Galvanized stock tank questions

[Bucket Head]

I know that galvanized tanks were not reccomended in a previous post. I was always told to "stay away from them".

The concern then was the leaded solder, not the galvanizing. Does anyone know if the ones availiable today are soldered with the lead free solder? Or since they are not for human drinking water, is the leaded solder allowed?

The other question is about using them for a collection point tank versus a storage/holding tank.

If your going to use one, is it alright to use one at the tree's, since the sap would'nt be in it as long there? Or is it just a bad practice to use them at all?

I'm just wondering here. I do not have any use for one. Just curious so incase I need another tank, I'll know what to shoot for.

Steve

[maplehound]

Steve, Stay away from Galvinized tanks if at all possible. Even the galvanizing has lead in it and maple sap is an acidic liquide and will eat away at the galvinizing over time. If you are going to make syrup to sell to the public it is a bad idea to have any galvinized metal in your operation.

[Fred Henderson]

There is no lead in solder or galv after about 1994. If you buy a new stock tank then you will be OK. It can rust over time.There are also draw backs in the use of some plastics unless it is stated to be food grade. SS is your best bet.

[mountainvan]

I use lots of stock tanks and have not had a problem with lead. NYS ag and markets has been checking my syrup for lead, passes everytime.

[gmcooper]

There are thousands of galvanized sap tanks in use many made before they stopped lead solder. One of the speakers a few years ago spoke against using them but then had to admit they had no cases of lead being traced to a galvanized storage tank. Maybe that has changed but at the rate used galvanized tanks are selling not everyone stopped using them.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I think you could make the argument that if that cow drank from the stock tank then there is lead in the food chaine . Now California is in the prosses of outlawing any Brass that has lead in it (most do) it helps with machineing. I wonder if all producers will swap out the brass pumps on the filter presses, ball valves, older evaporator floats valves..............MMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[maple flats]

Bucket Head, If you get new tanks from TSC theirs are lead free. Might be all are now but I called their mfgr 2 years ago and was told they had no lead now, solder nor galvinizing. I still use one such tank. My other tanks are all plastic rated for potable water. If you use the stock tanks be sure to clean well after each season and store in dry location, upside down or they will rust inside in just one year. I made a galv. lid for mine that keeps the elements out and it has a hole to run the tubing in. I strap it on in case of wind which is needed until the tank is about half full.

[Bucket Head]

Thanks for the information guys.

Steve

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

If all the syrup producers that used galvanize stock tanks were shut down tomorrow, then about 70% or a lot more of the syrup producers would be gone. About all of the new galvanized tanks are crimped closed and then seals with a very tough and hard rubberized/plastic/silicon type product, so I don't see a problem with them. We have a large percentage of our population living in old buildings and houses and drinking water out of pipes that have, well you know the rest.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I think any applied coating such as a food grade epoxy or plastic type coating would not stand up to the dings abnd scratches that could lead to sap getting under the coating causing bacteria to build up and be more of a problem. Dont we use galvanized water pipe.

[lastwoodsman]

There is no lead in solder or galv after about 1994. If you buy a new stock tank then you will be OK. It can rust over time.There are also draw backs in the use of some plastics unless it is stated to be food grade. SS is your best bet.

Does anyone know if there is no longer lead in new stock tanks???

[DaveB]

Bucket Head, If you get new tanks from TSC theirs are lead free. Might be all are now but I called their mfgr 2 years ago and was told they had no lead now, solder nor galvinizing. I still use one such tank. My other tanks are all plastic rated for potable water. If you use the stock tanks be sure to clean well after each season and store in dry location, upside down or they will rust inside in just one year. I made a galv. lid for mine that keeps the elements out and it has a hole to run the tubing in. I strap it on in case of wind which is needed until the tank is about half full.


Does anyone know if there is no longer lead in new stock tanks???

See the above post.

[DoubleBrookMaple]

I still use a lot of galvanized buckets, and did some research on what someone told me about the "acidic" action from the sap. Fact is, the ph of sap is around, and usually just below 7, and 7 is considered neutral. Maple syrup is considerably less at around 5, which is a little acidic.

[mellondome]

I still use a lot of galvanized buckets, and did some research on what someone told me about the "acidic" action from the sap. Fact is, the ph of sap is around, and usually just below 7, and 7 is considered neutral. Maple syrup is considerably less at around 5, which is a little acidic.

But let that sap sit and ferment in a tank in the sun.. your ph is no longer 7

[BreezyHill]

Lead is not the only heavy metal of concern. Zinc is also. I know a women that has zinc poisoning. She walks with a cane all the time now. She walks like she is 100 and is only in her early 70's and is of slight size.

Remember that water is " the universal solvent" and also is a neutral ph.

PFOA is in the Village's water supply now in our Town. There is talk from "plastic Specialists" that water setting in plastic containers will pickup PFOAs. I do not know if this is true or just words to calm people down.

I would stay clear of all stock tanks but just yesterday I saw a dozen producers using old galv buckets?????

[Bucket Head]

There have been posts about a potable water safe stock tank, but I can't remember the name of the company. It starts with a "B". Maybe Belan, or something close to it? Anyone remember the name and/or how much they sell for?

It's probably the best way to go to get away from the metal tanks.

Steve

[BAP]

Behlen and Ace Rotomold are 2 companies that make food grade plastic stock tanks.

[mapleguy]

go on Bascoms web site. He's selling used galvanized buckets for 10 bucks each. I've used galvanized buckets for years. had a lead test done and was at the lowest limit possible. My tubing sap was the same and that sap is stored in a poly tank. I think with buckets it's absolutely mandatory you empty once a day, if ice blocks are present get rid of the ice.