building a sap ladder

[Moshers Maples]

I need to lift about 6'. I'm using a six way star. My question is how long do I cut the 5/16 tubing?

[mapleack]

Install the bottom mainline with stars and the top mainline with stars, then see how long they need to be to reach. You want a little bit of slack so neither end overly stresses the 6 way star fittings.

[Moshers Maples]

Do you put a drain valve at the bottom of the ladder?

[Typical8]

No drain valve on the ladder lower line by the stars. Put drain valve at the end of the lower line. Then if you want to blow the line out just crack the valve and the sap is gone. This is a good thing to do right before the slush starts coming.

[mapleack]

Do you put a drain valve at the bottom of the ladder?

Yes I would put a valve at the downhill end of the bottom line, just past the stars. This will let you drain the line dry at the end of the season, etc.

[Snow Hill Farm]

As far as height, anyone know the limit? I'm in the process of installing the same thing, 25 taps on a 3/4" line and looks like the lift will be 8-10', will this work?

[ennismaple]

That should work as long as you've got enough vacuum. Rule of thumb is 1" Hg will lift sap 1 foot.

[Mountain Winds Farm]

We built 3- 2 pipe ladders in succession to lift about 16 feet, the first goes 8 feet up and runs to the second which rises about 6 feet which runs to the third which goes up about 6 feet ,which runs to the main line. It works great

[Beweller]

No. The rule is 1 inch of mercury will lift one foot of sap. It will lift it one foot, it will lift it 6 feet, it will lift it-- you pick a number.

The rule is not that one inch of mercury will lift sap one foot. Note the difference.