Price per tap

[tonka]

What I have all read about price per tap is in the range of $3-$6 per tap, how many trees per acre do you need to get $3 a tap?

[jmayerl]

That would be impossible. I have 250 taps on 5 acres, so very high density. I'm at about $8/ tap with 3/16 and cheap shurflo. Regular vac system with main lines you can plan on $10+

[Cedar Eater]

What I have all read about price per tap is in the range of $3-$6 per tap, how many trees per acre do you need to get $3 a tap?

For 3/16" tubing, a spile costs $.24/100 ct., a tee costs $.26/100 ct. and tubing costs about $.06 per foot (800' roll). With 2 feet of tubing per drop, each drop costs $.62. At $3.00 per tap - .62 for drop fittings, you get $2.38 to spend on tubing. Divided by 6 cents, you get 39' 8" of tubing per tap. At 1 tree per 39'8" X 39'8", 1 acre must have 27.68 trees minimum. But factor in sales tax, shipping and handling and that number has to go up because the tubing per tree will have to decrease. Then factor in waste, inefficiency, labor cost, or whatever else applies. I think I did this right, but I'm not a pro.

[motowbrowne]

That would be impossible. I have 250 taps on 5 acres, so very high density. I'm at about $8/ tap with 3/16 and cheap shurflo. Regular vac system with main lines you can plan on $10+

That sounds high. Are you counting labor or something? I just did a 350 tap installation on about 8 acres. I spent about $1300 on tubing, taps, and Ts. That's under $4/ tap. I have two Shurflo pumps from last year, but at $70 each and $25 for ice filter parts and heck even budgeting an extra $150 in plumbing parts, I'm still under $5/tap.

[tonka]

I'm wondering on materials without a vacuum. Mainline, 5/16th/3/16th, fittings, wire, manifolds, etc. Sorry for not clarifying.

[motowbrowne]

I'm wondering on materials without a vacuum. Mainline, 5/16th/3/16th, fittings, wire, manifolds, etc. Sorry for not clarifying.

If you aren't using a vacuum you really only need 3/16, and taps and Ts.

Your site will determine if you will benefit from a mainline or not. Also, you shouldn't need any 5/16 stuff. In a basic 3/16 installation, you can just run 3/16 from tree to tree to tree downhill to your tank. Nothing else needed. Maybe a vacuum gauge at the top of the hill.

[tonka]

The woods I looked at today, I pretty much got for the 18' season. 30 acres of woods, 2,000 to 3,000 taps, 5%-10% slope, looking to get the sap at on collection point. Motowbrowne, you mention about running strictly 3/16th tubing, the runs would be in the range of 700 feet, there could potentially be upwards to 100 taps per line, wouldn't 5/16 work a bit better in that situation with the number of trees and distance? but yet I want to keep it an option for running vacuum in the near future as well, unless I can set it up to reach good natural vacuum in the system like you suggest with running 3/16ths. Not planning on running vacuum right off the bat because of the generous slope that I don't see much of in these parts . I do plan on running one mainline that will run across the property to the collection tank.

[Cedar Eater]

If you can get natural vacuum, do it. You won't regret it. You might want to boost yield by adding more vacuum later, but you won't regret having 3/16" runs with the right number of taps on them.

[maple flats]

Go with the 3/16 but 100 taps will not work on 3/16 or 5/16. On 5/16 the sap can flow under the gasses which will not give you good vacuum, and on the 3/16 you don't want more than about 35 per lateral. The 700' is not an issue for 3/16, in fact my longest line this year is about 900' long. In 3/16 the sap and gasses do not pass each other, you will see a hypnotizing column of sap, air (gasses), sap, air etc. moving rapidly down hill. Another thing as I see it with 3/16 is that it self cleans, you get no spots as it ages where a little yuk forms and the sap moves past leaving it like you can at times with 5/16. On the 3/16 the sap moves along filling the entire tube and continuously keeps it clean.
As far as cost/tap, 3/16 will be much lower.

[tonka]

I've read/heard quite a bit of positive things about 3/16th lines but never really ran into the right terrain for 3/16th tubing but am really getting excited now to get the woods set up since it actually has slope to it. I talked to Tim at Timbers Sugar shack and he brought up about 3/16th tubing with main line, can't remember what the slope was for sure but I think he said it was in the 5% to 10% slope with 30 taps on a 3/16th run and when they had it hooked up to vacuum the whole setup was reading 28 inches.

[Cedar Eater]

I've read/heard quite a bit of positive things about 3/16th lines but never really ran into the right terrain for 3/16th tubing but am really getting excited now to get the woods set up since it actually has slope to it. I talked to Tim at Timbers Sugar shack and he brought up about 3/16th tubing with main line, can't remember what the slope was for sure but I think he said it was in the 5% to 10% slope with 30 taps on a 3/16th run and when they had it hooked up to vacuum the whole setup was reading 28 inches.

My understanding of the "conventional" way of doing tubing is that you run the large mainline downslope and bring the 5/16" laterals in from the side with enough slope to each. With natural gravity, you run the 3/16" tubing downslope and then to a collection point or a mainline with enough slope and volume to handle the capacity. Putting mechanical vacuum on either one will probably help, but I think the 3/16" will be cheaper per tap and produce as much sap.

[johnpma]

Do taps on 3/16 get changed every year? How many years will 3/16" tubing last? My point is all this should be amortized over the period all this required equipment will last.

I'm sure you can get 5 years out of a vacuum pump?? So if it cost you $100 for a pump after 5 years the TRUE cost was $20

[Cedar Eater]

Do taps on 3/16 get changed every year? How many years will 3/16" tubing last? My point is all this should be amortized over the period all this required equipment will last.

I'm sure you can get 5 years out of a vacuum pump?? So if it cost you $100 for a pump after 5 years the TRUE cost was $20

3/16" tubing lasts as long as 5/16" or 1/2" tubing (according to the manufacturers). Whether you change the spout is not a function of tubing size.

[johnpma]

3/16" tubing lasts as long as 5/16" or 1/2" tubing (according to the manufacturers). Whether you change the spout is not a function of tubing size. thanks! I'm not up on 3/16" yet but do know this is year 4 on my 5/16" which I change the spouts on every year......

[Ivyacres]

I hear from those in the know a saying that goes "strive for five" in 5/16 tubing. Five taps and run it to a collection point, whether a tank or a mainline. I also tried 3/16 this year and am getting twice the sap my 5/16 is putting out that dumps into a 3/4" main. My 3/16 has a drop of 40 feet and I am thinking of redoing the 5/16 next year and running some long lines to take advantage of the drop for that area as well. I have moved a vac gauge around between the 3/16 lines and they are all pulling over 25". My 3/4" mainline is about 700' and about 3% drop