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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Sap run started ...... but then it stopped

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Mac in Ontario

03-10-2005 17:35:14




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This is way off topic, but I need an answer, and someone here may know what it is.
I"ve made a little maple syrup, but don"t have too many year"s experience doing it.
Last Sunday started to warm up (above freezing a few degrees), so I tapped some maples , hung the buckets and got a short run of sap. Monday froze over, and it hasn"t warmed up enough since to start it running again. My question - will those taps dry up as long as the temperature stays below freezing ? If so, how long will they take to dry up ? I know in mild weather that over time they will dry up if night time temperatures don"t go low enough to keep the sap flowing.
Sure is staying cold a long time this year. Usually, the sap"s been running for at least a couple of weeks by this time in March.
Love that maple syrup.

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Ibby

03-13-2005 04:16:16




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
Let's not be in too much of a hurry! I'm still building my new arch and need a few more days! I gave up on boiling to temperature and invested $14 in a hydrometer that tells EXACTLY when it's done. I'm just south of Cornwall, btw. WE had a good few days run in Feb, but I won't tap until it runs or next weekend, whichever comes first. I hung 165 buckets last year - probably 200 - 250 this year.



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Bernie in MA

03-12-2005 11:01:15




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
Standard density syrup results when sap is boiled to 7* above the boiling point of water/sap. The boiling point will change according to elevation and weather conditions, sometimes more than once a day. HTH



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buickanddeere

03-12-2005 07:04:50




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
The sap will not flow if the weather stays warm or stays cold. There has to be a change in temp. Ideal is a frosty night and a warm day with a light breeze. One tap per tree placed on the east, south or west works well. As previously stated after a tree is tapped, after about a week/10 days the sap production slows. Once the buds swell or pop the sap will go dark and bitter. If boiling shade tree sap the ratio will be 25-30 to 1. Depending don how thick you like your syrup. The syrup may not look thick in the pan boiling but when cooled you can end up with taffy or sugar. I'd have to look at the syrup thermometer but I think 214-216F is the range between light syrup and sugar. If batch boiling and adding sap to 1/2 boiled syrup too many times for too long. The oldest syrup will be cooked past the caramel stage which is part of the maple flavour. The finished syrup will be dark,strong and burnt. Syrup from an evaporator and osmosis system is mainly sweet. Pan batch boiled sap tends to have a full maple and caramel flavour. A tall pan helps batch production but looses heat a little faster than a short sided pan. It's a science and art similar to making wine. The soil, temperature, tree sub specious, rain, length of time and temp sap is stored at before boiling, boil time etc. They all affect flavor and colour. Don't be surprised if a 1/8" of silt and sand settles to the bottom of your syrup after it sits a few weeks. Does not harm, just like settling wine. Don't try to boil sap that contains rain water. Even on the north shore of Lake Erie , you are a little keen yet. Last two weeks of March and 1st week of April are the norm. What are you collecting, boiling and storing with?

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dr.sportster

03-12-2005 04:50:10




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
Mac,How do you tell a Sugar Maple from a regular or other maple?Or do they all yeild some?



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Mac in Ontario

03-11-2005 16:33:25




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
I appreciate your replies.

David - we're located a few miles south of London. No one else I know of has started tapping here yet either. I just got the itch - I'll have a few days off work next week and the kids will be off for March break, so I got in a hurry.

Sap ran a little today, most buckets are full, and aren't frozen solid anymore. We just finished collecting about 15 gallons of sap, and about 25 1.5 - 2 gallon size ice cubes

The sap is quite sweet. Will there be much sugar left in the ice ? Is the ice worth boiling or would you throw it out and boil the liquid only ?

Thanks

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Davidj

03-13-2005 05:58:43




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-11-2005 16:33:25  
I less than half or a third of the bucket is frozen then you could safely pitch the ice I think. I know it can be hard for a Scotsman like myself to do but as a rule the water will freeze first and bump the ratio down to about 30 to 1. On the Temperature thing, I quit using a thermometer several years ago as the boiling point would change too much during the day and I"d have to refinish quite a bit after I drew off. I can usually get it pretty close by eye as can many others. I tried a hydrometer in hot syrup once but it shattered, is there a trick to using one in as the one I had had a reading for hot (211*F) and cold . Just finished making a steam hood yesterday. Built a new camp and last year what didn"t go out the vent on top dripped on my head. A few guys told me after that I should"ve planked the roof instead of jus t strapping for the tin. Oh well, live"n learn. Ibby...Hi Neighbour.. Are you between the bridges south or further?

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Davidj

03-11-2005 05:21:44




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
It"s the warm spell that will dry your holes up as the bacterial growth that you see when you pull the spiles is what prevents the sap exiting the hole. Must be warm in your part of Ontario as we haven"t even thought of tapping here yet. Whereabouts are you? We"re in the east near Cornwall.



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RWK in WI

03-10-2005 17:45:15




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 Re: Sap run started ...... but then it stopped in reply to Mac in Ontario, 03-10-2005 17:35:14  
When the weather warms up the sap will flow again. The tap holes will be good for a week or more if it stays cold. I have tapped a couple of weeks before sap flowed good. We are also late on sap flowing this year.



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