Ye Old Garage
- Thread starter sublime68charger
- Start date
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Thanks I got it for free well there was sweat equity involved in the removal. But it works good once up to temp and it's my finish off the sap stove as well due to the more constant heat I can get from it plus it easy to grap the pot when if starts to due the final foaming at syrup level.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Outside pic of the shack it's nothing special but it's warm and out of the wind for sap cooking! Plus I have lights so can boil into the dark if needed.
68400BIRD
Well-known member
With the wired winter we have had will you get more sap this spring?
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
I have no idea. Need temp below 32 at night and the above 40 during the day with sunlight to make sap flow. My 20 collection bucket break down was 1 full 3 at 3/4 full 10 at half full rest at 1/4 full got 48 gallons of sap in 1 week. Last year best was 56 gallons of sap in a week.
If weather is good I'll check the top producing trees mid week and collect if needed.
xtremek
Well-known member
Is the sap running early this year?
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
There was a early run due to mild Temps alot of people tapped some did not. I wasn't ready plus snow was real deep would have made transport huge pain so I waited I'm tapped now be week 2 for me now. Been a goofy winter.
Thing is you tap the tree you have a 6 to 8 week window before the tree heals its self and quits.
You tapped early and have 2 weeks cold snap no sap then it's kinda okay getting to good and then your out of the game when it turns to really running good. Or you wait and tap at the good to great stage then it stays to warm and your done just a 3 week run. It's all in the weather and you know how steady Eddie the weather can be.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
9 second video of the sap foaming up! I had to stop the film in order to pick the pan up off the stove before the boil over went over.
52 gallons all down to what in this pan 10 hours of cooking!
52 gallons all down to what in this pan 10 hours of cooking!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That HAS to smell so good!
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
It smells great taste even better!That HAS to smell so good!
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
So my sap gathering trailer suffers from random loose lids on buckets I have to back track and search for the rouge lid that left. I could snap them down tight but then have to unsnap them to empty sap. So I made the lid holder 12 easy light will test this weekend on the sap run! Set to lock in place and keep lids on buckets! LOL!
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Went and collected sap last night.
the sap trailer is full! 40 gallons, Ill be running on Saturday and then going back out and collecting sap again on Saturday and probably have another 20 to 30 gallons as well.
be a long busy day of cooking Saturday!
Didn't loose any lids on the collection trip which was a plus!
the sap trailer is full! 40 gallons, Ill be running on Saturday and then going back out and collecting sap again on Saturday and probably have another 20 to 30 gallons as well.
be a long busy day of cooking Saturday!
Didn't loose any lids on the collection trip which was a plus!
harley jim
Well-known member
Don't be loosing any of that liquid gold, Sub.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
I try still had some slopping out of the buckets darn hills and had the buckets to full.
Long term plan is to get a 55 gallon Barrel and fill into that and then Have a RO "Reverse Omiss" system that the barrel runs threw and that will get rid some water. RO link
https://robucket.com/
RB10
is what I want to get.
so then boil down what I get from the RO system.
Need to get garage done and setup better than I can have the RO in the garage and then take that to the Sugar Shack.
Plans and Goals just need more time to make that happen and some $$$ and ambition as well!
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
So last night went and got a trailer load of sawmill cast off wood, I need to get a pic but was dark when I got home.
Thinking I'll take my Chop saw up to the trailer and sort it out cut the bigger chunks down to firewood and the small stuff gonna get used to power the Maple Syrup Stoves as it'll burn fast and hot.
might find a usable board every now in then in the stack.
I'll have time to sort and process as I'm working the syrup.
It was only 40 min away and didn't cost me anything but time and gas to go and get. If I like this stuff I may be making taller side boards for the trailer so that I can get a bigger load on the next trip.
most stuff was 4' at the longest.
