sap sacks

[maplefarmer]

I have used sap sacks now for 4 yrs, this year I had to get a new box. They are lighter blue in color than previous [don't know if that matters] but seem to be not as good. Seems that they leak at the seams the first time they get sap in them, I changed out a few thinking that maybe they rubbed the tree in the wind or animals biting. after examining for bite holes don't see any and it seems while they are hanging on the spiles they are driping out from the seam. Anybody else having this problem, or know of other sap sack suppliers ? Not happy with the sap sacks anymore !!!!!!!

[huntingken111]

I too am using bags this year for first time. I thought it was just me and I was doing something wrong. They seem to leak right at corners I thoght it was ice causing this now I am not sure. I purchased mine from Anderson

[sbingham]

Several years ago I had the same issue, leaking at the corners.
Appeared that when they heat sealed the seam, it did not seal all the way across.
I returned them to the sales outlet with no questions asked, I wasn't the only one with problems.
I had several local guys insist that I must have had squirrel problems - wasn't the case.
In eight years of making syrup using bags, only had the one year with problems - overall I really like using them.

[PerryW]

I don't think I've ever seen one in use around here in NH? Given the price of buckets, I wonder why they never became popular in New England?

[newman_maple]

I order sacks from Uline to save money. I have used 8 mil bags (too thick and are a pain to put on) and 4 mil like the ones sold specifically for sap. This year, I had a dozen leaks or so with 100+ bags over the several weeks of collecting (from wind and ice). The bags are clear, but work fine.

[maplefarmer]

Huntingken111, I purchased my sap sacks from Dodd's, but still have the box and the sticker on it said Anderson's, just for curiosity if you still have your box, check the po number, mine is 1652, betting they are the same batch. It is too bad to buy these sacks that sound like cost more than sacks at uline, and find them leaking the first time they get some sap in them. I was trying to replace leakers but always had more leaking each day I went back to check. Seems like someone owes us our money back, and I'm going to get bags from uline next season, tired of what seems like overpaying for things from maple syrup suppliers, when there is other options out there !

[Cindee]

We had the same problem. We bought ours from Fleet Farm. We lost a lot of sap. I didn't look at who made them and customer service could have cared less. Now we won't use anything that doesn't come from a reputable maple supply company.

[jimmartin]

we have used bags for about 10 years . always have a bag now and then leak from critter bites. this year we have had to replace about 60-70 bags because of poor heat sealing . po1652 on the box. got them from maple supply in bellvue. 2 different woods and 2 different boxs of bags . box with 1652 leak other woods and different box no problems

[huntingken111]

Huntingken111, I purchased my sap sacks from Dodd's, but still have the box and the sticker on it said Anderson's, just for curiosity if you still have your box, check the po number, mine is 1652, betting they are the same batch. It is too bad to buy these sacks that sound like cost more than sacks at uline, and find them leaking the first time they get some sap in them. I was trying to replace leakers but always had more leaking each day I went back to check. Seems like someone owes us our money back, and I'm going to get bags from uline next season, tired of what seems like overpaying for things from maple syrup suppliers, when there is other options out there !
Maple farmer my also says uline on it but Po 1444 either way sounds fishy to me I will be calling Anderson tommorrow

[huntingken111]

Emailed Anderson about bags here is their response

Thank you for the email, this is the first we have heard of this problem. A common issue is squires or turkey’s and they will just leave small pin holes bits and they are normally in the corners. If this is the issue you can stop squires by putting duck tap on the bags so they bit the tape and not the bag, they don’t like the taste of the tape.



If you inspect the bags and find that it is an issue with the bag itself please let me know when you purchased them or at least your full name and I can track it back and talk to the manufacture about it. They are not made by ULINE, we use a local company and they have been making our bags for us for over 10 years now and are always very helpful if any problems arise. We have had some issues in the past but nothing in the last 3 years that I am aware of. Please let me know what you find, so we can take some action if needed.

[mnguy]

We had the same problem. We bought ours from Fleet Farm. We lost a lot of sap. I didn't look at who made them and customer service could have cared less. Now we won't use anything that doesn't come from a reputable maple supply company.

All the fleetfarms around me are selling bags they got from Anderson Maple.

[3 SISTERS]

We're having bag trouble, too. Some is seam splitting and some holes gnawed in bags by squirrels. Between the two we are kept busy replacing bags. Have lost lots of gallons of sap already.

Kirk Ort
3 Sisters Maple Syrup
Stratford, Wisconsin

[MapleMounder]

Glad I just found this thread, we too thought it was the ice and wind this year. We have done the "duck tape thing" for a couple ears so we were pretty sure it wasn't vermin. I bet we have replaced 60 to 70% of our sacks over the season. We had several today that we replaced yesterday that were already leaking. I don't know why I never thought of inferior bags.

[Troutman10]

Havent had many problems with the bags. They are delicate though. I like taking the ice out of my buckets. If I did the same thing with my sacks then I'd be replacing the bag every other time. They seem to wear down when I take the bag out of the holder. Might have to sell them and get just buckets. Sap sacks are nice b/c they take more sap than buckets.

[Daryl]

We have 275 saks and have replaced about half or more. This is the first year that we have had leaks but have used them for 3 or 4 years. The dealer gave us some replacements but they leak also.

[Vandy]

Happy to find this thread. First timer with 50 saks and 50 buckets. Am about to go to all buckets for the loss of sap I had...

[Ravenseye]

There was a guy downtown here last year that went with sacks for the first time. Talked to him near the end of the short season we had and he was red faced mad about the durability and said he was going back to buckets. We'll see in a few weeks. Got to say though that the buckets look nicer hanging off the tree but then again, I'm older now!

[WI Sugarpop]

We have used sap sacks for 10 years and replace about 10% each year. It's usually squirrels and wind with ice in bags. We tape the bottoms but then the critters bite up the sides. I like the bags because I hate washing buckets. We throw the used bags away each year. I'm certainly not washing them out. We get them from Maple Hollow and haven't had a problem with bad seams.

[adk1]

I have used some sacks for the past 3 years, not as many as you all but I have about 20 out. I always order 25 each year and have a few leftover. Mostly squirrels. I order my bags thought leader

[treeguy]

We buy are bags from Sugarbush in MI bought a case of 250 this year.. Last year about 150 or out and maybe replaced 5 or so from wind one from a squirrel. Love the bag as they hold lots of sap and get me in the game without the cost of buckets.

[Vandy]

On 50 bags I had to replace over 25. I would use the old bag over top to protect the new one. Wind damage would account for half my loss, but I did question and inspect many, many seams leaking... I got mine from CDL.

[adk1]

Maybe try a different brand? U using clear or blue?

[buckeye gold]

I buy mine from Sugar Bush supply in Michigan. They are the heavy blue ones and hold up well. I may replace 6-8 through a season out of 50. I have never noticed a leaking seam.

[DougM]

This is our 12th year using the bags. Up until now we have been really happy with them, usually only replacing a few each week even here in windy Indiana. But this year we've already gone through a case of 250, with only 150 taps out. Last weekend I replaced 40+ in one day, then 45 the next day, most of them the ones I had done the previous day. A few had critter damage, but most were as described above, leaking at the seam. Several also had a tiny slit just above the seam in one corner, like they had been damaged by the manufacturing equipment. The P.O. no. is 2411, lot no. is 86357-1-3056. Anyone else have this same PO or lot no., and having trouble with them?

Props to Mary at Sugar Bush for customer service, we called and she sent us out a new case. We're not a big customer, but we've been buying from Sugar Bush since right after we started, and they have always been great.