Food grade transfer pump

[spencer11]

I don't remember what i posted lol. Ill try to find the box for it and post a link

[halfast tapper]

You can use a submersable well pump. Just lay it on it's side.

[RC Maple]

Thanks for the replies. I think I've looked at all the threads most related to my pump search. There does appear to be no perfect pump. I am going to continue to look around for a pump that I can feel comfortable with. I have got another 6 months to figure out what to do about pumping sap - if anything. Carrying those buckets is good exercise.

[spencer11]

Go to SBI and look for the thread I started about pumping, and read the last page, it will answer some of your questions. I will post the link to or row if you can't find it

[RC Maple]

Thanks Spencer - I did see that the pump you chose may be a winner. Thanks for the reply. I may not be carrying all those buckets after all.

[bowhunter]

This Shurflo park model pump would be a great option. It's designed for potable water in permanently parked RV's and runs off 110 volts. It's a diaphragm pump capable of pumping 3+ GPM with 12 feet of suction lift. It can be run dry and it's about $100 plus freight.
http://www.thepumpforce.com/index.ph...id=13&cat_id=1

[spencer11]

That pump has 100' of head max and then your only getting 90 gph, and with the 1/2" ports you will get a lot of restriction with the small inlet and outlet and if you use small pipe like a 1/2" one the will greatly decrease you head and gph cause of friction, it depends on how far, how high and how much you want/need to pump. That may be a good pump to use to pump up to your head tank

[SeanD]

Spencer,

Did you end up getting the Wayne pump with the stainless housing? I'm looking for something that will stay in the sugar house for transferring from the collection barrels to the head tank. It seems like a lot of transfer pumps that are fixed in place, have cast iron housings.

Thanks for doing all the homework on these.

Sean

[Starting Small]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Flotec-3-...-100665943-_-N

This pump is stainless steel, and pumps at 10 ft 4800 gph. Not sure if the stainless steel makes it any more food grade or not since it might just be the housing that is SS.
-Dave

[SeanD]

Thanks for the input. I've just recently gone back and combed through posts here and on the other site. Basically, it's hard finding a pump that meets all of the criteria we're looking for. Based on everything talked about, I won't find "food grade" on a pump except beer and wine pumps and those tend to be too small or too expensive. Dr. Perkins added that anything that can be used for potable water, can be used in the maple industry.

The two that have made my short list are:

http://www.powerequipmentdirect.com/...FYSd4AodIz8AYw

and

http://www.simsupply.com/HP-Stainles...FQSk4AoddW0Agg

These pumps are strong enough, are 1", have a non-corrosive/rust housing, they are electric and they are non-submersible. I've decided against the submersible type because of the way I'm going to set up my power and barrels now. A lot of pumps have a plate to attach to a wall or something, so I'll need to figure something out with these portable types.

The one knock I have against these pumps is that I think they have to be primed. It has to pull sap about 14' before it gets to the pump. I'm not sure how to do that. Literally, I have no idea how to prime the pump. (everyone, insert joke here)

If anyone else wants to post links to the pumps they have, that would be very helpful to everyone else. Thank you to Spencer and many others for the work they have already done.

Sean