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Thread: how many taps

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    shelby,MI
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    Default how many taps

    How many taps should I put in a tree 3ft in diameter? I have heard you should only put at the max 3 taps in trees.Is that true ? Any thoughts?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
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    Quote Originally Posted by philkasza View Post
    How many taps should I put in a tree 3ft in diameter? I have heard you should only put at the max 3 taps in trees.Is that true ? Any thoughts?
    3 max. The days of hanging 6 buckets on any large trees are over for the majority of folks, although I have seen it being done still.
    THe science to it is that the internal pressure of the tree must exceed the outside pressure in order to produce sap. more holes in the tree technically doesnt mean that you will get more sap. This is how I understand it
    FIRST GENERATION SUGARMAKER
    First boil 2/22/2012! Went Pefect!
    3,500' of laterals
    1,000' of mainline
    2012 - 105 taps on gravity, 12 sap sacks.
    2013 - 175 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks = 200 taps for 2013! Second year.
    2014 - 250 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks
    Tapped on February 16, 2014
    2015 - adding vac sap puller no more gravity for me!
    275 gallon holding tank for 2014
    20'x30' Sugarhouse

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Dunvegan, Ontario
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    Good answer adk1... I will also add that more tap holes increases the total area of wound on the tree - the larger the wound, the longer and harder it is for the tree to heal. That is also why 5/16" spouts are encouraged over 7/16".

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by BryanEx View Post
    Good answer adk1... I will also add that more tap holes increases the total area of wound on the tree - the larger the wound, the longer and harder it is for the tree to heal. That is also why 5/16" spouts are encouraged over 7/16".
    See I am learning, thanks to this site!
    FIRST GENERATION SUGARMAKER
    First boil 2/22/2012! Went Pefect!
    3,500' of laterals
    1,000' of mainline
    2012 - 105 taps on gravity, 12 sap sacks.
    2013 - 175 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks = 200 taps for 2013! Second year.
    2014 - 250 taps on gravity, 25 on sacks
    Tapped on February 16, 2014
    2015 - adding vac sap puller no more gravity for me!
    275 gallon holding tank for 2014
    20'x30' Sugarhouse

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    east kingston, nh
    Posts
    4,148

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    very good gentalmen I still cringe when I see 4(borderline) ,5,6 buckets hanging off an old maple.

    and they probably still use 7/16 taps too.

    but I will add 1 more thing, depending on what your using buckets gravity or vac my personal view is if your running buckets or gravity no more than 3 to a tree and that woould have to be about 30" diameter and vac I do max 2 taps per tree period and thats anything over about 20" diameter. even if its 4 feet wide 2 taps. my biggest on vac about 25" 2 taps
    may your sap be at 3%
    Brad

    www.willowcreeksugarhouse.com
    585 or so on Vacuum, about 35 on buckets/sap sacs
    Atlas Copco GVS 25A Rotary Vane vacuum pump
    MES horizontal electric releaser
    2x6 ss phaneuf Drop flue, Leader woodsaver blower, homemade hood
    300gph H2O RO
    husquvarna 562 XP
    Its Here!!! 2024 season is here get busy!!!

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