Update Maple sugaring at Clinton Camp Farm

Well, we finished tapping the end of last week after a "Snow Day" Friday was really nasty, Clippers and gusty winds limiting visability to a few hundred feet. We got up a total of 1375 +or- a few. The sap just hasn't run. Maybe a half cup in the buckets for the last 10 day period. Today was the first day with temps above freezing. Made 38F this afternoon. We have been cleaning the old shack up as best we can for a posible inspection, but this old building was originally built from hand hued timbers, and added on as we grew. We have the Evaporators all replumbed to the storage tanks, and hopefully the leaky drop flue pan on the 5X24' Grimm evaporator will no longer leak. I spent a lot of time chasing leaks with torch and sodder. It's been near 10 years since the old girl has made syrup. We only ran the 4X20' last year. These Grimm evaporators were designed to burn wood only, up to 4' in length. Our splitter will handle up to 30" so that is what we burn. Years ago my dad, plumbed them up to inject heating oil in to them. Took an old time oil conversion burner, and used the pump assy only to supply fuel to burner nozzels mounted in the front of the Arch over the doors. The last two days, I have been updating the pumps with a couple of modern day oil burners that I salvaged. The smaller evaporator has two new nozzle heads with 1,25 tips and the big one has two 1,25s up front and two 1.0s just ahead of the flue pan. I have them all set up with valves and switches so we can use the oil where and when we need it. When we have good wood and high barometer weather we ,don't need the oil, but when a batch is near syrup we will be able to poke some extra heat to the front pan and make bigger batches. While I was finishing up inside the rest of the family was splitting up the trees that I drug out last week. Once we get the evaporators fired and making syrup I will post more pics.
Loren, the Acg.

That sounds like quite the process. Very interesting. Keep us posted. I heat my garage/shop with wood and that woodshed would look pretty good behind it. Especially with that much wood in it!

Acg I still willing to ship you some fine Florida citrus in trade for some of that syrup. Looks like a good time except for that white stuff on the ground

FLOLDFORD

Someday,the wife and I are going to come up there and buy some syrup ,but not while its cold or snowing

Loren,

I have heard that the Grimm evaporator company is no longer in business. Guess I made the wrong decision when I chose the Grimm over the Leader evaporator a few years ago.

Mine is just a 2x6, good for about 300-500 taps. My son and I had fun using it when he was growing up.

We must be a tad bit warmer over here, I see guys hauling sap every couple of days. Great pics. Just started taking care of jims cows today, as he left for Florida! He can have oranges, well have syrup! Lol.,

You will soon discover that sap will boil more efficiently with firewood that is well seasoned.It boils slow enough with good wood,I can not imagine trying to use wood cut last week.

With a big evaporator, once she gets going, everything burns good; dry, green or covered with snow!

Leader bought out Grimm.

Vito

(quoted from post at 20:16:31 02/26/13) With a big evaporator, once she gets going, everything burns good; dry, green or covered with snow!

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That may be. Water requires lots of energy to evaporate. You should know that. If its coming out of the wood, it ain't coming out of the sap.

My friend, there is a lot of seasoned wood in the shed and we have been making maple syrup for 100 years in this location.
Loren, the Acg.

Leader bought Grimm, so you should be OK.
Loren, the Acg.

When these evaporators are rolling the cast iron doors are glowing red hot, dry wood, green wood and oil when needed. We have to wear gloves and arm protection to stoke them. There has been some singed beards as well. When we are up and running I will post more pics.
Loren, the Acg.

Jay,
I can just see him kicked back in shorts and sipping on an orange drink with an umbrella in it. LOL
Loren

My e-mail is open.
Loren, the Acg.

My wife's cousin has a decent sized evaporator.
As you can see, like ACG says, it gets mighty hot under that pan.