Tmeeeh
01-18-2011, 01:07 PM
For the past 7 years we have had more or less the same group of people come help us tap. Usually we have up to four drills going. If there are extra people we make teams of two.. one with the drill the other tapping in.
Some we pay some volunteer. We spend time training each person and are in the woods directly supervising. The downside is the risk of a poor job tapping.. the upside is we get most of our trees tapped in two days.
Here is the first draft of a power point we will be using for training/refreshing this year. I hope it is useful to others as well. Also please feel free to comment for edits.
Seven Steps to High Yield
Maple Tree Tapping
For fun and an early end to Winter
Welcome to the Exciting Start
of the new Maple Season
•Maple syrup is made in the woods. It is only finished
in the sap house.
•A well designed, well maintained and properly tapped
pipeline and tubing system will yield up to four times
as much sap as a poorly designed and tapped system.
•A good careful job of tapping is really important to us.
Look at Each Tubing Line
Check the tubing line from the end tree to where it
enters the pipeline.
Look for fallen branches or holes in the tubing.
Remove snow if the tubing or pipeline is buried.
Check and adjust if needed so the tubing slopes
down to the pipeline.
Look at Each Tree Before
Tapping
We want to tap into newly grown white sap wood.
That’s where the sap will be.
Look for health and vigor in the branches, trunk and
bark.
Look for strong healthy bark on the trunk.
Avoid loose flaky bark, large scars, dead wood or areas
with fungus growth.
Notice the location of old tap holes. Look carefully.
Notice any cracks or splits in the tree trunk.
Select the Spot on the Tree
to Tap
DO: Tap into newly grown sapwood.
If it’s a really big tree and has two taps.. Put the taps on
opposite sides of the tree. Not next to each other.
DON’T:
Tap directly above or below old tap holes.
Within 6” on either side of old tap holes or cracks.
Tap into rotten wood or hollow part of the tree.
Drilling the Holes
Unplug the spout from the tee on the tubing and determine what
part of the tree the drop line will reach.
Select the spot to tap. Be sure the drop line can slope down to the
tubing. Don’t tap too low on the tree.
Drill straight and level into the tree.
Go about 1” into the sap wood or up to 1.5” including the bark
and cork-cambium.
Use a steady hand on the drill to be sure the hole is round so the
hole won’t leak around the spout.
2 Quick motions with the drill.. In and out.
You want to see white chips. Not dark colored chips.
Remove chips or bits of bark from the new hole if there are any.
Tapping in the Spout
Orient the “wings” on the spout adaptor so they are
horizontal. This makes it easier to pull them after the season.
Lightly tap in the spout adapter until the sound changes from
a hollow tapping to a solid thud and the hammer hits bounce
back.
Install the stubby spout being careful not to break the “fingers”
that hold the check valve ball inside the adaptor and tighten
with one or two more taps.
If the check valve ball fingers get broken… Use a new spout
adapter. The ball will plug the tubing if it gets inside.
Be sure the whole drop line slopes down to the tubing. NO “U
LOOPS
Final Check
Make sure all the tubing and drop lines slope down
hill.
If tubing or pipeline repairs are needed call
someone over to make the repair now. Or flag the
spot so we can find it and repair it later.
Thanks and Have Fun
This is a hopeful and exciting time of year for us
and an annual ritual initiating the first crop of the
new year.
Don’t rush we are looking for quality work.
Enjoy your visit with each tree.
We are glad you could join us.
Some we pay some volunteer. We spend time training each person and are in the woods directly supervising. The downside is the risk of a poor job tapping.. the upside is we get most of our trees tapped in two days.
Here is the first draft of a power point we will be using for training/refreshing this year. I hope it is useful to others as well. Also please feel free to comment for edits.
Seven Steps to High Yield
Maple Tree Tapping
For fun and an early end to Winter
Welcome to the Exciting Start
of the new Maple Season
•Maple syrup is made in the woods. It is only finished
in the sap house.
•A well designed, well maintained and properly tapped
pipeline and tubing system will yield up to four times
as much sap as a poorly designed and tapped system.
•A good careful job of tapping is really important to us.
Look at Each Tubing Line
Check the tubing line from the end tree to where it
enters the pipeline.
Look for fallen branches or holes in the tubing.
Remove snow if the tubing or pipeline is buried.
Check and adjust if needed so the tubing slopes
down to the pipeline.
Look at Each Tree Before
Tapping
We want to tap into newly grown white sap wood.
That’s where the sap will be.
Look for health and vigor in the branches, trunk and
bark.
Look for strong healthy bark on the trunk.
Avoid loose flaky bark, large scars, dead wood or areas
with fungus growth.
Notice the location of old tap holes. Look carefully.
Notice any cracks or splits in the tree trunk.
Select the Spot on the Tree
to Tap
DO: Tap into newly grown sapwood.
If it’s a really big tree and has two taps.. Put the taps on
opposite sides of the tree. Not next to each other.
DON’T:
Tap directly above or below old tap holes.
Within 6” on either side of old tap holes or cracks.
Tap into rotten wood or hollow part of the tree.
Drilling the Holes
Unplug the spout from the tee on the tubing and determine what
part of the tree the drop line will reach.
Select the spot to tap. Be sure the drop line can slope down to the
tubing. Don’t tap too low on the tree.
Drill straight and level into the tree.
Go about 1” into the sap wood or up to 1.5” including the bark
and cork-cambium.
Use a steady hand on the drill to be sure the hole is round so the
hole won’t leak around the spout.
2 Quick motions with the drill.. In and out.
You want to see white chips. Not dark colored chips.
Remove chips or bits of bark from the new hole if there are any.
Tapping in the Spout
Orient the “wings” on the spout adaptor so they are
horizontal. This makes it easier to pull them after the season.
Lightly tap in the spout adapter until the sound changes from
a hollow tapping to a solid thud and the hammer hits bounce
back.
Install the stubby spout being careful not to break the “fingers”
that hold the check valve ball inside the adaptor and tighten
with one or two more taps.
If the check valve ball fingers get broken… Use a new spout
adapter. The ball will plug the tubing if it gets inside.
Be sure the whole drop line slopes down to the tubing. NO “U
LOOPS
Final Check
Make sure all the tubing and drop lines slope down
hill.
If tubing or pipeline repairs are needed call
someone over to make the repair now. Or flag the
spot so we can find it and repair it later.
Thanks and Have Fun
This is a hopeful and exciting time of year for us
and an annual ritual initiating the first crop of the
new year.
Don’t rush we are looking for quality work.
Enjoy your visit with each tree.
We are glad you could join us.