Newbie on tubing...

[smokeyamber]

Ok I have just a few trees and was planning on setting up a few dump stations feeding a single mainline that would run right to my shack. I have a steep hillside so I figured saving the hiking in snowshoes would be nice, but I will still keep the buckets for now.

Is anyone doing this kind of setup ? I was thinking 3/4 mainline with T's with a hanging bucket plumbed on the bottom ? So I would dump my tree buckets into them. Since it's just me doing the collecting most times I figure it would drain out fast enough before I got there with more ...

Is there a good manual for installing tubing ? I have searched the site and found some excellent information, but a manual would be awesome. Stuff like running the wire , tying the tubing etc, tools needed for such a basic setup as well.

Plan on setting this up this fall so I have one less thing to worry about, of course have to drag the sugashack to the new collection location too... that should be FUN !

[western mainer]

http://www.mapleguys.com/index.php?item=220&ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleguys.com%2Findex.php%3Fp age%3D1%26category%3D17

I have this book.
Brian

[ClarkFarmMapleSyrup]

Okay, I also have a halfpintevaporator set up, and had around 20taps last season, and I hada few trees going into 5 gal. Buckets. I'm going to all tubing with 15gal. or 30gal. sap tanks for the lines to go to. How many taps are you planningon, and how many different lines are you planning on having?
If your having 30 taps, I'd run 1/2 or 3/4 inch mainline down to one collection point, IF your trees are close together, and they can be reached with out having to extend your laterals aways. I'll probably put a 100 ft lateral up for about 15 trees, but I wouldn't put more than 10-15 taps on a normal 5/16 size lateral.
Hope this gives you some good ideas!... :D

[adk1]

http://www.mapleguys.com/index.php?item=220&ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleguys.com%2Findex.php%3Fp age%3D1%26category%3D17

I have this book.
Brian

I just might have to get that book. I think I hae memorized the NAMPM now....:o

[smokeyamber]

On the Hill I have around 25 taps, It looks like I may have 3 lines, longest is the main one and it will be around 200ft. Shortest is around 30 ft. Most of my trees are up high so one dump location would be high and another about 1/2 way down would be t-'ed in. Another line would be for my lower taps and may go to a different collection barrell ( I use 60 gallon barrels ( food grade)) Main questions are on the running of the lines. Someday I will do like ClarksFarm and go all tubing, but for now I don't mind the hike to empty. Love the sound of plincking buckets as well as I still have some small sap haulers who like to check the buckets, but not carry the 5gallon pails down a steep hill.

WesternMainer I will will check out the book, thanks !

[Sugarmaker]

Hi,
We run short run gravity tubing system on as many as 20 taps on each run. About 550 to 600 taps total. We just use 5/16 tubing and have a tightening system developed for each end so the line is self supporting. Then empties into containers that hold 35 to 40 gallon each.
I may have some pictures on here some where. Or you might check some of the pictures on our site.
For the number of taps your talking about you may not need a mainline system unless you plan to expand into other areas farther away. The spacing of the trees is also important to minimize sagging between trees.
Hope this helps a little
Regards,
Chris

[smokeyamber]

Thanks for the info Sugarmaker, nice looking operation you have. Since I am using the lines to move sap that I will be dumping into a collection bucket connected to them do you think the 5/16 will drain fast enough ? I like not having to run wire if it's possible. Guess I need that book...

[Brent]

http://www.mapleguys.com/index.php?item=220&ret=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mapleguys.com%2Findex.php%3Fp age%3D1%26category%3D17

I have this book.
Brian


jeeesh $ 24 bucks for 86 pages. That's more than double the cost per
page of Gray's Anatomy !

[Sugarmaker]

Thanks for the info Sugarmaker, nice looking operation you have. Since I am using the lines to move sap that I will be dumping into a collection bucket connected to them do you think the 5/16 will drain fast enough ? I like not having to run wire if it's possible. Guess I need that book...


All I run is 5/16 it works fine for my set up but each group of trees has there own needs. A full line of 5/16 runs a lot of sap:)
Regards,
Chris
Chris

[sap retreiver]

Hey smokey,
I have about 75 buckets on a big side hill and I use the dump stations. 5 gallon buckets with hose connections at the bottom. with 5/8 garden hose it takes about a minute to drain, so by the time you go get a couple more 5 gallon buckets of sap its all long gone down the hose. I do have a bigger dump station that two others T into, 15 gal, then its down to the truck. I know i should just tube everything but its not my land and dont know when i'll loose it. Been doing this 3 or 4 years now and the only thing I can complain about is me forgetting to close the tank in the truck!
Good luck, Brian

[GeneralStark]

I have about 50-75 taps on buckets in addition to my vacuum tubing that I use 3/4" and 1" 100 PSI poly pipe to drain 5 gallon bucket dump stations that have bulkhead fittings in the bottom of the bucket threaded to T's in the water pipe.

I have 3/4" inch branch lines that Y to a 1" mainline. It lays on the ground in steep sections and is on wire in flatter sections. I have occasionally had freeze issues if I collect late in the day with a dropping temp. but it usually thaws. Sine I went to a 1" mainline it seems like less of a problem.

With good slope this system will work well, but little to moderate slope could be tough.

[smokeyamber]

Sounds like I don't have to wire up the 3/4 tubing, I like that and good to hear it works for others. I will pickup the 3/4 size and give it a try. The lines will head all way to the shack so if I leave the storage tank open I will have a nasty surprise when I get down there ! I see the Leader blue stuff is reasonablely priced any reason to go with it over the plack pipe ?

Looking forward to another great season !

[adk1]

I have 3/4" mainline and I am using wire. I dont see how you cant

[smokeyamber]

Sounds like with a steep slope, which I have it is not needed. Heck the dumps with garden hoses ( food grade;)) would work for me if the run down the hill wasn't so far. I like this also cause I can run it just before I tap and take it in at seasons end. I am willing to try it this season, worst case I just haul buckets like I have been doing :lol:

[red maples]

I have seen 1 set up in VT without wire but around a few trees near the road I noticed that the tubing was flattened out a little it was kind of a sharper angle. I would have went with the wire but thats just me!!! If it works for you do it!!!

[xyz5150]

smokeyamber

Sounds like with a steep slope, which I have it is not needed. Heck the dumps with garden hoses ( food grade) would work for me if the run down the hill wasn't so far. I like this also cause I can run it just before I tap and take it in at seasons end. I am willing to try it this season, worst case I just haul buckets like I have been doing

Are you talking about suspending it without wire or just laying it on the ground?

[smokeyamber]

Running it on the ground with short t's to hanging dump buckets. My slope is steep, but I could tie up sections that have major dips, but if I walk the line down after collecting and lift it as I go I figure it will be empty each time to prevent freezing in the low spots. Very low-tech, but this is only 30 taps so stringing wire seems like overkill.:D

Does the Leader blue 3/4 lay straight or does it want to curl back up into a roll? I could use black water pipe as well if it lay reasonably flat and straight.