Head tank sight tube with ball

[kiteflyingeek]

I'm getting ready to put everything together but I have a question on the idea to put a red ball in the sight tube on the head tank. I like the idea to make it easier to spot the level. What should I use for the ball?

Obviously, it has to meet a few criteria:
1. Less than 1/2" hose diameter
2. Food safe
3. Red in color
4. Easy to find
5. Less than $3 (a guy can hope, right?)

So, what do all of you use?

--andrew

[Indiana-Jones]

I used the smallest fishing bobber I could find, cut in half. It was styrofoam, and sometimes stuck to the tube. Sap gets sticky. Now we just look at the level in the tube.

[kiteflyingeek]

Is it a clear sight tube? I ended up with fiber reinforced 1/2" hose so I'm not sure how easy it will be to see through. I thought I was ordering clear :rolleyes:

--andrew

[lpakiz]

A small light behind the sight tube will make the level easier to see.

[lakeview maple]

I bought some clear 3/4 inch hose from TSC and where the drain was on my head tank I put in a 90 degree elbow ,then a short piece of hose then a T fitting to a ball valve. On the top of the T I connected the 3/4 clear plastic I wire tied it to a piece of aluminum to keep it upright .I tried the bobber and it just got stuck in the pipe ,I see through it fine and I cut the tube about 1" from the top of the tank. The ball valve is there so I can shut off the head tank at night in case my float box leaks by and I don't want flood my pans. Hope it helps ,Al

[Big_Eddy]

A small piece of maple about 1/2 the inside diameter of the hose.

[adk1]

I still dont even know how to make up a sight tube

[adk1]

I bought some clear 3/4 inch hose from TSC and where the drain was on my head tank I put in a 90 degree elbow ,then a short piece of hose then a T fitting to a ball valve. On the top of the T I connected the 3/4 clear plastic I wire tied it to a piece of aluminum to keep it upright .I tried the bobber and it just got stuck in the pipe ,I see through it fine and I cut the tube about 1" from the top of the tank. The ball valve is there so I can shut off the head tank at night in case my float box leaks by and I don't want flood my pans. Hope it helps ,Al

any pics of this lvm?

[maple flats]

I have a tee just inside the sugarhouse, the sap feed to the evaporator goes in one side and out the other, the third side points up, and has a barb fitting with a piece of clear vinyl tube that goes up above the feed tank and loops down into the feed tank. I use a 3/8" ID tube and can see the level clearly. The second season it clouds some and the 3rd season I replace the tube.

[Russell Lampron]

I have a tee just inside the sugarhouse, the sap feed to the evaporator goes in one side and out the other, the third side points up, and has a barb fitting with a piece of clear vinyl tube that goes up above the feed tank and loops down into the feed tank. I use a 3/8" ID tube and can see the level clearly. The second season it clouds some and the 3rd season I replace the tube.

I did the same using a 3/4" clear tube. My tank is outside and I put a tee just inside the sugar house wall with the tube running up the wall. I marked the wall to indicate where the top of the tank is and where the bottom is. I also put an oh #### line so I know when to stop firing.

[adk1]

Anyone have a pic to post?

[Sugarmaker]

I have the wall next to the tubing marked with a SF = stop firing when it gets to about 60-70 gallons in the head tank.

ADK1, you might google "sight tubes" or check McMaster Carr web for them to get an idea.
Basicly just tee off the line coming off the head tank where you can see it. Run/support clear tubing vertical to above the top of the head tank. Watch the sap level in the clear tubing as the tank is filled or drained.
Regards,
Chris

[Hop Kiln Road]

8414


I have the tank shut off before the gauge Tee in minimize freezing.

[maple flats]

I stop firing at 20 gal in the head tank, with 8% concentrate I run out of sap as the boil quits (I have AOF). Before I had the RO and AOF I stopped firing at 15 gal. My 3x8 does well on that. My pans are maybe at 1/2" in the morning where they were at 3/4" when shut down.

[bill m]

[QUOTE=Russell Lampron;235242]I did the same using a 3/4" clear tube. My tank is outside and I put a tee just inside the sugar house wall with the tube running up the wall. I marked the wall to indicate where the top of the tank is and where the bottom is. I also put an oh #### line so I know when to stop firing.[/QUOTE
Get a board about 3 inches wide and as long as your site tube and paint it white ( I used a white piece of corian ). Now paint a red stripe about 1/4 inch wide up the middle and install it on the wall behind the site tube. Liquid in the tube will magnify the red stripe and make it easier to see the sap level.

[adk1]

8414


i have the tank shut off before the gauge tee in minimize freezing.

thank you, this helps me!

[Ski Bum]

I tried the wooden ball in clear plastic tubing. Got sapped up. Changed to clear pvc pipe threaded to my copper feed line. Tube is 5' long so I placed a 1"x 4" pine board behind it. I painted it flat black and mounted the pvc to it. No ball, the sap shows up very well and I have marked Full, 1/2 Full and you better stop NOW lines in white chalk. Works for me. There is no reason why it won't with plastic tubing. Good Luck this season!

[Russell Lampron]

Get a board about 3 inches wide and as long as your site tube and paint it white ( I used a white piece of corian ). Now paint a red stripe about 1/4 inch wide up the middle and install it on the wall behind the site tube. Liquid in the tube will magnify the red stripe and make it easier to see the sap level.

Now you're getting fancy! I might have to try that. Too busy trying to finish my addition right now though.