flying buckets

[ptvtcz]

Hi everyone. How do you keep buckets from flying off trees in the wind. Any special tricks? Aluminum buckets with ss 7/16 bucket spouts with hooks. Thanks

[cncaboose]

Get the stainless 5/16" taps from Next Generation Maple and your buckets will stay on. http://nextgenmaple.com We use them on all of our wind exposed buckets.

[tbear]

If you turn the hooks around (with the hook pointing to the tree) it slows them down. So far this season I've only had one bucket blow off. It is a little more of a hassle to get the buckets off and on but, it's worth it to me not to replace lost buckets. Ted

[KV Sappers]

I put a bungee around each one of my buckets. Never lost one in the wind yet.

[wnybassman]

With the roof-top style covers I slide them back tight to the tree. Keeps the bucket from flopping around and eventually blowing off. I might have one every two years come off a tree.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s163/wnybassman/maple/2-13-2011_bucket.jpg

[theguywiththename]

try playing with them on the roadsides! Last couple of years i have used large 3/4 stainless steel washers, putting a few in each bucket. This year i have have the hooks turned backwards and the other tied with string line don't know what works better.

[ptvtcz]

Thanks everyone, I got 20 buckets all roadside. No buckets down in last 10 hours. I will try turning hooks next year.

[Run Forest Run!]

I took the advice given here and hung five buckets today with the hook facing backwards. Let's see how it works!

[SDdave]

Well in the land of no trees and high winds. I put a couple of water bottles in the bucket, tie them with string line, and finally take a stick and tighten the string line. Keeps them in place so far.

SDdave

[Shawn]

When wind I go around and check

[BrutemanAl]

If the tree isnt to big I use bungee cords,never lost a bucket yet

[KevinS]

here in the land of the wind chill factor ( and high winds) I often resort to tie wire and it is a pain...but effective.

[maple marc]

I use a home-made bungee:

Cut rubber "loops" from a tire inner-tube. Then tie a piece of twine (baling twine is free) to the rubber loop, long enough to go around the tree and the bucket. I use these even on large trees with two buckets. Tie it around the tree and bucket, stretching the rubber loop. Twine should go around the bucket near the top--on plastic buckets it can run around the ribs. When collecting sap, simply stretch out the bungee, remove from around bucket, and dump the bucket. I would lose a lot of buckets without these bungees.

Marc