Tap when trees are frozen?

[johnpjackson]

Does tapping when the trees are frozen increase problems with the tap holes cracking from the tap going in, and making sap leaks down the side of the tree? :confused:

[maple flats]

If using an official maple tapping bid, they among other plusses are designed to drill frozen trees. don't think the high price is because the maple dealers are robbing you, those bits have a huge advantage over common hardware store drill bits. The point is ground at 90 degrees, not 135, the flutes are far deeper and faster thus pulling the shavings out far better.
Save those bits only for maple tapping and each will drill between 1,000 and 2,000 tap holes before needing replacing as long as you aren't drilling sand or gravel imbedded bark. That happens on roadside dirt roads, still use the maple bit but expect shorter life.
The tapholes you get using a maple specific bit will give you more sap. Those bits are best when run at about 2000 RPM.

[maple flats]

You don't expect producers with 100,000 or more taps to tap after the trees thaw do you. They tap all winter every day until the season starts.

[johnallin]

Does tapping when the trees are frozen increase problems with the tap holes cracking from the tap going in, and making sap leaks down the side of the tree? :confused:

Short answer John is no.
Leaks are mostly caused by sloppy drilling and or hammering too hard.
Lots of info in that here on Trader.
For 20-30 taps, carefully drilled, a hardware store it will be just fine.
Leaks are only a big issue if your on vacuum, bags are not so critical.
Good luck and have fun.

[berkshires]

I had a bad leak this year for the first time. It was also my first time tapping a Noway maple. I do think i pounded too hard, so that's on me, but i wonder if the softer wood also contributed to the cracking.

GO

[snakes14009]

They can crack easier when its frozen, that is true. But you have to stop tapping them as soon as the sound changes doesnt matter if they are frozen or not. I bought a $12 tapping bit from my local maple supplier what a difference it makes. But if i was only doing 20 taps its not needed. a good sharp clean drill is all that is needed. Just make sure you drill in and then straight out, dont run the bit back and forth to clean out the hole you will be just fine. Sap leaks are from our drilling techinque generally not the tapping of the spout unless you were hammer them too hard.

[ennismaple]

Red maples and Norway's seem to split way easier than sugars. It's best to err on the side of under-tapping them when frozen and giving them a few light whacks later in the season - especially if you don't have thousands of them.