Tree sap gathering and syrup making

[duluthralphie]

You are one handy and knowledgeable guy . I do not impress easily but I am impressed .

Jerry, I think we have a lot in common, we try to learn all we can about everything we can.

 

[duluthralphie]

Here is a partial view of the stuff I got.

The brown is niter and not rust from what I can see.

 

[mowin]

Those are Leader pans.
Use water and white vinegar to remove the niter.

 

[duluthralphie]

Those are Leader pans.
Use water and white vinegar to remove the niter.

They are, but I looked closer last night, they appear to have lead solder. So I am going to re-solder them. I will just do the areas that come in contact with the sap.

I won’t do the flue pan as I have no intention of using it.

It actually won’t be that much soldering as it’s just the corners and the dividers.

I use citric acid on niter. However, I use vinegar to rinse my RO, just before I rinse it with lye.

Also I will change the couple brass fittings to stainless, I am not sure I have to, but I am told Birch syrup is quite acidic and could corrode them.

I plan on more birch than maple next year.

I have 500 birch trees at my cabin. I plan to figure out some kind of pumping or vacuum line where I can move sap and not put vacuum to the trees.

Studies show vacuum hinders Birch sap production. Where it increases Maple sap, so strange.

 

[mowin]

They are, but I looked closer last night, they appear to have lead solder. So I am going to re-solder them. I will just do the areas that come in contact with the sap.

I won’t do the flue pan as I have no intention of using it.

It actually won’t be that much soldering as it’s just the corners and the dividers.

I use citric acid on niter. However, I use vinegar to rinse my RO, just before I rinse it with lye.

I'd test them first. Our flue pan is lead solder, but tested out very low for lead. Our syrup pan is new SS welded.

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh and 19 degrees right now headed to 45.

After two days below freezing I might get banner sap today. The buds froze off. So we are starting over. If I am real lucky it will be butter syrup.

Unfortunately, I pulled some taps last week.

 

[duluthralphie]

I'd test them first. Our flue pan is lead solder, but tested out very low for lead. Our syrup pan is new SS welded.

Where did you get them tested?

 

[duluthralphie]

Do you let the sap sit in the flue?

 

[mowin]

Were about done for the yr. Just have to boil down the sweet in the pans. I'll be pulling the taps this weekend.

 

[mowin]

Where did you get them tested?

I'll have to ask the previous owner. He had them tested a few yrs ago.