New tubing

[mountain man maple]

I'm putting up tubing and need to get as many taps as possible. Heres my problem one maple supplier tells me to run my mainline every 100' feet across slope and keep to the strive for 10 or less rule. While the other supplier tells me to try and get at least 25 taps per lateral which would require less mainline. This is a gravity system and will never be converted to vacuum. Don't have enough mainline to run every 100' but should have enough 5/16" tubing and other supplies to do 1000 taps.The slope is plenty steep enough to get more than 10 taps per lateral. So which way would produce more water on a gravity system?

[adk1]

If your "never" which I use that term loosely, going to install vac, run as many taps as possible on your lats. THe only way you will get natural vac is to have the lat full of sap. I ahve asked the same question many times, always get the same answer. more is better with no vac. Just need to make sure that there is no significant dip in your mainline where the sap will clog and not let any air back.

[mountain man maple]

Is there a time though where the lateral will be full and actually restrict flow of water from the trees?

[shane hickey]

Is there a time though where the lateral will be full and actually restrict flow of water from the trees?it shouldn't be a promblem because there will be a natural vacume. I wouldn't go over 25 though.

[wiam]

I'll bite. Why not put vac on 1000 taps? I would not drill 1 hole without vac.

[adk1]

that is the way I am leaning now. I only will have about 120-150 taps...an increase of 50% or better in sap quantity~

[half-full-buckets]

I had the same question as well for my first time tubing this season (and on gravity as well). My only other question is, do you leave the top end of your mainline open to allow flow, or cap it?

[wiam]

I had the same question as well for my first time tubing this season (and on gravity as well). My only other question is, do you leave the top end of your mainline open to allow flow, or cap it?

close end.

[adk1]

Close the end for sure if you want any kind of vac on gravity

[maple flats]

Lay it out for gravity with 20-25 taps per lateral. When you change your mind and decide to add vacuum you can just put in 2 or 3 more intersecting mains and redo the laterals by cutting the laterals where they intersect the new mains and connect them. Then go downhill to the next tap on that lateral and make it an end ring or other method of ending your laterals. I have done this and it works well.

[maple flats]

Vacuum will double production when you get ready, and it helps level out the ups and downs in seasonal totals.

[lastwoodsman]

adk1
I am following your thread with great interest as I am thinking of the same thing myself this coming spring.
Are you expecting to have it all run to your shack or a few pickup points?

I would like to run a couple of lines to 50 gallon barrels to reduce the need for more bags and reduce the running from tree to tree. I am in that evolutionary process as well.

So am I correct in thinking that a 500 foot roll of 5/16 to a barrel with how many taps> Or would you run a 500 foot roll of 12'' mainline to a barrel and run 5/16 to it the 1/2" mainline?
All gravity fed at this point.
Any feed back from anyone would be helpful. This is a little like a black hole for me right now.

Woodsman

[maple flats]

Go to 3/4 mainline and you get far more choices of fittings you can use. 1/2" fittings are very limited.

[maple flats]

Or would you run a 500 foot roll of 12'' mainline to a barrel and run 5/16 to it...
Woodsman[/QUOTE]

Now 12" main is bigger than I've ever seen. It must be a bear to hang!

[lastwoodsman]

Ya but you should see the sap run though it!!

If my belly would fit in it I could use it for a water slide.

Guess I forgot the / that would be 1/2 inch.
Good point on the 3/4 inch I would not have known that.
Woodsman

[half-full-buckets]

Go to 3/4 mainline and you get far more choices of fittings you can use. 1/2" fittings are very limited.

I discovered the same thing about 1/2" mainline. Unfortunately it was after I had purchased 300 feet of it. Oh well, I'll just have to make it work.

[lastwoodsman]

gravity for spring:
Ok, I ordered 500 foot of 5/16 and 60 clear disposable taps from Roths.

Of course my ADD brain will now sit and contemplate before spring to maybe buy some 3/4 inch for mainline as well. Why stop spending now.

I have listened to webinars and read everything I can now I need to find someone locally I can go to see how they hook this tinkertoy set up.
Once I hit the woods, I am going to look like cat with a ball of yarn before I am done.

I can see this growing fast--checkbook headed for the red!!

Woodsman

[adk1]

If you ahvent purcahsed the NAMP manual do that. second, seach on here, hundreds of good posts. third, get in the woods and get it done before the snow flys. that is my plan.

[lastwoodsman]

Good point --I have done all that other than the manual. I too am planning on getting it up before the snow flies too deep.


Woodsman