Scrounging Firewood (and other stuff)

[1project2many]

Maple Syrup isn't that hard to produce with just a few buckets. But large scale operations require work, work, work. Hoses and tanks make it easier than the days of buckets but it can still be tough going. It takes a lot of heat and wood, too. I know a couple of guys that are experimenting with using vacuum to draw off most of the water then switching to heat for finishing. They tell me that vacuum alone doesn't produce a traditional tasting syrup.

If you tap a tree, pick a spot under a branch to tap. The flow is always higher. You can't necessarily judge sap volume by tree size. Some of the smaller trees can surprise you.

Nice score, Tjcole!

 

[MustangMike]

I know Black Birch works for syrup (with the Maple), but I don't know about the other Birch trees. I think the sap from it also runs stronger than Maple.

I shot a leaning Black Birch one time with a 44 cal black powder pistol and the sap came pouring out like you had opened a spigot.

Black Birch smells like wintergreen.

 

[olyman]

Now, back to scrounging!

Does anyone else ever drive by a roll off canister at a construction site and think "hmm. I wonder if there's anything good in there?"

all the time,,all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[olyman]

I was thinking the same thing. They're stored in an attic where there may be plenty of heat in summer to encourage fuel to evaporate.

evaporate?? how about the heat..forcing it right out the vent??? that would blast your house to the ground!!!!!!!

 

[mainewoods]

Maple syrup= 40 gal. sap makes 1 gal. syrup.
Birch syrup= 100 gal. sap makes 1 gal. syrup

 

[MustangMike]

That is a big difference Clint, can you use any Birch??? Are some better than others?

 

[1project2many]

Gives me a new appreciation for Birch Beer!

 

[Ambull01]

You guys are giving me some terrible flashbacks. Ex-wife loves pancakes and syrup. She used to get so freaking excited when you plop a plate of pancakes in front of her. Now I HATE pancakes and syrup. Here's to you steaming plate of hotcakes :****you:

Regarding scrounging, wasn't able to finish up the poplar yesterday. I'm about to just set the logs on fire.

 

[svk]

Maple syrup= 40 gal. sap makes 1 gal. syrup.
Birch syrup= 100 gal. sap makes 1 gal. syrup

I'm thinking red or silver maple would run along the same lines as the birch as I know their sugar content is much lower than sugar maple.

 

[SteveSS]

Now that you say it, I don't even know what kind of maple it is that I found. Guess I need to do some learnin' on Maple trees now.

 

[1project2many]

Folks up here tap Red and Sugar Maple. Silver = no-no. Not sure "abut" Norway. It's not uncommon to find it here.

 

[olyman]

Folks up here tap Red and Sugar Maple. Silver = no-no. Not sure "abut" Norway. It's not uncommon to find it here.

friend of mine,,in ne iowa,,said Norway maples work just fine. I got two in my front yard. one 36 dbh, the other 24....

 

[1project2many]

friend of mine,,in ne iowa,,said Norway maples work just fine. I got two in my front yard. one 36 dbh, the other 24....

Well, in that case... "I'd tap that."

 

[zogger]

friend of mine,,in ne iowa,,said Norway maples work just fine. I got two in my front yard. one 36 dbh, the other 24....

Be prepared to burn some dang wood boiling it down. Wonderful smelling, will humidify your house to dripping if you do it inside.

When I was doing it, I only made around two gallons a year, seemed to take about two cords to do it...My system wasn't the best, old spaghetti pot on top of the two burner box stove.

I loved drinking fresh just starting to warm up sap though, proly screwed with my ultimate syrup production a little

 

[mainewoods]

Paper birch is the sweetest of the birches, but they all can be tapped. Tried it once upon a time and it was sweet and spicy. Reminded me of a horehound couch drop.

 

[svk]

Now that you mention it, it does have a bit of medicinal/herbal taste to it.

 

[chucker]

the trick to remove the tart taste from birch sap, is a 1/3rd(be) to 2/3rds(b) mixture of box elder sap to birch sap!! box elder is a more dryer taste then the wet and wild birch.....

 

[dancan]

I had dreams of giving sugaring a try in the spring this year, but after searching out my little plot of land, I've found just one tiny maple tree. I thought about planting a few, but I'll likely be dead before they start producing enough flow to bother with. I might have a look around dad's place to see if there are any over there. I love real maple syrup.

Find the trees and go and make new friends LOL
To start to concentrate the sap you can freeze it , throw out the ice , the remains are a concentrate .
A friend of mine started last year for the first time , talking about building a sugar shack this summer for next years season , he says it's the best drinking game he's ever played when it's boiling time LOL

Here's the trap/sap boiler we made at the shop last year .

 

[SteveSS]

Curious.....since we've been talking about sugaring, everyone mentions wood fired. Is a propane fired turkey fryer set up not a good idea?

 

[SteveSS]

I do like that barrel set up though.