Vacuum on a very small scale?

Just curious - is it possible to run a vacuum system in a small woods? I have 9 trees at my house that are all 30"+. I'm doing buckets now with 3 taps per tree. Some day I hope to be old and may not want to haul sap. So...

--can vacuum systems be done on small scale?

--would I only have to put 1 tap in the tree to get the same amount of sap that I'm currently getting with 3 taps? (seems better for the trees that way)

I'm just thinking if the RO Bucket has brought reverse osmosis to hobby sugarmakers, then is it possible for vacuum to be done on a small scale too.

Definitely vac on a small scale. Especially since there are cheap diaphram pumps like shurflo that work well for this application. Do a search on Shurflo on this site and you will discover a wealth of knowledge

Chances are those silvers are big enough to put two taps on vacuum in them. So, 18 taps, some 3/16 line and a shurflo pump and you'll be off to the races.

Has anyone tried the guzzler? I was wondering if it works well, and what's needed to install one?

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Originally Posted by jdircksen

Just curious - is it possible to run a vacuum system in a small woods? I have 9 trees at my house that are all 30"+. I'm doing buckets now with 3 taps per tree. Some day I hope to be old and may not want to haul sap. So...

--can vacuum systems be done on small scale?

--would I only have to put 1 tap in the tree to get the same amount of sap that I'm currently getting with 3 taps? (seems better for the trees that way)

I'm just thinking if the RO Bucket has brought reverse osmosis to hobby sugarmakers, then is it possible for vacuum to be done on a small scale too.

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Get some 3/16 tubing, a shurflo pump and a larger sap tank. You’ll wonder why you waited so long....

Wow it's only 9 months til January. Looks like I have some research and planning to do.

I built a shurflo vac this year originally for an experiment on 16 trees. And my plan was to have this to go into one tank and track production. But the season started so late and it was producing beyond my expectations so I added one of my mainlines that had old tubing that needs replacing and other than a couple leaks at start it really saved my season.

You will not regret installing a small diaphragm pump and some 3/16" line... for 20-30 taps your investment will be quite low... I am certain that the time saved in collecting sap, and the increased sap yield will justify it for you. It's a little more work to hang tubing then hang buckets... but it will be made up very quickly, when the sap runs.