Fundamental of tubing systems

[CTsap]

Hi everyone - I'm starting to do research on tubing systems and was hoping you guys could explain some of the terminology and how it works. I'd like to know more about the tools and connections used to put a system together. Also, an explanation of the different tubing components such as main and laterals and their limitations would be very helpful.

My sugar bush is on a very steep slope. I think it's going to be perfect for a gravity system. I will probably start with 20 trees next year. I have more trees to expand, but want to figure it out some before I go crazy.

Thanks,
Dave

[Foremaple]

Check out Tim Wilmonts articles on 3/16th tubing on the UVM website.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

YouTube is a good place also to find good videos. If you have a good local dealer go see him. He will show you more in a couple hours than you could learn in many hours other ways. Anytime anyone wants help with tubing I always offer for them to come by and I will take them to the woods and show them hands on. Good local dealer is a huge asset and can help you as you learn and grow and is very rewarding part of being a dealer for me.

[optionguru]

Are you trying to put all 20 trees on one run of tubing? If you use the 3/16th natural vacuum system you will need to break it up into 2 or 3 different runs. 7 to 10 taps per line worked very well for me this year.

I also would check out Youtube, I've learned a lot about tubing watching videos on there.

Good luck and welcome

[Super Sapper]

25 is the recommended max on 3/16 and they have done well on up to 35 to 40 on a run.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

25 will do fine. I don't like to go over that but Proctor has went high as 37 without any issues.

[11-Nick]

So what happens if you go over the recommended 25? (I understand that's a fuzzy number.)
Do you actually go beyond the capacity of the line?

I just got back from marking trees in a new hollow. I marked about 50 trees before I quit. I boil in an 8 sq ft flat pan, so I'm outside of my capability with the 50 trees that I marked. I could easily put all 50 trees on the same 3/16 line. They were in a nice row coming down a steep slope, and I have >20' drop from last tree to where I can place IBC tote.. For the sake of explanation, can someone put numbers to the idea of breaking those 50 trees into 2 runs, vs putting all 50 on one line. Hypothetically, how many gal/day if done each way?
Thanks

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I think you would get about double sap with 2 lines of 25 vs 1 line of 50. The volume of a 3/16 line is only 36% of a 5/16 line and it can only hold so much and the sap can only run through it so fast. You would probably get as much or more on a 5/16 line with 50 taps vs 3/16 line with 50 but 2 lines with 25 on 3/16 would outrun either.

[eustis22]

I am going to try 3/16 this season (30' drop over 100 ft) with 3 lines with 5-6 drops per line. Can someone advise what kind of vacuum gauge I should get? how does one transition from a 5/16 tap to a 3/16 tee?

[psparr]

I am going to try 3/16 this season (30' drop over 100 ft) with 3 lines with 5-6 drops per line. Can someone advise what kind of vacuum gauge I should get? how does one transition from a 5/16 tap to a 3/16 tee?

You would be better served putting all the taps on one line, even if you zigzag back and forth to catch them all. You want the line full of sap for the benefit of the gravity vacuum.
I purchased cheap vacuum gauges from eBay and am happy with them. They have 1/8" mpt. I bought a 3/16" barb fitting, screwed it on the vacuum gauge with some Teflon tape and forces the bard end into the 3/16 line.

As for the transition, they make 3/16 taps and is very convenient. You can transition with a reducer. I buy from bascoms, but I would assume most maple suppliers carry 3-16 stuff now.

[maple flats]

I don't think most dealers carry 3/16 yet. There are only 2-3 manufacturers making it at my last count. I do suspect several more will add it soon, it doesn't look like a fad that will soon die.

[n8hutch]

Most places that carry 3/16 tubing should have vac gauges & barbs in stock, leader is making Ridged 3/16 tubing but they are not making fittings as far as I know. Still at 45$ for an 800' roll it is tempting to buy some & try it with CDL fittings.

[Super Sapper]

I think that I read that someone was making the 3/16 Tee with a 5/16 on it for the drop so you can use normal 5/16 fittings. It will also make it easier to go to the check valve spouts after the first year if you want. Other wise there is a 3/16 by 5/16 connector you can use. I would also run them all on one line if you can.

