about 25 taps. It is a fun and relaxing thing to do. I love standing around the evaporator and just watching the fire and the bubbles. The kids enjoy it too. It gets them up in the woods and out of the house.

Right now my limitation is the evaporator. I am going to pour a small slab to build it on this summer and I am going to try to find an 8" deep pan. I have found that feeding this thing is like cooking on a woodstove. Little wood is better than big and you need to feed frequently. Also using good wood makes a huge difference. I am burning some junk chestnut to get rid of it but have started to mix in oak and it is much improved. I think if I fill the cinder blocks with sand to provide better insulation I can increase my evap rate. I look at those bigger SS pans that some guys make and they are great. If my sorghum takes off I may invest in one but I cant justify it for a gallon of maple syrup.

I am going to make my preheater better. I am going to find a 2-3 gallon SS stock pot and put a petcock on it. That way I can adjust the feed of warm sap into the evaporator.

I need a better sap storage. The jugs work well until they freeze. I bring them into the house to thaw before I boil. I think I am going to pick up a couple of 20-25 gallon barrels that you can remove the whole top. That way I can get in easier to break up the ice.

I need to break down and buy some real aluminum sap buckets. The coffee cans work well for most of my trees but on a good day my bigger trees will overflow the can. Going to hunt Craigslist and junk shops for some. 5-6 should cover the big trees. Most of trees are small.

I have a SS bucket with a handle about 2.5 gals I will trade for 45ACP brass if interested. Can post a pic if you wwant.

[coastie]

From what I understand, even a lot of sap equals very little syrup. On my yard I have two very old sugar maples, is it even worth attempting? I presume its too late in the year to bother now anyway, but for next year?

If they are large enough that you can get a couple of taps in each you probably can get enough. Are there any other maples around? Most of my trees are reds that I am tapping. Check some of the cooperative extension websites. They have great info on home sugaring.

[Chrisg67]

From what I understand, even a lot of sap equals very little syrup. On my yard I have two very old sugar maples, is it even worth attempting? I presume its too late in the year to bother now anyway, but for next year?

you are right. the ratio is about 40:1

you could do it, you wont get much but you can still do it. with the right weather on some trees i get about a gallon a day, sometimes more if it gets in the upper 50s that day. you could get a few jars that way.

[MisterHappy]

I'm passing this year - I do one tree, in my yard, and it was just too weird a winter, WRT weather.

As for "worth it"? Economically, hell no. When you figure the time involved, the cost of the fuel, etc., Stop & Shop is a better deal.

That said...go for it! My meagre yeild lasts all year, as I dole it out only on special occasions.

As for yield, I've found that variable - over the course of a week, I had yield ratios from 22:1 to 40:1, with the color hugely variable from light amber to very dark. All from one tree!

It's a very economical passtime, if you ignore the costs involved!