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[QUOTE=Getwidit;376656]Best way I found, thanks to the people in this forum, was to clean any metal tap, (ive had aluminum, cast iron, galvanized, stainless), by soaking in 50/50 vinegar/warmwater for a bit, then brushing and washing. Usually I boil them and repeated the process of brushing, they'll clean up well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Person25
Both the taps and buckets have lead in them. Save them for decoration.
What I dont understand is a lot of people are against galvanized. But you can look up the fact that it is fda safe as long as it's not in contact with acidic foods. Which cause the zinc to leach. Are you saying these buckets aren't galavinized? Are they ternplate? I can buy 500 plastic liners for 50 cents a piece if that's the case..Quote:
Originally Posted by 18mile
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Its easier to say all galvanized buckets are suspect of containing lead than to say some do and some don't. Also visually people will equate rust in the bucket to rust in the syrup.
In either case a plastic liner solves both issues, real or not.
As for the taps I would use modern plastic taps if for nothing else other than you put a much smaller hole in the tree. So there is no risk of metal contamination and the tree is healthier to boot.
Ive always been told the biggest exposure to lead in these buckets comes in the case of a bucket that had been repaired....that being because of the lead solder that would have been used to repair leaks.Quote:
Originally Posted by Getwidit
Maple sap is slightly acidic, and leaches the lead out of it. Per Tim Perkins.Quote:
Originally Posted by Getwidit
Anyone have sap running? not seeing much chatter on rates/volumes
I had 300 gallons last night. Hope to have 600-700 by Friday and probably another couple hundred by the end of the weekend? Weather looks just about perfect.Quote:
Originally Posted by swampyankee
I collected around 100 gallons over the weekend. There was a decent early season run over the weekend in the southeast corner.
I was finishing up getting my taps in on Saturday and have been chasing leaks since then. My 3/16 tubing runs have been slowly running the last few days. I think I finally got them all leak free so by this weekend I should get another decent run.
If you aren't on vacuum I wouldn't tap yet for another couple of weeks.
I'm at 2 gallons a tap, tapped Sunday (1/26) afternoon. Looking at the temperature history, I feel like I could have tapped at the end of December! Things should slow down Wednesday and Thursday before picking up again Friday.