[eustis22]

ok, Bascoms sells the 3/16 spouts will use a 5/16 tapping bit so I'm good to go0 there, but my question is one line? I'll have to do some major zig-zags across the side of the hill. Will it matter much if the side-to-side slope is shallower than the top-to-bottom?

What's the difference between semi-rigid and rigid tubing in terms of getting it wound around trees? I picked up '500 of the semi-rigid and wondering why 800' of the rigid is cheaper?

And another thing...all the u-toob vids I've seen of tubing everyone seems to have it about the height on the tree where I usually tap. DOes this mean I should tap higher on the tree?

[WESTMAPLES]

hey ive got a question i have a spot im thinking of trying out some 3/16 tubing. i have 5/16 one and 2 handed tubing tools , my question is: will the 5/16 tools work with the 3/16 line ( looking to see if anyone has physically tried this) i know they sell the tools but im just looking to use what i have and not have to build or buy the 3/16 tools to install a small area

[eustis22]

I've seen guys take a 5/16 length of tube, cut out 1/3 of the diameter, and use the 2/3 portion inside the tool to hold 3/16 tubing on. That's MY plan as the 3/16 two-hander is a LOT more than the 5/16 two-hander.

[maple flats]

You want to be careful watching u-tube to learn. While a good portion on there in maple is fairly good, you will also find many that do it all wrong. Remember, everyone is an "expert" on u-tube. If you use it to learn, watch at least 8 or 10 different presentations and sort it out. It soon becomes evident to determine which are good methods and which had no business posting the video.
good luck and enjoy watching the good ones.

[psparr]

The zigzag is fine. You want to maintain a relatively steady slope when catching trees, then as much drop as you can after the last tap.
I can't speak to the semi rigid vs. the rigid. When I bought last year all that was available was a pretty soft tubing. It has a good bit of stretch to it. I think you'd be fine with the semi rigid.
I kept my tubing a little high to leave room for the deer to get under.

[CharlieVT]

Here's Tim Wilmot's article from the Procter publications webpage:

http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/3-16%20Tubing%20-%20Wilmot%20-%20Maple%20News%20Dec%202014a.pdf

Here's what I ended up with as an adaptor for connecting 3/16ths tubing with my 5/16th two handed tool:

Couple of pieces of 5/16th tubing, just a little longer than the jaws on my two handed tool.
Used a sharp utility knife and cut a small section out of the tubing and then created a "V" at each end of the slot. The notch makes it easier to get the adaptor started onto the 3/16th tubing you are working on. Just place the adaptor over the 3/16th tubing where you want the two handed tool to be able to grip. It adds a little bit of time to the process, but for those of us just doing a relatively small number of trees on 3/16th it is more practical than buying 3/16th specific two handed tool.

The string keeps the two pieces together which saves a little time and makes it easier to hang on to.
The string also makes it easier to remove the adaptors from the 3/16th tubing after the connection has been made.

Make up a few. Even though they are tied together, I can still loose 'em.
(Remember knitted mittens with the string between them so you wouldn't loose them?) :)
I also sometimes forget to remove them and don't discover that I left 'em behind until I'm up the hill a ways working on the next drop. Nice to have an extra set.

[eustis22]

Does it matter how high on the tree I tap?

[eustis22]

I'll take that as a No.

I am bedazzled by the plethora of choices for vacuum gauges out there. Can someone suggest an optimal gauge for a beginner 3/16 line? I am assuming I cannot use my 5/16 spouts/tubing to connect my drops to the 3/16? Is this correct or is there a 5/16-3/16 hybrid tee out there? I have seen 5/16-3/16-5/16 tees but this would seem to be to connect a 3/16 drop to a 5/16 line.

[JoeJ]

I have used a vacuum gauge sold by F W Webb plumbing company for three years now. The model number is Westwood No S100-500. It is 1/8". I have about 30 of these gauges in the woods and on releasers and in 3 years, I have only had one fail. I think I paid about $7.75 apiece for them. I do cover all of my gauges exposed to the weather with a clear plastic bag.