Quote Originally Posted by 1220' View Post
thanks for the reply's, maybe I should be looking at a 2 x 6.
plans are to tap 150 trees next season.
what would you guys recommend for a 2x6 on a budget?
If you're gonna run 150 taps, I definitely wouldn't go smaller than a 2x6. A 2x8 would be better even, mostly because you'll soon want to run 250 taps.

A used 2x6 should be pretty easy to find. Lots of folks start there and then go to a 3x10 or bigger. There's at least one or two on Craigslist in my area for under $4000. Personally, unless you know you're going to top out at 150-200, I'd buy used, since someone else already took the major depreciation on it. You can buy a used 2x6 for $3500 (or so), run it for 4 years and it'll still be worth almost the same amount.

If you won't ever get bigger than 250 (think long and hard about this) I'd take a deep breath and order a shiny new 2x8. More syrup with not much more wood. Now's a good time to buy a Canadian rig. I was quoted a pretty good price on a Lapierre rig recently. I'd also check out Thor.