Estimating how many feet of tubing I'll need

[3GoatHill]

Are there any rules of thumb as to how many feet of tubing you would need? For example: How to estimate, I'm putting 54 taps in an area that's 300 feet by 200 feet, approx.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Usually can get 15 to 25 taps per 500' roll of tubing. Sometimes more and sometimes less if depending on density of trees.

[optionguru]

Plus you're going to need approximately 150' to make your drop lines.

[DrTimPerkins]

Are there any rules of thumb as to how many feet of tubing you would need? For example: How to estimate, I'm putting 54 taps in an area that's 300 feet by 200 feet, approx.

Probably overkill for this size an operation, but Steve Childs (Cornell Maple Program) has a good paper and Excel spreadsheet to do these calculations.

http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/pubs/EvaluationCostsInstallingTubing.pdf
http://maple.dnr.cornell.edu/pubs/Costs%20of%20putting%20up%20maple%20tubing%20-%2011222011.xls

[BreezyHill]

Are there any rules of thumb as to how many feet of tubing you would need? For example: How to estimate, I'm putting 54 taps in an area that's 300 feet by 200 feet, approx.

The general rule of thumb for us is: what I ever we buy is not enough and we will need to go to the warehouse another two times. LOL

Seriously, one roll over your SWAG is a good investment. SWAG=Scientific Wild A$$ Guess....getter than a WAG...Wild a$$ Guess

[unc23win]

I agree with Brandon 25 taps per 500' foot roll and as Pete said don't forget about the drops. The number of feet needed can increase or decrease depending on a few factors such as how many taps you desire per line and the number of collection points.

[maple flats]

For laterals I just buy 12-15 rolls, when that gets low, I buy that many again. For mainline I actually figure it out by planning the route and then I use a "hip chain". Then I add 10% and round up to then next 500' interval.
For laterals I started years ago making 24' drops, then over the years I went to 28", then 32" and now most are 36". After that it's just a guess.
After posting the above, I googled "hip Chain". I guess I should be more specific, I use a "hip Chain Measuring device" as used by foresters.

[3GoatHill]

Thanks for all the info. This is will be the first year using tubing, so I'm keeping it on the small side to see how it goes. I'm on a fairly steep north slope and the ice doesn't melt until like August it seems. Lugging buckets down that hill is tricky and after dropping one too many full buckets down the hill, I figured it's about time to try something different.

[spud]

Are there any rules of thumb as to how many feet of tubing you would need? For example: How to estimate, I'm putting 54 taps in an area that's 300 feet by 200 feet, approx.

Your area is 1 1/4 acres. I am not sure of how your land lays but if everything could run to one location then load up on one inch mainline (maybe 5 runs). I would go 1-2 taps per lateral line. Even if you're not looking to go vacuum right away get yourself set-up for it. This will be a $5-600 set-up but with high vacuum you could make 25+ gallons per season.

1000 feet black mainline $220
2 rolls tubing $100
saddles $75.00
12.5 gauge wire for mainline $75.00
All fittings $100

The less tubing you use and the more mainline you use the better. My new set-up has 50 taps per roll.

Spud

[Super Sapper]

If you have a good elevation drop (total feet) you could get by with 2 runs of 3/16 and have natural vac. I would buy 4 roll for $200 and maybe another $70 in fittings and a couple of vac. guages. I would also have about 150 gallons of storage for those couple of times it really runs good. You will be surprised by the 3/16 as unless it freezes solid it does not like to stop running.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

15 to 25 taps per roll was with drops out of the roll. Obviously if you trees are really far apart, you will get less taps per roll. If you are going to run mainline, don't buy the black stuff unless it is for a dry line. You can get 500' of 3/4 for $ 100 roll from CDL 10 year warranty blue. 1" is $ 145 for 500' and if it costs a few more $$$ still worth it as it will pay itself back in couple of years in syrup quality and slightly higher sugar content due to all the bacteria that breeds in the black lines. I've been there and done that and would use the blue if it cost 4 times as much as I seen a drastic increase in quality when I got rid of all the black many years ago.