Thinking I'll take my Chop saw up to the trailer and sort it out cut the bigger chunks down to firewood and the small stuff gonna get used to power the Maple Syrup Stoves as it'll burn fast and hot.
might find a usable board every now in then in the stack.
I'll have time to sort and process as I'm working the syrup.
It was only 40 min away and didn't cost me anything but time and gas to go and get. If I like this stuff I may be making taller side boards for the trailer so that I can get a bigger load on the next trip.
most stuff was 4' at the longest.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Pic of trailer with the free sawmill cast offs
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Nice haul on the free wood! 
That should keep the boiler going for a while.
That should keep the boiler going for a while.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
yea or I want the small stuff for the Maple Syrup Stoves, My boiler wood is all big junk type stuff not the best for fast hot fires that the sap stoves need to run. Plan is to take the wood chop saw up to the trailer and sort and cut stuff off the trailer as I go. bigger stuff can go to the wood shed via wheel barrow at a time smaller stuff can get piled on the back of the trailer and ran threw the sap stoves as needed. any thing that is kinda board like will get set aside for furture use.Nice haul on the free wood!
I think I might make up some taller side board for my trailer so if I go back I can get more.
harley jim
Well-known member
You need a couple of these! The shiners use the **** out of them.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Thanks Jim,
I have 3 food grade 55 gallon plastic barrels just have not got thing's progressed enough to put them to use.
For this year still using the 5 gallon buckets and such for transport and to collect at the tree's.
Want to get the RO system that I mentioned up thread but also need the garage done enough that I can mount the RO system there and let it run. Then need to get Barrel collection setup in the sugar bush. Good way to transfer from Barrel in the woods to barrel in the trailer then take to garage hook up to the RO and then 2 barrels one for the concatrate and the other for the water.
I got a rough idea plan in my head but didn't get far enough this year to make it happen so I'm running what I have and know that it works.
I need to stop and the local bakery and ask If I can get some food grade buckets from them to use.
But need to have a way of reducing down my cooking time. RO is the next step from what I have read. Then maybe a better cooker than what I have.
I have 3 food grade 55 gallon plastic barrels just have not got thing's progressed enough to put them to use.
For this year still using the 5 gallon buckets and such for transport and to collect at the tree's.
Want to get the RO system that I mentioned up thread but also need the garage done enough that I can mount the RO system there and let it run. Then need to get Barrel collection setup in the sugar bush. Good way to transfer from Barrel in the woods to barrel in the trailer then take to garage hook up to the RO and then 2 barrels one for the concatrate and the other for the water.
I got a rough idea plan in my head but didn't get far enough this year to make it happen so I'm running what I have and know that it works.
I need to stop and the local bakery and ask If I can get some food grade buckets from them to use.
But need to have a way of reducing down my cooking time. RO is the next step from what I have read. Then maybe a better cooker than what I have.
xtremek
Well-known member
Took me a sec to figure out "RO". How much will setting up the reverse osmosis system cost?
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Xtrem. RO is like 350 or 425 depend which size I get and the functions. It not cheap but if I get to where I'm doing 60 plus gallons of sap each weekend if the RO takes out like 20 gallons off the top that saves time of cooking.
My chop saw set up out by sugar shack when I need wood grap from. Trailer cut to size in the stove it goes. So far so good
My chop saw set up out by sugar shack when I need wood grap from. Trailer cut to size in the stove it goes. So far so good
You work with what you’ve got.Could be ok after you fix it upIts not much but it is what I have.
be gentle
just a 24 x 26 and the only thing New on it is the roof everything else is used.
the walls started out as a 20x20 garage I disassembled and loaded onto a trailer and hauled out one wall at a time they leaned against a tree for 3 years before I got around to refurbish them into the walls of this garage.
I cut 1 wall in half and added each part to the other walls.
this is the first Pic I have of it.
and how she stood for the first winter in SW Wisconsin.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Thanks garage had come a ways from what I started with. Though still has a ways to get it kinda where I want. But it workable for now
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
The sawmill wood sure worked good for sap boilng, Got that done and the trailer unloaded.
