Sap bucket sizes?

[jmcglasson]

Howdy there -

Last year I used about 20 of the 2-gallon aluminum sap buckets and liked them very well. I'm looking to buy more buckets for this year and am wondering if I should look for larger buckets than 2-gallon? I noticed the galvanized ones from Vermont are 4 gallon, this seems kind of big to me. I did have several runs last year that filled the buckets clear full with some overflow, but this was usually the exception and not the norm. Thoughts?

Jack McGlasson
Northern Kentucky farmer

[Ren]

My first thought is why are you paying for buckets? I would check out your local bakery or restaurants and see if they have any. They usually throw them in the garbage and will probably give them to you. The buckets I get are usually 3 or 4 gallon. I guess if you want galvanized you will have to buy them though. I like the larger size because it gives me a little more time between checking them. I have had a few runs where they were overflowing but not usually. I put the smaller 2 gallon buckets around the house so i can check them more often. So I would say go for the larger ones.

[tuckermtn]

Jack- I use a 16 quart bucket. Like the extra capacity. worth the extra time and effort IMHO

-E

[SeanD]

I use baker's buckets. Most of them are in the two-gallon size and I have a bunch of the five-gallon size. Most trees/taps don't overflow the two-gallon bucket, but for the few that do, I just swap out those for the larger bucket. It just gives me peace of mind if I have to work late and can't collect until after dark. I would say get the big buckets and then just use them where they are most needed.

Sean

[maplefrank]

use some 6-6 1/2 plastic buckets worth having the bigger size.....

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

At about 10 years old, I was taught to holler "jackpot" every time I found one of the 16 quart buckets overflowing. For fifty years the tradition has continued and I have hollered it an awful lot over the years. Unless you can gather all your buckets several times a day, you need the bigger ones.

[tuckermtn]

Doug- I like that tradition...have to start yelling that here in East Andover!

[jmcglasson]

Thanks all for the helpful input. I would like to use the 16 quart buckets or larger if I can find something affordable. Used aluminum 2-gallons seems to be the cheapest option, I can't afford a whole line of new galv. buckets. I don't mind the used buckets, they work fine for me, I'll see what I can get my hands on.

Jack