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View Full Version : Can I re drill a tap hole 1/32 larger



For_the_kids
02-16-2017, 08:29 PM
Hi, I am new to maple tapping. Last year my sons, 10, 8, 6, and 4 wanted to tap some trees, so we tapped a few and made a quart of syrup. This year they wanted more. :) We put our 32 taps into 5 gallon pails this year, but I'm afraid that we tapped too early to catch the good run(s) later when the season really starts. If so, can we just re drill the holes our 1/64 or 1/32 larger and then re drive the tap? Since the tap is tapered I didn't know if this would work. we used 5/16 taps. Thanks for any advice.

psparr
02-16-2017, 08:38 PM
You can, you'll see only marginal benefit from it though.

Thompson's Tree Farm
02-17-2017, 03:31 AM
Lot of work for little return

Super Sapper
02-17-2017, 03:46 AM
You would be better off looking for new trees to tap if these dry up. You will need to find more in the future as you expand anyway.

For_the_kids
02-17-2017, 06:47 AM
Thanks for the replies, I will not waste my time with it. We have plenty of maples to choose from in our bush, so if push came to shove we would tap new trees then, but I think we are better off taking what we get and waiting until next year to tap the others. Thanks again.

mainstreet
02-17-2017, 07:24 PM
I have only done this for four years now and what you said is my plan. I went 9/32 for my 5/16 taps because it was early and figured I could go to 11/32 if I think things bind up. Not all that much work for 30 taps in my mind. Never tried it though.