cold weather drilling

[blissville maples]

would like to start tapping this weekend, however not sure about drilling after a -10 degree night. hate to wait since it looks like may be warming up after this arctic blast, already missed some sap. anyone seen any negative effects of drilling in these cold temps??

[lakeview maple]

Im not sure about the negative effects but Ive got 300 to go and there going in tomorrow , Ive tapped in the past in below freezing and didn't have issues.

[adk1]

Just use a sharp bit and more importantly don't tap the spout in too hard

[DrTimPerkins]

would like to start tapping this weekend, however not sure about drilling after a -10 degree night. hate to wait since it looks like may be warming up after this arctic blast, already missed some sap. anyone seen any negative effects of drilling in these cold temps??

As long as you are using small (5/16", 19/64", 1/4") spouts it shouldn't be a problem.

[jbabel]

What about temp while tapping?

[blissville maples]

ok, yea ill deffinantly not be using the 28oz estwing if i go for it!!! with 5 days of tapping and working during the week still (trying not to miss too much work until sugaring really hits hard) i don't want to wait much longer.

[adk1]

Temp??? If it's too cold go back inside and warm up ��

[Russell Lampron]

would like to start tapping this weekend, however not sure about drilling after a -10 degree night. hate to wait since it looks like may be warming up after this arctic blast, already missed some sap. anyone seen any negative effects of drilling in these cold temps??

That's why I tapped last weekend! All kidding aside the problems that I have run into in the past have been that the taps needed to be seated again after the trees thawed and the tubing doesn't push onto the seasonal taps very easily. If you are tapping smooth barked red maples they can split if the taps are driven in too hard.

[maple flats]

I generally tap every year when it is well below freezing. The only time we don't tap is when I think too much time will be lost trying to get warm. A good sharp proper tapping bit does it very well and as Dr. Tim says, do not hit the taps too hard A few seem to need a little more tightening when the sap starts to flow, but those are fixed as we check for leaks.

[adk1]

Yup exactly what flats said

[lakeview maple]

Thanks Dr Tim
As long as you are using small (5/16", 19/64", 1/4") spouts it shouldn't be a problem.