What's more important-High vacuum or high cfm levels?

[Bruce L]

I realize in a perfect set-up you take the two at the same time,but on a limited budget and a small operation,which would you say is more important in choosing a pump?

[DrTimPerkins]

It is the difference in vacuum level that creates the conditions causing sap to flow out of the tree into the tubing. However, given your tubing installation and level of management (leak checking and fixing), the ability to remove CFM is what results in the high vacuum level. If you have a well installed and maintained system, and are extremely good at patrolling the woods for leaks, then a smaller pump will work. If not, you can, to a certain extent, overcome small leaks with a larger vacuum pump.

[Sunday Rock Maple]

A lot depends on your specific conditions. Leader reccomended we go with 60 cfm when 30 might have been enough. They based this on a fairly flat grade, more main line than normal for our number of taps and that we have a few sap ladders. We did that (cost us about $3 per tap) and looking back at it after the season, I'd say it was the big factor that enabled all the other factors to do their job well.

[yards1520]

Sunday Rock Maple, what was your situation? how many taps did you have on that 60cfm pump and how long were your main lines? Did you ever check in the far part of the woods to see what kind of vacuum you were getting way out there?

[Sunday Rock Maple]

2,400 taps on 44 very flat acres acres with about 23,000 feet of main and 50,000 feet of lats. 1,000 CV'sinto a dual Bernard at the shanty and 1,400 CV's into a dual Bernard 1,400 feet away and 18' below that we tranfered vacuum there on a 1 1/2" line and pumped back on a seperate dedicated line. We used 1" minimum and about half was wet/ dry (with 1 1/4" dry) and the rest will be next year --- ran out of time this year. Had 26" at the pump (5 hp 60 cfm flood with cooler) and at the farthest trees with the exception of those on dual pipe sap ladders where we had 19" and so we'd like to replace them with reverse releasers or lifts. Bottom line is that the bigger pump was the hardest decision to make but the one we were most pleased with.