Even got the 140 out and took the snow blower off and did some wood skidding with the old JD
Even got the 140 out and took the snow blower off and did some wood skidding with the old JD
xtremek
Well-known member
Yeah, we may get more snow, but I doubt it'll stick around long enough to matter.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Got some High side boards for the trailer made up.
I still have to work out a better end gate system but was able to get something made up and went and got a bigger trailer full of sawmill cast offs for $20 for the guy to load it up with the bobcat.
I still have to work out a better end gate system but was able to get something made up and went and got a bigger trailer full of sawmill cast offs for $20 for the guy to load it up with the bobcat.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
So also took time to go to a Grass fire. I was late getting to station well I live 7 miles away so I get dibs on last truck out the door. I got to take the Tanker, Its a 96 Peter Built Chasis with a 10 speed transmission. Alway's fun to get to drive.
Get out to the scene and we set up to fill Brush trucks if Needed.
Tanker has a little like 8HP motor in the back that you can start and then pump off the tank to fill the brush trucks and behind the pressure guage its ******* water out of a fitting. Not alot of pressure or anything but still leaking water is not ideal. Got a glove from EMS and found some zip ties and got the leak stopped for a in the field fix. Green Glove and zip tie you can see in the last pic
Have had problems with that little engine in the back so if you get it started you keep it running for fear it wont start back up.
we filled 1 truck and then waited for 30 mintues for another truck to fill. but the little pump engine ran out of Gas and the Gas can on the truck was empty. So that was it for us. Well if push comes to shove we could gravity fill from the tanker just park tanker uphill from brush units and free flow water. Most times it drop the folding tank dump the water and go get more. But for this grass fire it was pretty small and alot of just guys working the fire line with hand tools to put the fire out.
we have the chutes down to try and give that little engine back there fresh air to breathe at it smokes itself out alot.
Get out to the scene and we set up to fill Brush trucks if Needed.
Tanker has a little like 8HP motor in the back that you can start and then pump off the tank to fill the brush trucks and behind the pressure guage its ******* water out of a fitting. Not alot of pressure or anything but still leaking water is not ideal. Got a glove from EMS and found some zip ties and got the leak stopped for a in the field fix. Green Glove and zip tie you can see in the last pic
Have had problems with that little engine in the back so if you get it started you keep it running for fear it wont start back up.
we filled 1 truck and then waited for 30 mintues for another truck to fill. but the little pump engine ran out of Gas and the Gas can on the truck was empty. So that was it for us. Well if push comes to shove we could gravity fill from the tanker just park tanker uphill from brush units and free flow water. Most times it drop the folding tank dump the water and go get more. But for this grass fire it was pretty small and alot of just guys working the fire line with hand tools to put the fire out.
we have the chutes down to try and give that little engine back there fresh air to breathe at it smokes itself out alot.
captain14
Well-known member
Where do you source your fuel for the apparatus? Town fuel site or a private vendor that’s open 24/7?
None of the other units on the scene carried fuel cans?
None of the other units on the scene carried fuel cans?
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
We have 2 places Used to just be the County Highway Shop that we got Diesel and Gas. Now we can go to the Local 24 Hour Gas Station.
Tanker 6 there is a Gas can on the side compartment that was empty. Plus there was no cap on the can and the little vent cap missing as well so even if it had gas in it a 1 time it would have all evaporated off from sitting or getting splashed around when the truck is going down the road. There was gas can on the both Brush units and the Engine that was on scene as well.
That little pump off Engine gets used maybe 1-3 times a year. Plus it did run for 30 minutes before we ran out of gas.
Most time's the tanker drops a tank behind or beside the Engine dumps water and then your back to town to refill.
This grass fire didn't warrant that type of water usage.
We was out at the end of the driveway for refilling the Engine was up by the house to refill the Brush unit's there if needed.
