aws
03-01-2013, 10:10 AM
I purchased the Bosworth Guzzler food grade hand pump and 50' of food grade hose to transfer sap from my 65 gallon barrel in the woods up to another barrel in my truck, about a 12' vertical pump and 30 horizontal feet. I was really eager to get the pump a few weeks ago because I thought it would be a real pain to transfer sap bucket by bucket and I wanted something hand powered and easily transported. Here is a picture of the pump.
7090
The Good:
The pump seems to be very well made. Food grade silicon diaphragm and flapper valves, stainless steal nuts and bolts. Plastic housing, metal pump handle with rubber grip. The pump is pretty small at 11" long by 5" wide and 4.5" tall. I also ordered fifty feet of Rollerflex pvc 1" I.D. food grade hose for the pump. I was concerned that the hose would kink under suction, but this is not a problem at all. The hose is way tougher than I could have imagined and is still pretty flexible, no problems coiling it back up. My youngest son (6yrs) was able to self prime the pump and pump quite a few gallons, although it took all his strength. The pump certainly works great, but I would recommend firmly fastening it to something stable so that you can use all your effort on the pumping and not have to struggle to hold the pump still. Instructions state that with a check valve on the intake end of your hose you could get a max head of 24', after using it I believe this would be true.
The Bad:
I think the cost is reasonable for the quality of the product. Including shipping and the 50' of hose I paid about $200. That being said expenses do add up in the pursuit of maple.
Lastly and the most unfortunate thing is that it is way easier/more convenient for me to transfer the sap from one barrel to the other using two 5 gallon buckets. I can transfer 8 gallons per trip without spilling or straining myself in about 2 1/2 minutes. The pump may or may not be quicker, but I would still have to coil up the hose when I was done, and the buckets are just easier to store, take care of, and clean an the end of the season. So I won't be using it for sap transfer.
Oh well. Live and learn. I have been trying to decide weather I should hold onto it for some future purpose or get rid of it. Might end up on the classifieds this week. If anyone is interested or can recommend a better use for such a tool let me know.
7090
The Good:
The pump seems to be very well made. Food grade silicon diaphragm and flapper valves, stainless steal nuts and bolts. Plastic housing, metal pump handle with rubber grip. The pump is pretty small at 11" long by 5" wide and 4.5" tall. I also ordered fifty feet of Rollerflex pvc 1" I.D. food grade hose for the pump. I was concerned that the hose would kink under suction, but this is not a problem at all. The hose is way tougher than I could have imagined and is still pretty flexible, no problems coiling it back up. My youngest son (6yrs) was able to self prime the pump and pump quite a few gallons, although it took all his strength. The pump certainly works great, but I would recommend firmly fastening it to something stable so that you can use all your effort on the pumping and not have to struggle to hold the pump still. Instructions state that with a check valve on the intake end of your hose you could get a max head of 24', after using it I believe this would be true.
The Bad:
I think the cost is reasonable for the quality of the product. Including shipping and the 50' of hose I paid about $200. That being said expenses do add up in the pursuit of maple.
Lastly and the most unfortunate thing is that it is way easier/more convenient for me to transfer the sap from one barrel to the other using two 5 gallon buckets. I can transfer 8 gallons per trip without spilling or straining myself in about 2 1/2 minutes. The pump may or may not be quicker, but I would still have to coil up the hose when I was done, and the buckets are just easier to store, take care of, and clean an the end of the season. So I won't be using it for sap transfer.
Oh well. Live and learn. I have been trying to decide weather I should hold onto it for some future purpose or get rid of it. Might end up on the classifieds this week. If anyone is interested or can recommend a better use for such a tool let me know.