tubing amount

[huntingken111]

I can't get to new spot in woods yet because of snow. Since this my first year running tubing and new spot to tap I was wondering if I could get a rough estimate ( since I know all woods are different) Of how much 5/16 tubing (which will also be my mainline) I should get and how many t's and or y's I might need for 200 taps. Most sugar maples are huge so I will average 2 taps per tree. My trees are somewhat in one little section of woods maybe 500 by 700 ft. I thought I read here or somewhere online people get about 20 30 taps per roll but can't find that anywhere. Thanks

[steve J]

I think your right about the number of taps per roll I thought I heard around 25 also I believe I saw some were the average is 50 taps per acre

[Greenwich Maple Man]

You don't have to use Y's. You can use a tee on your end tree. Or better yet a end hook. You throw it around your end tree and then hook it back to the tubing line. Is a much faster way to install it. You can then buy a one way T for your end drop that you put there. That will make the loop around the tree a dead area so the sap goes straight out the line and isn't traveling around the tree. Helps prevent animal damage as well as they will often chew the loop around the tree. You can get the end hook as well as the one way T from CDL. I'm sure other companies have them but I know they do for sure. Have fun !

[huntingken111]

Ya I saw those loop ends on utube and hope to find them when I go to the sugarbush store in lansing next week. Do I only buy t's and no y's and figure about 400 t's for 200 taps

[Greenwich Maple Man]

Ya I saw those loop ends on utube and hope to find them when I go to the sugarbush store in lansing next week. Do I only buy t's and no y's and figure about 400 t's for 200 taps

If you are going to use the end hook system then you would only need as many T's as the amount of taps you are putting in. I would buy some extra just to have. If you are running your 5/16 as your 'main line" then you would need T's to run into that as well. I haven't bought a Y in years !

[BreezyHill]

You might want to look at a larger mainline instead of running all those 5/16 mains to the collection tank. With a roll of 5/16 at $50 is $.10 and mainline black at under $.17/ foot and color is just over $.18 from my cdl supply; you could really save some dollars. I've started running mains closer together to cut down on the cost of the tubing. One section I passed out the lines and saved over $200 in an area of about 5 acres by running three mains instead of one diagonally up the middle and bring the laterals to the main.

Check out goggle earth there are some great tools in the bar to use for calculating out mains and lats on a aerial of your woods.

[maple flats]

I use 1 T per tap up to the end tree there I have used a turkey foot Y, an end ring or an end hook. All work. Some places I like the end ring and others call for the turkey foot (looks like a 3 toe turkey foot with long heel, lateral connects to the heel, drop goes on the middle toe and a loop of 5/16 goes around the tree and does not carry sap. I use old damaged pieces for that loop). I'm going to try using the end hook more in the future.
If you are just running 5/16 mains try ending at a tree with an end ring having the drop barb facing down. Then put on some lateral to run to your collection container. If that anchor tree is a maple, be sure to put a drop or 2 based on tree diameter as the 5/16 goes around the tree.

[huntingken111]

sorry forgot to mention that I will most likely have about 20 to 35 taps per line that I will run to 3 different barrels or ibc tanks but I will check out goggle maps and mainline do I look at 1/2 3/4 or 1 inch main.

[whalems]

if you think that there is any chance of going to vacuum in the future use 1" if not 3/4 would be fine.

[BreezyHill]

To answer your question, tubing amounts... last season I retubed 250 and used 6 roles for laterals and one more for drops plus some that were already cut. BUT I also used another 700 feet of 1" main line.

I would totally agree that if vacuum is in your future then go with 1". It is so much cheaper...as I learned... to just take the step and go to 1 inch. Than to have saddles for 3/4 and 1 inch in stock for repairs when deer frig with your lines.

Send me an email at bhffeed@msn.com and I'll send you Steve child's data sheets to figure main line capacity for different slopes and distances. This is designed for vacuum lines but the slope info can be used to calculate your gravity lines capacity.

Good Luck!

[huntingken111]

The farm I am at I have to take it down every year and have no electricity out there so I dought I will ever go vacuum but then again I thought i would never tap over 60 taps either. When I get home in morning I will send you an email breezyhill

[spud]

I have always gotten 30-35 taps per roll of tubing. That does not include the drops.

Spud

[unc23win]

I have always gotten 30-35 taps per roll of tubing. That does not include the drops.

Spud

I agree 30-35 is average and if it is REAL dense with maple you might get a few more. I made an excel spread sheet that figures everything for me all I do is type in the number of taps adding and it figures rolls of tubing for laterals, rolls for drops, tees, spouts, saddles and everything and of course cost.

[huntingken111]

Is that spread sheet something you could please email me?