Installing laterals--beginner question

[lastwoodsman]

As you begin to install laterals to your mainline. Depending on the arrangment of trees, do you
1. just weave 5/16 around trees to mainline or

2. create a mini lateral mainline to your mainline and have brach 5/16 lines coming into 5/16?
Like the artieries and veins in a body.

3. This would be either gravity with many drops on a 5/16 line and also with vacuum with only 5 to 7 drops on a lateral.

In some cases I would see splicing and tying into 5/16 with 5/16 would create a more organized layout and use less tubing also allowing for straighter runs to the mainline.

Hope this makes sense when reading.
Woodsman

[DrTimPerkins]

We've had 6 different professional installers put in systems in our woods. We don't have a single "Y" in any of the systems (~2,800 taps).

[adk1]

If this is the case, then why does every single maple supply manufacturer even produce them

[red maples]

I Have 1 Y on my gravity lines to pick an extra 2 trees, but use no Y's on my vacuum system no need to when your just weave it. I try my best to not have angles greater than 90 but there are a few. I guess back in the day when they still used nails to hold up the T's they still make em even though "hopefully noone is using nails.

[spud]

They are made to help people that have made a mistake in setting up their woods. I made one mistake last week and had to use a Y or change a complete line. I have 5000 taps set up so far and only one Y in the woods. Now when i drive by that Y i ask myself oh Y oh Y did i make that mistake. :confused:

Spud

[peckfarm]

The only "y" in our woods eliminates an extra 100 ft of lateral line. That is in place due to the fact that we want to keep some woods trails open. They can be useful for purposes relating to roadside appearance and eliminating costly runs. As for all the professionals installing without "y's", do they not also sell maple tubing equipment? Any pro installer/dealer gets at least 10% over the cost of materials, of course they don't use a single "y".

[Thad Blaisdell]

Why the heck use a Y on a vacuum system...... unless of course you use it on your main line.... But anyway as far as laterals it makes no sense. With vacuum I try to only have 4 taps or less per line, if that is the case there is no room for a Y. If you are setting a woods up for maximum profit a Y will not be part of your inventory.

But if you want to use them go ahead you will help keep production down and I can tell you that people like me appreciate it, it helps keep the price up.

[lastwoodsman]

Good information--- everyone replies makes sense and as always it helps to hear how folks do it in their bush.
Woodsman

[markct]

i think the original purpose of the y fitting was for the end tree attachment, but now there are many better options to use for that as well, but that may be why they still have them available too

[adk1]

I will ahve to use a few I am sure do to being more cost effective. I cant see using up 50-60 feet of lateral line before getting to the first tap when I could install a Y off a line adjacent and only use 10' of lateral line before hitting the first tap.

[wkies]

I use a "y" at the end of each lateral to make a loop around the last tree. I got the idea for the tubing system Bascom uses.

[Ozy]

Save the tubing and use rope like a chinese finger for the loop, saves tubing and fitting no sap sitting in the loop also allows for tension adjustment.