5/16 bucket spiles

[Sugarbear]

Has anyone used the 5/16 spiles on buckets.I have been thinking about replacing my old spiles with new ones.I was wondering if the 5/16 taphole will yield as much sap as a 7/16 tap.

[Fred Henderson]

From all that I am hearing, yes they will. I bought 50 just to try. I would have bought more but the guy only had 100 with him and if I took them all he would have had none left to advertise. Going to order more thru the mail plus a few other things.

[brookledge]

I have heard reports of 20% less on buckets and equal amount on vacuum. But I have also heard that the 5/16 will run longer.
Keith

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Has anyone tried using a plastic 5/16" spout on a bucket?? Just wondering if it would hold up to the weight of the sap. Sure wouldn't have buckets blowing around and they are cheap. :?

[brookledge]

Yes
I know one who does that for rd side trees. puts the health spout through the bucket and then pounds into the tree. The only way for the bucket to come off is pull the spout. He pumps the buckets with a 1" or 1.25" gear pump (just like the ones on filter presses only bigger) with a 50' length of suction. Just have one person drive the truck along the road and the other walk fromm tree to tree sucking the buckets as you go.
Keith

[tapper]

I have some 5/16 hanging on buckets right now. They filled the buckets in 2 days a few weeks ago. I used a few last season and they seemed to perform as well and maybe better than the 7/16.