The Official 2022 Maple Syrup Thread !

Lol. You suggesting we shouldn’t?

 

Changed comments 5 times to keep family friendly

 

Looks good Brad I'm sure it will work fine. I gravity filtered with cone filters for years ,what a pain. The main reason I built the vacuum filter was so I could use Diatamaceous Earth it is a game changer .

 

I guess I’m not familiar with how you use it. Are you filtering through DE?

 

I mix 1/4 cup of DE per one gallon of hot syrup . I use the Orlon filter and one paper pre filter. The DE forms a mat on top of the filters that catches almost all of the sugar sand. After a five gallon batch I discard the pre filter and layer of DE . It has to be food grade DE and I purchase it where I buy my maple supplies

 

You will enjoy this , it is a hobby that will have you addicted after one season kinda like firewood.

 

Did you build your hood? Exhaust?

 

I gathered 40 gallon of sap this past week. Boiling down for the first time today. Using the electric turkey fryer to warm up to 180. Then boiling on LP. 10gallon down 30 to go.

 

Yes it is a DIY hood , I took a pattern to a sheet metal shop and they bent everything then I put it together with stainless steel pop rivets. The hood is made with slip collars so it can be moved up and down using a boat winch. When it is cold in the sugar house I want it low t o the pan as the sugar house warms I can raise it

 

Well I happen to have food grade de from when we had chickens. Looked around and it looks like it’s the same as the maple syrup labeled stuff. I’ll give it a try.

 

What does food grade DE have to do with chickens ?

 

You put it in their food and scratch and it helps keep parasites and such away. Been wondering how I was going to use the stuff up. Now I know

 

We raised chickens when I was growing up and we didn't have DE back then .

 

I don’t think my grandpa used it either. Might not have been invented way back then

 

We mostly used it in their bedding and scratch walt

Diatomaceous Earth Uses in Chickens - Backyard Poultry

 

It was running here yesterday. Boiled 40 gallons yesterday. Have about 75 gallons to boil tomorrow. Weather is crap right now. 16 degrees and it’s blowing up to 50.

 

We are having weather like yours . Sap bags were half to two thirds full Friday afternoon I didn't gather but should have. I was tied up with township trash day yesterday morning so the boys were going to gather for me. They got to the woods to find solid blocks of ice in the sap bags. They are going to need a couple warm days to thaw. On the good side we are having fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup for Sunday dinner today !

 

Great to see all the talk on this thread ! I'm finally getting a chance to get on here. If we aren't collecting..we are boiling. If we aren't boiling..we are bottling ! Looks like whatever runs after today is it for us in Northeast ohio. Gonna boil till it stops !
You can tell by the pre-filter on the ro that it's getting late in season. We are on track to do better than last year if we get a good final run ! Some pics from the last few outings.

 

We are hoping a foot of snow and todays low of single digits gets us a few more weeks