Favorite 3/16th's tubing

[Radnagel]

What's everyone's favorite 3/16th's tubing and why?

[sugarsand]

Started out using D&G, which I really liked. Last year switched to CDL which is also very good, but the price of the 800ft rolls, I really liked. I may try some Lapierre to see how it stacks up.

[amasonry]

I also like cdl 10 year semi-rigid lite blue. it is easy to use when it is warm and cold. tried ultra 15 year green , but to soft can pull it till it collapses.

[motowbrowne]

So far I've only tried leader 30p and the green stuff from h2o innovations. The h2o stuff is better. Cody who posts on here has tried several types and prefers the h2o.

[maple flats]

I started with D&G, really liked it after I started taking the coil with me rather than try to pull off a spooler. It tends to grab the trees and will not pull. Now I start at the bottom, attach it using a hook connector to the main line (I tap into the main later), then I go from tree to tree until I have up to 30 taps worth. Then I attach it to the end tree. The next one, I start at the top and work down to the main. Later I add the drops and connect the line from the hook connector to a saddle.
I looked closely to Leader's 3/16 but decided I did not like it as well, pretty much like their 5/16.
So far I have not tried any others.

[lakeview maple]

D&G , Ive ran 7000 ft of it never had an issue, holds well grips the trees really well. It holds the fittings and doesn't collapse when stretched tight. I tried some CDL ,the price was really good but I found 3 spots where the tubing started to turn white and narrow down when it had been stretched . The sap flowed through but I cut it out and replaced it.

[sugarsand]

If the tubing turns white, your stretching way more than you need to. If concerned about saggy lines, pull it to another tree or brace it for support, but little sags wont hinder sap flow.

[Radnagel]

I ran some cdl last year really liked it. I like hearing what others are using and there experience with it.

[dbeitz1891]

When we first started we were using CDL but it would stretch so much you could hardly get fittings into it, that's if it stayed in the tool.... I had worked for a 20,000 tap operation and have never had line stretch so much, the CDL rep assured me it was not the line that was the problem and would do nothing for me as a customer.

Then we switched to Leader 30P which works quite well. Only downfalls it has was that it is quite a bit more rigid than the rest of the brands and not nearly as translucent.

Then we tried some from DSD and are extremely pleased with the flexibility and it is very translucent but does not stretch. We have been using DSD saddles since we started but have learned they offer great line as well.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

When we first started we were using CDL but it would stretch so much you could hardly get fittings into it, that's if it stayed in the tool.... I had worked for a 20,000 tap operation and have never had line stretch so much, the CDL rep assured me it was not the line that was the problem and would do nothing for me as a customer.

Then we switched to Leader 30P which works quite well. Only downfalls it has was that it is quite a bit more rigid than the rest of the brands and not nearly as translucent.

Then we tried some from DSD and are extremely pleased with the flexibility and it is very translucent but does not stretch. We have been using DSD saddles since we started but have learned they offer great line as well.

I have miles of CDL 3/16 up and haven't had any issues with it stretching. This will be the fourth year in a row that we have ran a bunch of it. I haven't tried any other brands so I can't speak for them but the 3 year old CDL tubing looks about as good as new.

[dbeitz1891]

You must've gotten a good batch lol once fittings in, all said and done it still is up and looks fine but running it and then putting drops on was a nightmare. Really wasn't impressed with the response I got from our local rep. I had even used a cdl tool with all cdl fittings as well

[markcasper]

I have miles of CDL 3/16 up and haven't had any issues with it stretching. This will be the fourth year in a row that we have ran a bunch of it. I haven't tried any other brands so I can't speak for them but the 3 year old CDL tubing looks about as good as new.

Really?? How could anyone ever have any issues with a product their trying to sell?

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I simply responded to an issue brought up by someone that I haven't had any issues with it. Even though I didn't post it, I haven't had a customer that has any issues with it either. It seems so many posts on this site are negative or attacking, not helping others.

[sugarsand]

Put up 8ooo-9000 ft of cdl last year it worked good for me. I prefer d&g tees, but cdl tees hold tighter in cdl tubing, wish they had tees with a pin instead of the cup that is useless with our 1/4"spouts.

[sugarsand]

We havent had any connecting issues with either brand, but we use the Hot End System instead of carrying a tool around, by far easier and faster.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

Put up 8ooo-9000 ft of cdl last year it worked good for me. I prefer d&g tees, but cdl tees hold tighter in cdl tubing, wish they had tees with a pin instead of the cup that is useless with our 1/4"spouts.

CDL does have Ts with pins available for end of line T and regular lateral T. They have been available for several months

[sugarsand]

At this point I dont forsee any expansion for next year due to lack of help. If that changes we may try some Lapierre tubing and thenew CDL tees, we had around 800 of the cup style tees that i had to find plugs for, not one of my better purchases.

[phil-t]

Sorry for being a "newbie" . Started last year with 20 taps (8 of them on 3/16 gravity tubing). What's the "hot End System" for making connections? I used a thermos of hot water to "soften" the tubing ends for assembly by hand. Hoping to have 50-60 taps this next season.
Thanks.

[sugarsand]

Hot End is a way of making connections without using a tool. Consist of a belt and pouch that holds a small rechargable battery that heats reservoir of glycerin. All compact and light, you just poke the tubing end in the hole for a few seconds before pushing it on the fitting. Really a very simple easy way to make connections. You can find them on the internet, or at most maple shows.

[Moser's Maple]

Here's a YouTube link

https://youtu.be/rCgR5z0sMpc