Time to tap?

[Maplehead]

I recently bought a W. F. Mason pan and am dying to use it. It's got to be one of the sturdiest, best made pans out there.

Anyways, How many days do most of you wait once the weather is proper before tapping? Do you wait a week of warm days for things to "thaw out" or what?

[brookledge]

The best bet is to watch the weather forecast and tap just before you start to get days in the upper 30s or low 40s. Especially if you can tap in one day. When you tap thousands then you need to start earlier so that the taps will be in when it begins to run
After all the cold weather it will take a few days of warm weather to get the sap flowing
Keith

[taken]

I just looked at the weather for this week. After tonight it seems every day will be in the 40's. Who is getting itchy in MA besides me?

[hard maple]

I think I'll wait till next weekend to tap.

[brookledge]

taken
Maybe for your location but for me it doesn't look promissing this week. I may start tapping but I don't expect any runs.
Keith

[taken]

I'll probably hold off until next weekend.

[mapleman3]

I'm holding until at least the weekend, most likely Sunday or later... I'm not ready yet!!! Still working on my hood.

[hard maple]

Hood???? what other goodies are you adding this year???

[Maplehead]

Why are you guys delaying?

The reason why I posted this question was because I was told by another sugarer that once the season starts, meaning the warm day weather arrives, sugarers normally wait a week before tapping. (Obviously, the huge operations have different needs and times to tap, like the day after Xmas).
So, is there any scientific reason to wait? Do the trees need a little thawing before the drilling? Does it take a few days of warm weather to get the flow going?

Otherwise, I was thinking of tapping tomorrow.

[mikek101]

Maplehead I agree with you. I've only been doing this for a few years, but when I saw that forcast yesterday I decided I would start tapping today. The week looks to be great. I'll let you know how much I get.

[mapleman3]

I'm only making a hood and preheater for this year... more taps too, maybe another 20+ thats all..... That and the new pickuptruck tank.

as far as tapping I do wait a bit, the trees are still frozen, so tapping them can split if you are using metal bucket spiles.. but plastic shouldn't urt them.

[mikek101]

Set 100 taps today, every single tap started flowing as soon as I drilled :)

[taken]

Tomorrow morning I start. That sunshine out there today is just calling me.

[Russ008]

I put out 15 test buckets tuesday, started running some today. I going to put more out, if it rains on sunday or monday I would expect some sap flow.

[mapleman3]

looks like sunday/monday for me... I should be close to ready. I still have to pick up some stuff Sat morn. the past few days were a tease, I think the good sap weather isn't for another week... but I will still tap this sunday.

[saphead]

I noticed that a 2000 tap bush, a couple miles from me in Shelburne, got tapped this week. It's all southern exposure and is an early bush,last year he tapped too early,hopefuuly this year he's right on.

[PrimitiveOperation]

I set out one hundred taps between the last two days and I've collected more than I really expected. Last weather report I saw looked like some sugar'en was on the way.

Good luck everyone!!!

[taken]

I put out my meager 65 taps Thursday before the snowfall. All had a half gallon by nightfall. I went 100% sugar maple this year so hopefully my ratio is better than last. It's too cold for much today and yesterday, but tomorrow looks like a promising start.