Running tubing...please read and reply GAME kinda !!!

[TerryEspo]

Hello Everyone :

I will try and explain this question.

Suppose you have 16 trees to tap. It may be easier to get a piece of paper. Four across and four down. Lets call the first tree number 1 and the last bottom tree would be number 16.

1,2,3 and 4 are the highest trees, on the top of a ridge. Trees 5,6,7 and 8 are the next row and a bit lower than 1,2,3,4. The collection barrel would be at tree 16 at the lowest part of the ridge.

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 -BARREL HERE


How would you run your lines for max. efficiency ?

I ask this cause I have a similar situation to deal with when it stops snowing. Full on winter here in Northern Ontario.

Thank-you.

Terry

[spencer11]

i would run a 5/16" mainline down along trees 4, 8, 12, 16 and then have side lines run into that line, and have the mainline run into your barrel.........and then add the vacuum to make it more efficent :D

[Thad Blaisdell]

no no no.... mainline 3/4 along the bottom row, and the 5/16 DOWN the hill (always down the hill) into the mainline, so taps at 1,5,9,13--2,6,10,14 etc. this would be for vacuum of course. gravity I would probably do lines, 1,2,6,5,9,13,14,15, then 3,4,8,7,10,11,12,16.

[DrTimPerkins]

I agree with Thad. 5/16" line should (almost always) run down the hill.

[West Mountain Maple]

I say one line of 5/16 starting at 4,3,2,1,5,6,7,8,12,11,10,9,13,14,15,16, to barrel, keeping pitch along the way. put the barrel even lower if you can and have a length of tubing downhill with no taps before the bucket and you may get some natural vac, whats, the overall drop?

[TerryEspo]

All I have is 5/16 tubing.

I have no electrical vac system at all so I hope to get natural vac if possible. If i did,,,4,3,2,1,5,6,7,8,12,11,10,9,13,14,15,16 into the barrel would that give the most natural vac ?

Or would two lines emptying into barrel be better? Meaning 8 trees on one line and 8 other trees on another line, both lines empty into the barrel.

Looking at the advice here,,,, How is this plan? .....Place the collection barrel between 14 and 15. Run one line 1,2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13,14. Then do the other side the same. Both lines would have great slope.

I guess I am wondering if more drops and taps one a single line is better or better to split them up if trying to get natural vac??

Thanks again for all input.

Terry

[maple flats]

If you can get a good drop, do as one run. The suggestion of having the barrel a ways below the lowest tree is to help get more natural vacuum. This will only work good if the drop is good, the steeper the better for natural vacuum. Without the extra from the lowest tree to the barrel, you will have little or no vacuum at the low trees, you might even have a positive pressure. To know this, after tapping just pull the last tap when the sap is running. Hold the tap at the elevation it will be in the tree. If sap flows out the tap and not down to the barrel, you have pressure, not vacuum.