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View Full Version : 3/16 tubing for drop lines


Lyle Pickert
05-03-2016, 07:14 PM
I usually change the drop lines in a third of my woods each year. My system is all 5/16 on vacuum. I am considering using 3/16 for drops this year. Does anyone have any experience with this?
jeugster
05-22-2016, 08:54 AM
No experience with it but the Proctor Maple Research study seemed to show a promising increase in volume using 3/16 drop line while also reducing cost per drop line.
maple flats
05-22-2016, 03:46 PM
If your laterals remain at 5/16, the only gain would be in the drop. A foot of drop generates about .85" of vacuum if all liquid, but they are often about half gases, so you might gain .4-.5" per foot of drop. If your average drop is 2' (not the drop length but the actual drop) you might gain 1" of vacuum. Is that worth it to you to have 2 different sizes to work with?
DrTimPerkins
05-22-2016, 08:02 PM
No experience with it but the Proctor Maple Research study seemed to show a promising increase in volume using 3/16 drop line while also reducing cost per drop line.

I'm not certain if this is true, but it definitely was not a study done by Proctor. Perhaps something Tim Wilmot did that I'm not aware of.
Squaredeal
05-23-2016, 06:39 AM
Mike Farrell from Cornell spoke about this at the CDL open house in St. Lazare. Four take homes: Might increase vacuum at rate indicated above, increased potential for plugging, could lead to increased re-adsorption of sap since sap moves easier in both directions, and lastly it cannot add more vacuum if you already have a tight, modern, high-vacuum system.
maple maniac65
05-23-2016, 06:43 AM
I'm not certain if this is true, but it definitely was not a study done by Proctor. Perhaps something Tim Wilmot did that I'm not aware of.

Thought you were on vacation
GeneralStark
05-23-2016, 07:56 AM
I think the plugging issue is significant based on what I have seen in one season with 3/16. I would not personally ever consider a 3/16 drop with 5/16 as I don't see any potential benefit, and in fact you will likely reduce production. A 5/16 drop with 3/16 is the way to go IMO though.
DrTimPerkins
05-23-2016, 12:52 PM
Thought you were on vacation

June 1st.....although I might still "lurk" a little. :D

And a "Professional Development Leave" is NOT a vacation.....I'm working.....just not in the office. :)
bmbmkr
08-02-2016, 09:11 AM
I think the plugging issue is significant based on what I have seen in one season with 3/16. I would not personally ever consider a 3/16 drop with 5/16 as I don't see any potential benefit, and in fact you will likely reduce production. A 5/16 drop with 3/16 is the way to go IMO though.

You are saying run 5/16 drops into 3/16 laterals (I should run the 3/16 laterals with 30' of drop to the mainline for the natural vacuum? )
Maple Man 85
08-02-2016, 10:21 AM
[URL="http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc/3-16%20Tubing%20-%20Wilmot%20-%20Maple%20News%20Dec%202014a.pdf"]

Here is the article in reference to the conversation, it was Tim Wilmont that conducted the study.
GeneralStark
08-02-2016, 03:51 PM
You are saying run 5/16 drops into 3/16 laterals (I should run the 3/16 laterals with 30' of drop to the mainline for the natural vacuum? )

Yes that is what I am saying. CDL makes an appropriate T and perhaps others do as well. This gives you the flexibility to use other spouts and reduces the likelihood of the 3/16 drop plugging.