OT: Just some sappy pictures

tjdub · Feb 6, 2012

Well, it hit 45F Saturday and I just couldn't wait any more. This is about 3 weeks earlier than we normally start tapping maples, but spring weather is spring weather.

I'm trying out new gear this year, and it seems to work great so far. An 11/32" bit is the perfect fit for using 1/4" PEX as spiles. It just takes a few gentle taps to seat the PEX and they won't pull out without a twist from a pliers.

I was surprised to see how fast the sap was running already.

7/16"OD by 5/16"ID vinyl tubing is the perfect fit for the 1/4" PEX also.

A 3/8" hole in the bucket makes a nice tight fit for the vinyl tubing. Just make sure you put the tube in the bucket and the spiles in the tube when you're inside where it's nice and warm. Once you get outside that tubing turns hard and unworkable. Whoops.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 6, 2012

What state is that maple tap ?

tjdub · Feb 6, 2012

This is in SE Minnesota.

Gene Dotson · Feb 6, 2012

Haven't checked any of the sugar groves here in Ohio. Weather forecast looks perfect with freezing nights and thawing days.

In high school I worked for my buddy's dad collecting and boiling the sap. We did it the old way with buckets hung on the trees and collecting with a 500 gallon tank on an old manure spreader frame.

Always loved the taste of the fresh sap right from the tree. Always thought if someone could bottle it that it would make a refreshing drink.

Gene

ShadetreeRet · Feb 6, 2012

Interesting photos, thanks for posting.

NW Ohio Tim · Feb 6, 2012

We get syrup from NE Ohio (Garretsville). My wife talked to them over the weekend and they were going to start tapping trees, but didn't know what to expect with this screwed up winter.

tjdub · Feb 7, 2012

> but didn't know what to expect with this screwed up winter.

I hear that. If the weather returns to normal, these trees will be healed before I get a jar full of syrup. I know I would be pretty stressed out this year if I was tapping trees for income.

RGMartin · Feb 7, 2012

(quoted from post at 00:34:25 02/07/12) We get syrup from NE Ohio (Garretsville). My wife talked to them over the weekend and they were going to start tapping trees, but didn't know what to expect with this screwed up winter.

Small world, my wife teaches in Garretsville.

We live 60 miles east of there. I am not even bothering with maple this year. Still have several gallons left, and the weather has been too out of the ordinary.

NW Ohio Tim · Feb 7, 2012

Small world, my wife teaches in Garretsville.

My sister & bro in law live in Ravenna. We met Mark Apple, from Garretsville, a number of years ago and have been getting all our maple syrup from him since.

Tim

RGMartin · Feb 7, 2012

(quoted from post at 12:14:50 02/07/12)

Small world, my wife teaches in Garretsville.

Click to expand...

My sister & bro in law live in Ravenna.

Tim

Don't know Mr Apple, but We lived in Ravenna until 7 years ago we decided to move back closer to our families.

OT: Just some sappy pictures

tjdub

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

tjdub

Member

Gene Dotson

Well-known Member

ShadetreeRet

Well-known Member

NW Ohio Tim

Member

tjdub

Member

RGMartin

Well-known Member

NW Ohio Tim

Member

RGMartin

Well-known Member

Similar threads