Sap Ladder

[caseyssugarshack93]

Hello, Im adding on to some of my sugarbushes and one of them where im adding on is down into a gully and i need to add a sap ladder and im just wondering what people think are the best ones , stars, or 2 pipe, i should have around 200 or so taps on where i need the sap ladder,


thanks

nathan

[Thompson's Tree Farm]

Nate,
I have used both lifts(sold by leader and CDL) and the star type ladders. I used them for the first time this year and have a total of 28 different locations raising sap from 3 ft to 16 ft. Some lift only 20 taps, some almost 400. I found the star type worked very well even with a lot of taps as long as you did not skimp on the stars. You need a star for every 60 taps and 50 would be better. The downside is the time and fittings needed to construct the ladder. I haven't tried the 2 pipe system but I understand that the person in Ontario where the comparison tests were done feels that the 6 way stars is the best all around performer. Ultimately, it will probably come down to personal preference.
Doug

[caseyssugarshack93]

Alright thanks i was thinking the star fitting, so i would 4 stars but really 8 cause for on the bottom line and 4 on the top line right ? and do u put vavles on the end of the lines to make the ladders work better i hurd of that to ? and i also hurd of having one of the stars pointing up on the bottom and one down ? i dont really know i seen some both wasy with them all facing down and one up and one down

[Russell Lampron]

I built a 2 pipe sap ladder this year and was very happy with how it performed. It was very easy to build and had no problem lifting the sap from 211 taps.

[caseyssugarshack93]

what size like did u use from 1 inch 3/4 russ ?

[Russell Lampron]

Nate,

My mainlines coming into and going out of the sap ladder are 1". The pipes that go up and down and across the top are 3/4".

[Haynes Forest Products]

I installed my first ladder and was very happy with the 6 star system that I copied off the trader. I cut mine into a 1/2 mainline and a 3/4 branch line for a total of 3 ladders up to a 1" that goes 300' to the releaser. I had plans for a dry line with booster/trap and things were working so fast and furious we never did get the dry lines in. I plan on some changes and will install more ladders if it WILL HELP.

[ennismaple]

I've got both types in my bush. The 2-pipe ladder lifts 173 taps 8 feet using 3/4" mainline. I was very please with it. I've got 2 single star ladders and one double star ladder than also lift 8' and all work well. I don't vent my ladders.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I agree with Ennismaple do not vent you have enough gas/air from leaks gas from tree to move the sap dont introduce outside dirty air.

[doocat]

Can someone explain the two pipe system?

[Russell Lampron]

Doocat take a look at my photobucket pics. I have some pictures of mine in the album labeled "SP 22 and Lines".

[Jeff E]

Did you run with both pipes open most the time?

[Russell Lampron]

Yes I did run it with both pipes open all of the time. I wasn't sure what to expect because I had never seen one of these sap ladders in operation before and figured if the sap flow was too slow I might need to close off a pipe. I found that if I closed off that side it would fill with sap which would just sit there while the sap climbed the other side. The valve in the second pipe isn't necessary but is fun to play with when you are watching the ladder work.

It is sometimes hard to get other things done in the woods here because it is so much fun to watch the releaser and the sap ladder.