5 gallon buckets

[Dean Hale]

Just 2nd year tappin. Got a few questions.

Wondering where most people run their drops into buckets? Thought about doing them in the top of lid next to tree, then lean the bucket forward so the water runs off the front. Don't have my 5/16" tubing yet, (should be here today or tommorow) so I'm wondering what size hole to drill for the tubing? Flow started a few days ago. Could I also go out and pre-drill my holes?

Thanks for any help you can provide.


Newbie

[Haynes Forest Products]

Pre drilling tap holes is a bad idea. First you lose the best sap to the ground and then the hole is open to air and bacteria. Drilling a hole tales 5 seconds so you dont save time.

On the buckets I drilled the holes in the top so you can lift the lid with the tubing attached and dump the sap OR carry the full bucket to the dump station replacing it with an empty one. When you get the tubing drill the hole smaller than the outside diameter of the tube. Push the tubing into the top and pull 3" or so inside. The tubing is soft and will seal the hole making it waterproof. Dont tip the bucket to keep water or snow off it can fill and fall over. Flat is what you want.

I also cut most of the OUTER lid lip off (the part that holds the lid tight to the bucket) so I could snap it on the bucket but get it off quick and easy for dumping. 3 little areas will hold it tight and wind wont blow it away.

[skillet]

We use 5 gal buckets with tubing. We cut the tubing to about 3' lengths then set the bucket on the gound. Put the lid on and only snap down two or 3 sides. Then slide about 6"s of tubing under the lid. We try to keep sags out of the line but if one has a dip in it do not worry the sap will get pushed into the bucket. We have found that after you put the line in turn the bucket to put some tension on the line. The lid will hold the line in the bucket. We do not have any problems with water running into our buckets. We have about 75 5 gal buckets.

[Dean Hale]

Thanks guys.
Is there an easy way to cut the tabs off the buckets, or are you using the ordinary utility knife?

Thanks.

[skillet]

the buckets i buy do not have tabs on them.

[user587]

To make bucket lids into "easy-lids" I hand-marked 3 tabs to save (about 1-1.5" long each). Then the table saw was setup to do the "along-the-arc" cuts. I rolled the lid down onto the saw blade to cut at the marked line, then rotated it to cut up to the other marked tab location.

Then the (6) tab edges were cut on a bandsaw.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Both of these cuts have a tendency for the lid to grab which can be dangerous. For the table saw cuts, stand off to the other side of the fence so if/when a lid gets caught it does not get thrown into you. A fine toothed blade is better. Also when rolling the lid into the saw, it's a finger-remover waiting to happen if you're not careful. (yes, I still have 10 complete fingers)

Come to think of it, if you're not a table saw guy (I use my table saw extensively) then you may not want to try this.

I tried the utility knife for about 2 seconds and gave up. My wrists are trashed though, maybe it will work for you if you have fully functional wrists.

good luck...

[Haynes Forest Products]

I use a utility knife that is a screw together so the blade stays in. I also warm the bucket lids in hot water. Its also better to use the hook type carpet blades they wont gut you like a fish:o

[Dean Hale]

IMPORTANT NOTE: Both of these cuts have a tendency for the lid to grab which can be dangerous. For the table saw cuts, stand off to the other side of the fence so if/when a lid gets caught it does not get thrown into you. A fine toothed blade is better. Also when rolling the lid into the saw, it's a finger-remover waiting to happen if you're not careful. (yes, I still have 10 complete fingers)

Come to think of it, if you're not a table saw guy (I use my table saw extensively) then you may not want to try this.

I tried the utility knife for about 2 seconds and gave up. My wrists are trashed though, maybe it will work for you if you have fully functional wrists.

good luck...

I'm already down to 1 fused together finger on my left hand. Cut them off with a radial arm saw when I was a kid. Better use the knife method. lol

[jputney]

I drill a hole in the side of a plastic bucket with a hole saw. About a 1 1/2" hole and hang it right on a regular tap.

[bix]

i drill 7/16 hole in lid and v in bucket to dump out sap no need to remove lid works well for me

[jcr1709]

I need to hang most of my buckets since my sugar maples are on a slope and don't want to deal with keeping them level on the ground.

I originally collected alot of buckets we use in our restaurant that came with peeled potatoes in water. Pickle buckets are not good...always smell of vinegar/spices and I am sure that gets into the syrup when concentrated. They are heavy duty square, white, 4 gal. buckets with very tight fitting lids. I eventually got frustrated with them....they have ridges on their upper section that protrude out from the main bucket so it was very tricky to hang them on the spout, sometimes did not allow enough clearance. And, even with modifications, the lids were way too difficult to remove.

