ebliese
02-16-2023, 06:07 PM
I put a 5/16" section of tubing on my 5/16" tapping bit to limit taphole depth. I set it up so I would have a taphole depth of 1 3/4" (includes bark). Unfortunately, upon finishing tapping over two days, I noticed the tubing section had slid down and made the taphole depth 2 3/4". I think this happened gradually so it's not like half my tapholes are at 2 3/4" depth but I wasn't paying attention. I did notice the tapping was getting harder but I thought maybe it was the bit getting dull which seemed strange because we had only used it for 200 taps over a few years. I probably should have stopped and examined the situation but I had never had anything happen like it before. Looking at the tapping bit, it seems like they designed the bit to be harder to drill past about 2 1/2".
I double checked in the 3rd ed. of the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual. Tapholes on for buckets are drilled 2-2 1/2" into the trees. The reason to limit taphole depth is to prevent from encountering a previously tapped area or heartwood. All the shavings I saw were good wood and I stayed true to my tapping pattern. So being an extra 1/4" deep, while not ideal, should be ok?
Just hadn't had this happen before so I wanted some advice. Thanks!
I double checked in the 3rd ed. of the North American Maple Syrup Producers Manual. Tapholes on for buckets are drilled 2-2 1/2" into the trees. The reason to limit taphole depth is to prevent from encountering a previously tapped area or heartwood. All the shavings I saw were good wood and I stayed true to my tapping pattern. So being an extra 1/4" deep, while not ideal, should be ok?
Just hadn't had this happen before so I wanted some advice. Thanks!