Tapping Temperature

[dabamvt]

Hello,

Have been sitting around today in Johnson, VT as the outside temperature hasn’t gotten above 10 deg. No idea what the wind chill is but the breeze has been pretty steady as well.
Was curious about what temperature everyone uses to go out tapping? Taking personal safety and comfort into account, do you have low temperature you don’t tap in?
We generally use at least 20 deg.
Do people feel it is more about personal comfort and it makes very little difference to the trees? I realize at some point you just have to get out there and get the job done.
Thanks

[maple flats]

Back when I was both younger and had lots more taps we tapped at 15F. Now I have fewer taps and I'm also on a blood thinner, (which makes me get cold faster) I tap at 32+. But we can tap everything in 1-2 days.

[berkshires]

I have heard it rumored that if it's too cold you're more likely to split the tree when you hammer in the taps. But this may just be an excuse for tappers with a heavy hand that get carried away.

Cheers,

Gabe

[Bruce L]

We like to wait until it’s above freezing,have seen the damage from years gone by of tapping too cold with trees splitting and leaking around the tap hole. Also like to see fresh sap going through the lines and plinking in the buckets right away

[DrTimPerkins]

Do people feel it is more about personal comfort and it makes very little difference to the trees?

Yes to both questions. We use 10 deg F windchill as a cut-off for not allowing people out in the woods unless they work close by a building and can come in periodically. Even then, our tappers bring a handful of handwarmers with them and have Milwaukee electrically heated jackets, very good boots, and very good gloves.

As long as you're using a good sharp tapping bit and a tapping hammer, temperature doesn't seem to matter much if using small spouts. The cracking sometimes seen on smooth-barked smaller trees, especially red maple, is superficial. The crack doesn't typically extend below the bark (into the wood). If you're using a large spout and a large framing hammer, you might find different results.

[johnallin]

....If you're using a large spout and a large framing hammer, you might find different results.

If using my framing hammer, I normally check the back side of the tree... to make sure I don't poke through. Grin

[berkshires]

If using my framing hammer, I normally check the back side of the tree... to make sure I don't poke through. Grin
Dr Tim can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this hammer is not recommended for tapping:
21816

LOL!

Cheers,

Gabe

[DrTimPerkins]

Dr Tim can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this hammer is not recommended for tapping

Might work....
21822