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Tapping maples for sap?
TRACY:
Appreciate all the advice. It seems like a lot of work, but I wouldn't build my own bows and arrows if it was easy ELD;D I did manage to use some rivercane sections and give them a little more taper to use as spiles and it seems to work fine. Funny you mention the moths IP. One tap was not a good fit and replaced it with one that was and the sap that ran during this time attracted a small tan moth, 20 or so around the spilled sap. I used a flashlight to finish up and their eyes were glowing red and all I could think about was the movie Mothman Prophecies, creepy. :o I did find someone that carries spiles in my area and will check it out. Thanks again!
Tracy
jaybird:
You cant beat homemade syrup we used to boil it on top of the old wood stove it took a long time but was well worth the wait
chigger:
--- Quote from: TRACY F on February 18, 2009, 03:22:26 pm ---Appreciate all the advice. It seems like a lot of work, but I wouldn't build my own bows and arrows if it was easy ELD;D I did manage to use some rivercane sections and give them a little more taper to use as spiles and it seems to work fine. Funny you mention the moths IP. One tap was not a good fit and replaced it with one that was and the sap that ran during this time attracted a small tan moth, 20 or so around the spilled sap. I used a flashlight to finish up and their eyes were glowing red and all I could think about was the movie Mothman Prophecies, creepy. :o I did find someone that carries spiles in my area and will check it out. Thanks again!
Tracy
--- End quote ---
Tracy I just got done making two and a half gal.its a lot of work but its worth it I'll probably try for two or three more gal. next week. I got a bunch of five gal.buckets at a school that had dish detergent in them ,rinsed them good and cut me off some old golf club shafts about eight long,drill 3/8 inch hole slanted upward 2to3 in.deep in tree ,golf clubs fit tight,tap in with hammer drilled 1/2 hole in side of bucket stuck shaft in hole ..no bugs, leaves just clean sap,I've got a pan six in.deep 2ft wide 4ft long,iIboil it down and keep adding sap.. put in candy thermometer when it gets 219 degrees its syrup.
TRACY:
Sounds like it's definitely worth it and I'm not too far in the rough. That's about the best use of a golf club for me ;D. Hope to be boiling down sap this weekend. Thank you!
Tracy
chigger:
--- Quote from: TRACY F on February 19, 2009, 10:28:14 am ---Sounds like it's definitely worth it and I'm not too far in the rough. That's about the best use of a golf club for me ;D. Hope to be boiling down sap this weekend. Thank you!
Tracy
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Srarted tapping trees today sap was running good ,if it keeps up I should have 100 gal by Monday and will start cooking,keep us posted...
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