Maple syrup

Maybe I missed it, but I didnt see a maple syrup thread. I know there are a few members here (and other places) that dabble in this late winter tradition. I started last year (with some help from Scotty), a cheap azz stainless hotel pan and a pile of cinder blocks. I was amazed at the wood consumption of said unit- so last nite, I bought an old US stove company logwood box stove complete with pipe and cap for $125. Hellllllo new evaporator! I should get my money back in wood consumtion alone this year!

Who else boils sap, bullchits, and drinks when it's 20-30 degrees outside?

I hope to double my production this year up to 2 gallons+. Last year I got 1 gallon but only boiled twice. Not living where I collect sap and boil makes it tough. I have made some changes to the setup and cant wait for the run this year!

 

My kids keep asking to make some but they (7 and 8 years old) don't realize how much work is involved. Maybe someday.

If I do get back in the game I'm considering building one of those rocket stoves as they are supposed to be pretty efficient on wood.

 

Been wanting to try this. Have pics of your setup?

 

Here is my first attempt. I dont have any pics of my taps themselves. Just imagine a small piece of plastic in the tree, with a plastic tube attached to it draining into 5gal buckets. The cast iron pan is a pre-warming pan so you dont dump cold sap into boiling sap and kill your boil-adding more boil time. Once you get close to your desired sugar content, I transfer back to the small cast iron pan. Once it foams up (like a rocketship blasting off), its done and filtering is necessary. This must be done hot and is, in my opinion, the worst part of it all. It wants to get cold before it all goes thru the 2 filters and then it just sits there and will not move! Others go thru more trouble, and equipment, but I had less than $200 in all of this...including blocks, pans, hoses, taps, buckets, filters, and beer of course! At $20+ per quart, its not hard to get your money back real fast.

Next year Im using a POS cast iron stove to save on my wood consumption. I am also doubling my buckets. I ran 20 taps into 10 5 gal buckets last year. During the peak of the run, this was nowhere near enough sap storage for the 5 days between my boils. Most people would empty before that stage, but I live 80 miles from where I do this so I do what I have to do.

 

Been looking for a maple syrup thread that's my biggest pass time that only happens 2 months top out of the year... Think about it all year long. I have about 75 taps out and like to produce 60L syrup but didn't have the greatest year so hoping next spring is better.

 

I dabble.... redneck style.



Furnace blower, and ceramic blanket insulated, with a "drop flue" pan.

 

Wow, thats awsome to hear. Other Schools should take note.
+1 for NH!!

 

I love making maple syrup, anything to do with it, I wouldn't be a true Canadian if I didn't dabble in it lol that's why I have two different stacks house/ sugar shack, soft sugar maple candy on a black cherry cutting board I made

 

Looks delightful, I've wanted candy moulds but they are spensive!