My solution is a little costly, but best for me since I plan on doing this a long time. I have 12 qt (3 gal) clear square lexan foodservice containers with high quality lids. I used a 1 1/4" hole saw to make a hole big enough to fit over my leader aluminum hookless 5/16" treesaver spouts. It hangs perfectly and the lids snap on tightly, but are easy to remove and replace even if very cold.

One of the best things is that since they are clear, I can see from the house or driving up the driveway if they are in need of dumping/storing. These buckets are sanitary, clean easily and stack compactly for storage.

I still use the square potato buckets for sap storage. this year we are blessed in that I can bury them in the huge snow banks left after digging out my boiling fireplace. Attached are a few photos from last years fun....my first year....although everybody said it was a bad year, I was still very happy with 3 gallons of finished syrup. This year will be better. I definitely don't mind all the leaf raking/mulching of the maple leaves since they give us so much pleasure with the syrup!

[buck3m]

I'm not saying not to. There's probably some good reason. But I just hang the 5 gallon bucket directly on the spout.

Here's some advantages to hanging on the spout from my current perspective:
Simpler: no extra tubing
Better on balance: no need to worry about setting the bucket on flat ground
Cheaper: No tubing to deal with
Faster: Seems like it, anyway, both in set-up and dumping sap.

I drill a 1 1/2"? hole near the top of the bucket and don't snap the tree side of the lid down. I leave the lid right on when pouring the sap out, and since it's only snapped on one side I can get at any ice in the bucket.

If there's a disadvantage compared to using the tubing to run to a single bucket, I've yet to see it. Weight of a full bucket hasn't been a problem. What am I missing?

[morningstarfarm]

in my mind..with the drops you can run several taps into one bucket and just swap them out with an empty one..I have about 100 old style buckets and they take me almost twice the time to do than my 5 gals with tubing. just my .02

[sap retreiver]

That's my strategy. smaller trees get the old buckets the bigger ones get the 5 gallon buckets with a y drop, 2 or 3 in one bucket. yes some are a pain to balance next to the tree but the hole in the lid ussually holds them, just leave the side with the hole up and no rain in your bucket or very minimal. Done this the last couple years with dump stations up in the bush and sha zam, we're off. Good luck, Brian

[wcproctor]

[B]NOOOOOO [B] please don't pre drill holes. The buckets, the best thing I do is drill the hole in the cover so when you go to collect you bring a empty bucket with a cover with no hole then swap buckets (on spilling). Go to you local Walmart and get empty buckets from the bakery. Good luck and HAVE FUN !!!!!!

[wcproctor]

in my mind..with the drops you can run several taps into one bucket and just swap them out with an empty one..I have about 100 old style buckets and they take me almost twice the time to do than my 5 gals with tubing. just my .02

I agree 100% with you!

[Dean Hale]

Thanks for all the replies.
Yes on the buckets. I get them from the local bakery for a buck a piece.

[RipTyd]

I also use 5gallon buckets and I take out the rubber seal ring in the lid , this makes it much easier to get lid on and off no matter how many tabs are on it. I also drill hole in lid for tube a bit small to give a good seal on tube . Have fun and happy sappin!!

[buck3m]

in my mind..with the drops you can run several taps into one bucket and just swap them out with an empty one..I have about 100 old style buckets and they take me almost twice the time to do than my 5 gals with tubing. just my .02

I can see that, if you consolidate several into one bucket. As they say, you can't argue with success!

[maple marc]

One thing I have learned--and am still learning about life--is that everyone must find a system that works for them. It's different for everyone. It's a function of our skills and beliefs (and the supplies and tools on hand). It's true for everything from relationships to sap buckets. The key is to experiment. My uncle, who is a scientist, taught me that an experiment never fails, because you always learn something.

So back to buckets.....the drop line system didn't work for me. With two buckets on a tree (the maximum recommended), two drops into one bucket often overfilled the bucket. And then you are left with cleaning the lines, and what about next year when you place the buckets at different heights?

What works for me is a simple 1" hole drilled into the side of the bucket near the top. Hangs on a 5/16" tap beautifully. Trim the rings off the bucket with a sawzall. Snap the lid down on the far side from the tap. In windy areas I make a tree belt from a section of innertube and baling twine. Goes around the tree and bucket.

Viva la difference!

[Mac_Muz]

I drill a hole in the side of a plastic bucket with a hole saw. About a 1 1/2" hole and hang it right on a regular tap.


Me too. I do it on the ridges of the bucket, and hit them with a 4 inch grinder so the ridges are gone getting the bucket closer to the tree.

I just smack the lid hard on the most down side, once and it stays unless there is a real blow.

Rain is no problem, other than no sap flows. :rolleyes: