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Thread: Recommendations for saddle fittings

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Leeds County,Ontario,Canada
    Posts
    1,038

    Default Recommendations for saddle fittings

    I am going to be new to saddle fittings,Bruce from Leader told me I should be using them and eliminating 3,4,5,or 6 lines all coming to the same star.Are all saddle fittings pretty much the same other than price?
    7th generation maple producer in sugarhouse built in 1892
    2x World Champion Maple Syrup Producer
    1250 taps on cv adapters
    Leader Vortex 3x14 with Max Flue and Revolution Syrup Pan,Enhanced Steam Away
    www.leggettmaplesyrup.com

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Vermont
    Posts
    2,287

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    I put in 1000 Super Saddles and love them. I can't say I tried all the rest but I will say I would never use anything other then the Super Saddle. I never had a leak all season. I also like the fact that they have a fixed head and do not turn( A turning saddle is a leaking saddle as far as I'm concerned). I also bought the slide fittings from Lapierre and they are great. They work great on the end of the lateral line as you loop around the end tree. They are also great on the start of your lateral line because they have a hook and you can take up the slack in a line if needed. I would never use a hooked connector in my woods because it is just one more possible leak.

    Spud

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Hubardton,Vermont
    Posts
    697

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    I have tried them all and super saddles are the best. Never had 1 leak.
    4x14 Hurricane Force 5
    Lapierre 1500 GPH R.O
    7800 Taps on vac.
    24x26 Sugarhouse

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Leeds County,Ontario,Canada
    Posts
    1,038

    Default

    What about the new saddle manifold in Lapierre's catalogue,and do you need to use the $92.00 hole punch to make the holes in the mainline?
    7th generation maple producer in sugarhouse built in 1892
    2x World Champion Maple Syrup Producer
    1250 taps on cv adapters
    Leader Vortex 3x14 with Max Flue and Revolution Syrup Pan,Enhanced Steam Away
    www.leggettmaplesyrup.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Hudson mi
    Posts
    81

    Default

    Ive always used a standard drill bit in the same drill I tap with. Dont waste ur money

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Fulton, NY
    Posts
    1,375

    Default

    I did my whole woods with multi-fittings. I've had many leak, especially after hard freezes with sap in the lines. I used a drill. A friend tells me they use the expensive hand drill now, and haven't really had any more issues. But I did get 50 super saddles ( or something very similar from Lapierre) this year to start replacing leakers, when I have the time.
    Last edited by sapman; 04-15-2012 at 01:00 PM.
    Tim Whitens
    Willow Creek Farm
    Fulton, NY

    3000 on vacuum, 3hp 3ph Busch pump, 2567 Gast
    30X8 Leader oil-fired evap. w/ steamaway
    Airablo 1000 RO
    6 Alpacas

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Andover NH
    Posts
    2,074

    Default

    another vote for the Lapierre super saddles. I have the hand drill bit and like the slowness of it.
    Eric Johnson
    Tucker Mountain Maple Co-op
    1400 taps in 2013
    2.5 x 8 CDL pellet arch and Smokey Lake pans
    Lapierre 600 RO
    Member of Andover/Salisbury Maplehaulics anonymous
    www.tuckermtn.com
    pALS

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Lanark, ON
    Posts
    2,442

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    We're used about 3 different versions of the Lapierre saddles and like them all. We use a 3/8" drill bit in a cordless drill rather than the specialty tool they sell.
    5,000 Taps on vacuum
    9,400 gallons storage
    3 tower CDL RO
    3.5'x14' Lapierre Force 5
    10" CDL Wesfab Filter Press
    Twitter & Instagram: @ennismaple
    www.ennismaple.com

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    shelby,MI
    Posts
    143

    Default

    We bought the special tool last year for setting up a nearly 2000 tap woods with the strive for 5 rule in mind so we had quite a few holes to drill. We thought it would go very slow drilling by hand but. After that was set up we did a woods with about 125 taps and other saddles it required a smaller hole so we tried drilling with a drill. I hated using the drill, the top of the tubing was all messed up from the drill jumping around and I noticed that it was not drilled nearly as clean. So we ended up drilling with the hand tool and putting some silicone on as back up seal. I will never if at all possible use a drill for mainline because I am all about leak free systems. Just my 2 cents. Sam

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Westminster, VT
    Posts
    706

    Default

    A large producer here in Westminster, VT (26K taps +/-) said at the Bellows falls conference he uses a "forstner" ( not sure on the spelling ) woodworking bit. He passed it around . It had electrical tape so not to drill so deep and the super sharp center point keeps it centered for a clean hole. He said it was much faster.

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