3/16 Tool

[bryankloos]

Hi All,

New to tubing and need advice on a 3/16 tool.
I plan to tap 50-60 trees and am assuming a tool will be necessary.
This said, what do you suggest relative to cost/value?

All help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Bryan

[buckeye gold]

If you can weld or have a friend who can, make your own. MIne cost me less than $50.00 and new ones start at ~175.00 - 300.00 Search the threads there are several homemade examples on here

[maple flats]

If you don't weld, a one handed tool will suffice for under 100 taps. You will likely want a holding device. For that buy or make a tool, 2 pieces of wood or plywood with a slot in each that can be gently forced over the tubing to be held, and have a 2-3' piece of cord join them. You can then push one on the tubing either side of where you want to add a fitting such as a tee, and the ends will stay within reach. Such tools are also sold, but they are easy to make. I think most of them use 1/4" or 5/16 thick stock, wood or aluminum and about a 1/8" diameter cord to join them. Just lightly round the edges so the tubing is not scored.
In fact, while I use a high end 2 hand tool (LOAC) when installing new tubing I carry such a holder and a 1 hand tool when finding and fixing leaks.
The one hand tool I use for repairs is exactly like the one used in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z35z6oZDz4A by Vermont Proctor Maple at about 8:30 minutes in.

[craigwade2005]

50-60 taps you can do by hand with a thermos and some hot water. We have done it the past 2 years that way. With that being said a tool makes life MUCH easier!

[DocsMapleSyrup]

At the IMSC in Duluth last week, there was a new tool called a line viper. The owner said the tool is made for 5/16 but has been working on 3/16 tubing. They are doing some additional testing on the tool. It's a one hand tool which I was able to buy at the convention for $105. The website is Lineviper.com. I have no relationship with the company or owner.

[Axle54]

I purchased the line viper last year. 5/16 was sent instead of 3/16. They corrected this immediately. I am left handed and the tool works well for me. We leftys are used to adjustinng to tools. Sped up my time getting everything hooked up. Previously I was walking around with a thermos of hot water and using my hand to push fittings on. Real slow. I Run about 40 taps. It is a nice piece of engineering and will use it for sure this year.

[Pdiamond]

I bought a 3/16 one tool from maple tech tools for $70.00 and the tubth tool Maple flats is talking about to join the tubing together for$15.00. This will be my first year using them on tubing. I'll have 50 taps.

[maple flats]

That tubing tool is available here: http://www.bascommaple.com/search/TUBTH/
It is likely available from others too.
The TUBTH holds both 3/16 and 5/16, each in the appropriate slot.

[Super Sapper]

I purchased the line viper last year for my 3/16 lines and am very happy with it. I have to take down my lines each year. I start new each spring instead of trying to restring the old lines. Starting new takes less time and avoids the problem of plugged fittings. The time saved and better yield more than make up for the extra cost on the 375 taps. The viper is light weight and the fittings go on pretty easy.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

I just bought a 2 handed 3/16" tubing tool from Maple Tech for $175. The one with the cutter is a little more but I don't like that cutter style so got one without it and will use the clippers. We only have one 3/16" line with around 32 taps so I didn't want to spend that but after using 2 handed tools, I find it hard to use anything else and not get frustrated.

[maple flats]

In addition to 2 of the LOAC tools, I also own a Line Viper. I find it works well but is heavier to carry than a LOAC 2 hand. I also own a LOAC 1 had but far prefer the 2 hand.With all of those, both my BIL and I tend to use my original 1 hand tool for repairs, it fits in a pocket and is less bulky. The one I use for that is a simple design, but it only is designed to work on 5/16, I carry a split piece of 5/16 to slip over the 3/16 to use it. I just looked but didn't see one like mine. It is built on a large size slip joint type pliers frame, but is not slip joint. When I open the handles far enough it opens a clamping jaw, as I squeeze the handles it tightens the clamp and pushes the end of the tubing towards a flat section with a slight curve and a slot in it. If installing a connector or T the opposite part extends thru that slot. It also has a low tech cutter on it but it still works well. I think this was the first tubing tool I ever got in about '04. Before that I used a thermos full of hot water.

[wlatrout]

I use a piece of 1/8" nylon rope and do a Chinese finger knot then around the tree ,put a truckers knot in the line and pull tight. I can use this to keep a section tight while I work on another section of line. Or you can tie one from both ways and take out a large section of slack.A little hard to explain but it works. Same idea as the end line plastic tie off but you are wrapping the finger instead of putting the line through the rope.

[maple flats]

I noticed yesterday the Roth Sugarbush has the tubing holder for less than Bascom does.

[Kubota]

https://www.bascommaple.com/item/tfm2316la/tubing_tools/

Has anyone used this tool?

Only have +/- 50 taps on tubing and this price point is better than some of the others out there.

[maple flats]

I'm not familiar with that one.

[Pdiamond]

I was checking out the same tool. If it works the price is very good compared to other two-handed tools.