Preparation
Obtain Equipment
It is important to obtain and prepare your basic equipment well in advance of the sap flow season.
Included
Tap/Tube Assembly
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The tap is attached to the maple tree, it allows the sap to flow through the tube into the collection container |
Bottle Lid – 2l
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Lids for standard 2 liter pop bottles with a hole to attach the tap/tube assembly |
Bottle Harness
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The string harness attaches the bottle to the tap |
Drill Bit 19/64
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Used to make a hole in tree that matches the diameter of the taps |
Wood Hammer
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Used to lightly hit the tap into the tree |
Required
Power Drill
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You will require a portable power drill or hand drill |
2 or 4 l Bottle
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2 liter pop bottles and 4liter milk jugs are excellent sap collection containers. |
Large Metal Pot
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A large metal pot or pan is required to boil you sap. |
Glass/Plastic Bottles
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You will require some plastic or glass containers to store the finished maple syrup. The container should be sterilized for long term storage. |
Optional – Cheese Cloth
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A cheese cloth or other filter cloth is used to filter the finished maple syrup. |
Optional – Medium Metal Pot
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A medium pot or pan that is used to finish of the boil-down, and reach the final syrup concentration. |
Optional – Large +10 littre Storage Container
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A large plastic or metal container can be used to store the maple sap until you have collected enough to boil it down. |
Select Trees
Most Varieties of maple trees produce sap that can produce syrup. The most commonly tapped trees are Sugar, Black and Red maple. This guide can be applied equally well to any variety of maple.
Location – Trees growing in the open, with large crowns will generally yield the most sap. Accessibility is another important factor. Sap will need to be collected 1-2 times daily, so it is very important that you can easily reach the trees.
Trunk Diameter
Prepare Boil-Down Equiptment
You should have a good idea of how you will boil your maple sap well in advance of the sap flow season. If you can’t boil down your sap you will be left with lots of maple sap. On a side note you can drink maple sap as a lightly flavored drink.
A common boil-down method is to use a large pot or pan over an open fire pit.
Virtually any heat source can be used that will bring the sap to a fast rolling boil.
Warning – Sap boil-down should be done outside or in a very well ventilated area, as excessive moisture is not good for your house.