Making Drop Lines

[Shaun]

When making drop lines at the house, I was wondering if people are attaching the TEE's before going to the feild. I made some up last night and was debating if the tees are best done in the feild or on my living room floor?

[Farmboy]

I have always done them in the house. Would you rather work inside where it's 70 or outside where it's 20? That's why I usully do them in the house.

[adk1]

I have made up 204 drops...24", 30" and some 36" and grouped them together in groups of 12 and rubber banded them. I installed the spouts and the t's..definatly install both!

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Include the T's. When you erect your lateral lines, run them from your end tree to the main line and tighten with a slip hook connector. Then go back and at each tree, using your 2 handed tubing tool, grip the lateral line, cut it and insert the T of the drop line. I actually purchase my drop lines all made up. I don't have the time to make up several thousand and the cost difference over buying the spouts, T's and line is very small.

[Dill]

I make them with the tees, that way you only need to cut and splice them into the lateral which is why 2 handed tools were created.
Also I make them in bundles of 10 and hook the stubbies to the tees to make loops then use 1 to hold the bundle together.

[adk1]

nice tip, I will do that too.

[red maples]

I guess I am backwards....I think its 6 in one 1/2 dox the other. I install my Tees on the lats first. It puts in another walk around the lines but then I usually make the same number of drops as Tee installed then I don't miss any trees. then once the snow is melted I usually find 3 or 4 drops that I dropped anyway!!!

[ennismaple]

Put them in at home! I'll do mine in front of the TV with a BEvERage in arm's reach - you can't do that while installing the tees separately in the field! Plus, you're more likely to lose individual tees than entire droplines.

[Dill]

Exactly, I can make them quick enough in front of woodstove watching tv.

[wiam]

I find it much easier to make the dropline/tee connection when the tee is not tight to a tree.

[farmall h]

I make them up sitting in the recliner, watching tv. Bugs the wife!

[ClarkFarmMapleSyrup]

I make them mostly in the house, unless i need a real long one in the woods or for some other reason have to wait until im in the woods. I dont have a tool, YET, so ill use a little hot water to get the fittings on tight, but then let them get cold so they will get tight to the fitting.

[Sunday Rock Maple]

In the house, we just did a few hundred last night. Also, we dip the end of the "T" in water just before putting it on -- seems to help a lot.