In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Maple season has kicked off in N.E. Ohio

Discussion in 'Everything Else (off topic)' started by Casper, Jan 18, 2023.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    First boil of 2023. 3700 gallons of sap, barely enough to sweeten the pans on this rig.

    20230118_211928.jpg
     
    Casper, Jan 18, 2023
    #1 Top
    HoneyFuzz, Ohio, In the Pines and 13 others like this.
  2. Eric VW

    Eric VW Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2015
    Messages:
    24,398
    Likes Received:
    140,388
    Location:
    US
    I hope that ain’t in your sugar shack- that’s just too shiny!!!

    Pretty cool tho :handshake:
     
    Eric VW, Jan 18, 2023
    #2 Top
    In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf, MikeInMa and 5 others like this.
  3. Softwood

    Softwood

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2020
    Messages:
    1,082
    Likes Received:
    6,549
    Location:
    Central WI
    Nice rig! Hopefully we're about months out from the sap running..
     
    Softwood, Jan 18, 2023
    #3 Top
    In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf, walt and 4 others like this.
  4. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    It's not mine, I just run the evaporator when I'm in town. It's in an old G.E. Lighting plant.
     
    Casper, Jan 18, 2023
    #4 Top
    In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf, brenndatomu and 5 others like this.
  5. buzz-saw

    buzz-saw

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2020
    Messages:
    4,860
    Likes Received:
    28,429
    Location:
    Ct.
    Sweet. :thumbs:
     
    buzz-saw, Jan 19, 2023
    #5 Top
    In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf, brenndatomu and 4 others like this.
  6. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    46,933
    Likes Received:
    295,525
    Location:
    Central MI
    That is one huge boiler!!!

    I doubt there will be much run this year due to the weather.
     
    Backwoods Savage, Jan 19, 2023
    #6 Top
    In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf, brenndatomu and 3 others like this.
  7. yooperdave

    yooperdave

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Messages:
    34,275
    Likes Received:
    212,246
    Location:
    Michigan's U.P.
    Already? :jaw:

    Ooooo-eee! Look at all that stainless! No matter, I see there is still a plastic 5 gallon bucket in use! :rofl: :lol:
     
    yooperdave, Jan 19, 2023
    #7 Top
    Backwoods Savage, In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf and 4 others like this.
  8. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    Normally, I will pump from the front pan (syrup pan) back to the flue pan when starting up with fresh (unsweet) pans. I didn't feel like dragging all the hoses, the pump (filter press) and cleaning them up for this amount of sap. I drew off from the front and dumped it back into the flue pan float box. I don't want to be making syrup in the flue pan with the front pan @ 37 brix.
     
    Casper, Jan 19, 2023
    #8 Top
    Backwoods Savage, yooperdave, In the Pines and 4 others like this.
  9. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    We need a cold snap, that is for sure.
     
    Casper, Jan 19, 2023
    #9 Top
    Backwoods Savage, In the Pines, Chazsbetterhalf and 3 others like this.
  10. walt

    walt

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2016
    Messages:
    933
    Likes Received:
    8,179
    Location:
    north central ohio
    Have been working on some of my equipment but I think I am still a month away from tapping. My set up is a good bit smaller than that I don't have 3700 gallons of sap in a good season !
     
    walt, Jan 19, 2023
    #10 Top
    HoneyFuzz, Backwoods Savage, In the Pines and 3 others like this.
  11. Wishlist

    Wishlist

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2022
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Corunna
    Not jumping the gun and tapping yet here in Mid Mich , still at least 3 weeks out .
    Earliest I’ve ever tapped was Feb 14 .
    We could use some moisture for sure but it all depends on the weather during the normal season . Good freeze thaw cycles and a lot of syrup will be made . Last year was very similar with warmer cycles and the largest crop ever was made .
     
    Wishlist, Jan 19, 2023
    #11 Top
    HoneyFuzz, Backwoods Savage, In the Pines and 5 others like this.
  12. Wishlist

    Wishlist

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2022
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Corunna
    You sure don’t see as many steam aways as in the past . RO’s really took over the need .
     
    Wishlist, Jan 19, 2023
    #12 Top
    Backwoods Savage, In the Pines, walt and 4 others like this.
  13. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    We run two, 3 column, ROs. I suppose we could run them tighter and squeeze more water out, but I understand the reason we don't, is that the owner doesn't want to blow out membranes? I should probably clarify that sometime.
     
    Casper, Jan 19, 2023
    #13 Top
    Backwoods Savage, Wishlist, In the Pines and 2 others like this.
  14. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    Wishlist

    Are you going to the Michigan Maple Conference this weekend?
     
    Casper, Jan 19, 2023
    #14 Top
    Backwoods Savage, In the Pines, walt and 1 other person like this.
  15. Wishlist

    Wishlist

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2022
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Corunna
    Yep, I’ll be there Friday evening .
     
    Wishlist, Jan 19, 2023
    #15 Top
    walt, Backwoods Savage and Casper like this.
  16. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    Nate will be speaking about bourbon, rum and ghost pepper syrup on Sat.
     
    Casper, Jan 19, 2023
    #16 Top
    walt, Backwoods Savage and Wishlist like this.
  17. Wishlist

    Wishlist

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2022
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Corunna
    Sounds interesting. Thanks
     
    Wishlist, Jan 19, 2023
    #17 Top
    walt and Backwoods Savage like this.
  18. Wishlist

    Wishlist

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2022
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Corunna
    Casper

    Did you know Karl Evans ? He was from your area , good guy sadly missed . I used to see him at LEME every year .
     
    Wishlist, Jan 19, 2023
    #18 Top
    walt, Backwoods Savage and Casper like this.
  19. Casper

    Casper

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2017
    Messages:
    1,707
    Likes Received:
    9,648
    Location:
    Ohio
    I knew of him, Nate knew him well. He was a Leader dealer too if I remember correctly. It was rough on Nate when he passed away.
     
    Casper, Jan 19, 2023
    #19 Top
    walt and Backwoods Savage like this.
  20. Wishlist

    Wishlist

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2022
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Corunna
    Yes he was a Leader dealer and also a huge Buckeye fan . We used to really take jabs at one another all in good fun tho .
     
    Wishlist, Jan 20, 2023
    #20 Top
    walt and Casper like this.
Page 1 of 2