Maple Tree Tapping for Sap for Syrup (Lots of Pictures)

[Sailor]

I get my stuff from:
Anderson's Maple Syrup

If you are going to do it in any quantity greater than a few quarts, lines are the best way to go, it saves a ton of time hauling sap around.

Sap storage is a pain, what types of large containers do you have the lines going to? Can those blue plastic barrels be used?

I would like to have the evaporator closer to the trees and eliminate the hauling.

 

[shibumiseeker]

Sap storage is a pain, what types of large containers do you have the lines going to? Can those blue plastic barrels be used?

I would like to have the evaporator closer to the trees and eliminate the hauling.

I had a choice between having the evaporator down where the lines could easily gravity feed to it, but then I have to walk a couple hundred yards to feed the fire every hour or so, or having the evaporator up near the shop but then I have to pump or haul the sap. Thus far hauling and pumping has won out, but that may change next year.

I have a 400 gallon water container that I collected in last couple of years, it's on the north side of the ridge and I pile snow around it to help keep sap cooler during warmer days. I was then pumping from there to some 50 gallon barrels near my evaporator. Previously I'd had 50 gallon barrels at various collection points and used the tractor to move them around, that was a PITA. I did it again this year because I was going to be gone during much of the season and it's easier to just dump a 50 gallon container if it sours before I can boil it...

Next year though I think I am going to build a small sugar shack at the collection point and bite the bullet and just resign myself to walking more during the season. I'll be able to use larger wood though, so it should cut down on it some.

I like tapping my first set of taps in december, then I boil down on the woodstove slowly to add some humidity to the house.

 

[ranjah6]

This is awesome. How hard is this to get into?

 

[shibumiseeker]

This is awesome. How hard is this to get into?

Got sugar or red maples? Got a drill? Metal taps are a couple bucks each, plastic taps are about $.25@. In the late fall, early winter when the nights are below freezing and the days get above freezing, drill and tap. Hang a washed out milk jug, bleach bottle, etc on it. Boil sap down until it is sweet/thick enough for your tastes.

It's as simple as that. Generally speaking most people will get a pint or so of syrup per tap for the season. Don't overtap your trees or you will weaken them and make them prone to disease/insects.

 

[Pamcake]

Results show... OMG this stuff is so GOOOOOOOOD and it was so easy! Boiled it to 221 degrees.

From the last 5 days of sap collection, 1 tap on 1 tree (and INGO advertisement to boot):

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

I have been helping a friend collect sap for the past couple of weeks. We usually work up a crew of 8-10 to go out and collect the sap. We collect 800-1000 gallons at a time. He has an 800 gallon storage tank and a 200 gallon evaporator/cooker. After about five hours of heat, he can draw off 1.5 gallons of syrup every half hour. It started out as a hobby and it has turned into a church community project. So far, he has made 150 gallons of syrup.

 

[Clay]

Thats awesome!!!!!!! So, what was your input to output ratio??? How long did you cook it down for? and how did you know you were done?

lastly, did you do it inside or outside?

thanks!
clay

Results show... OMG this stuff is so GOOOOOOOOD and it was so easy! Boiled it to 221 degrees.

From the last 5 days of sap collection, 1 tap on 1 tree (and INGO advertisement to boot):

 

[Sailor]

Wetsu, and I plus another family have finished for this year. Results from our hillbilly cooker.

Now we are cooking!

One more pot to can and we are done.

 

[Clay]

Found a good "how to" out on the net. I might have to give this a try next year. I've got a good area I can use for taps, I just need to scout out the trees and buy a few things here and there.

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/pdfpubs/7036.pdf

 

[Sailor]

Mark the sugar maples this summer much easier than trying to id trees by bark alone.

 

[SnoopLoggyDog]

We went out and collected another 700 gallons tonight. Maybe one or two more opportunities to collect before it gets too warm.