2 Brush units hold 250 gallons of water, Buggy is 15, Engine has 1000 onboard. so they can fill a few times.
Tanker has 3,500 gallons of water.
Rule of thumb is if your truck is at 3/4 tank of fuel or less you stop and fill it up. But Most people forget about the little gas pump on the back of the tanker or the gas tank on the side of it. Both the Engine and Brush units Had full gas can on board as they have other small gas engines that need fueling from time to time.
Wasn't a huge goof but still ideally there should be a full gas can on the tanker, But also you should be able to trust that you can shut down the pump engine and it will start back up. But that has not been the norm for a while. If you get it started you leave it running till your done with it.
There used to be a stand alone Draft Pump on the Tanker as well but 2 years ago it locked up and we never replaced it.
We never used the draft pump since we had the onboard pump. But then the onboard pump used to work better.
ah such is life I suppose.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Sap stoves prepped and ready for the next run.
Cleaned out ashs, I also added some bricks to the barrels stove to try and get better draft.
Note extra wood stored below stoves to add when needed.
Cleaned out ashs, I also added some bricks to the barrels stove to try and get better draft.
Note extra wood stored below stoves to add when needed.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Gotta love the front hitch on my 140. This is my spare building trailer so got put up next to car trailer for the high side board project
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Trailer loaded with sap will be boiling in the morning. Have 40 gallons and with having the sawmill castoff's to run in the stoves I want to try and get started at 7am or 6 even and be done by 2pm. plus with having the small wood to keep the stoves full I want to try and up the boiling off rate and poor the coals to it so to speak.
heck I'll probally sleep in till 8 and not even get the stoves lit till 9 but I can dream right!
heck I'll probally sleep in till 8 and not even get the stoves lit till 9 but I can dream right!
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Got started about 7.30am. 4 min in I had sap boiling. At noon I'm down to final 2 pans should be done by 1pm or 2
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
27 pints from 20 trees in 3 weeks of having trees tapped.
I may be done with sap for this year temps are prety warm and trees out in good sun have buds, My trees I tapped are in the woods and pretty shaded. They don't have buds as of friday afternoon I'll have to check them on Sunday and each day going foward.
I may be done with sap for this year temps are prety warm and trees out in good sun have buds, My trees I tapped are in the woods and pretty shaded. They don't have buds as of friday afternoon I'll have to check them on Sunday and each day going foward.
xtremek
Well-known member
Almost everything is budded around here.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
I need to check my trees tonight,
They was all still good on Saturday but its been warm the last few days so might be kinda iffy that is for sure.
They was all still good on Saturday but its been warm the last few days so might be kinda iffy that is for sure.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
So was out cutting wood last night and just did a video of my wood land trail back to the cutting deck.
My Dad pulled me up a bunch of Wood at the cutting deck and told me about this spot that will still need cleaning up.
This is about as far out as I go to pull back to the cutting deck. Most time it is alot closer as I have alot of wood to pick from to cut up. But this was a big tree down across the trail I was scouting out. Not what I pulled back but a different one that is across the ravine.
any way my simple youtube video of the trip back to cutting deck.
I just grabbed a little log to not waste the trip back.
If I have a bigger log need both hands for steering and such.
My Dad pulled me up a bunch of Wood at the cutting deck and told me about this spot that will still need cleaning up.
This is about as far out as I go to pull back to the cutting deck. Most time it is alot closer as I have alot of wood to pick from to cut up. But this was a big tree down across the trail I was scouting out. Not what I pulled back but a different one that is across the ravine.
any way my simple youtube video of the trip back to cutting deck.
I just grabbed a little log to not waste the trip back.
If I have a bigger log need both hands for steering and such.
OP
sublime68charger
Well-known member
Sap season has ended. Final tally was not as good as last year. Still got some syrup made.
xtremek
Well-known member
I wonder if it's because of the weird spring we're having.