Disappointed plastic buckets

[handtapper]

I have hung milk jugs, galvanized buckets, aluminum buckets and drop tubes to plastic bakery buckets. I attended one of Chris's tubing seminars but don't own the right property for tubing. The bakery bucket is nearly a free option but the biggest issue is any wind and the buckets take a ride. I decided to invest in some more hanging buckets as they look better than bakery buckets and I figured they would hold to the trees better than a bakery bucket on the ground. I decided to go with the plastic bucket/lid everyone sells made by Embee because galvanized is on its way out, aluminum is somewhat hard to find and the free bakery buckets can be problematic. At first I was thinking great these are easier to lug around the woods seeing they weigh substantially less. Unfortunately these plastic buckets are so light that the wind can lift them horizontal on the hook unlike a heavier metal bucket, once this happens it acts like a kite and pulls the tap clean out of the tree. Granted today was windy but out of 100 hanging plastic buckets I had about 50 take to the wind, with metal buckets I lost 2. Now I wont lie bakery buckets all 100 would have taken to the wind but those are free. The bakery buckets would atleast also leave the tap/drop tube in the tree so atleast it was a snap to set back up. With these after collecting the rogue buckets you need to circle the tree trying to locate a 5/16" tap hole and re install every tap. Also the plastic ones roll and roll for a long distance in the wind where the metal ones usually hang out next to the tree.

I've read options for tying them to the tree or leaving a water bottle in there.... one shouldn't have to make a brand new product work it should be engineered to work.... just my two cents. Next time I buy aluminum

[Bricklayer]

When I used buckets I had same issue. I used the white plastic spiles. I took a heat gun and bent the hook a little more and it solved the problem. Made it a little harder to get a full bucket of sap off the hook without spilling a bit but I'd rather spill a bit then spend an afternoon searching for lost buckets.
i also had some of the plastic buckets also. So I drilled a smaller hole in them for the hook, nice and tight.

[maple marc]

I make a "bucket belt" to keep the buckets on trees in the windiest areas. Just take a piece of baling twine (or tie two together if tree is big) and tie on a section from an inner tube to make a bungee. Run the belt around the tree and the bucket. Works well for me.

[maple75]

I use drop tubes in 3 gal bakery and ice cream bucket which are light. The holes for the tubes are tight therefore the tube usually keeps the pail in place. In open areas with more wind exposure I use a water bottle in the pail to weigh it down.

[jake1]

Theres a few pictures of the bags on this website. You can get the idea. Only have had a few bags out of thousands actually rip out and fall off the tree. They are tough, I swap out the ten percent that start leaking during the season. They never get punctured only leak from the corners but ten percent is tolerable.. I use a mainline with 30 gallon barrels every 400 ft or so. Then just pour into barrel and it gravity feeds down to truck. Last year two of us averaged two hours to collect 800 bags in one spot.the other nice thing is i can walk up on the hill at the beginning of the season with 200 bags on my back and start tapping, then go grab 200 more. Took 4 of us 2 or 3 hours to pull 800 bags from my main grove last season. Can't do that with buckets. http://www.wildscoops.com/single-pos...ge-Creek-Birch

[Marcus]

I just went through and checked my sap bags and bakery buckets. No problem with bags, and only 2 buckets messed up which one was hung on a through away plastic tap and one bucket with tubing run through a hole in the side. I drill tight holes through the lid and run 5/16 tubing. I have some buckets i hang directly on 7/16 taps. My Maple products supplier Josh Williams gave me a great tip to keep the bags on. Take the retainer and slightly expand it to make it a little tighter.
Marcus Yoder

[jake1]

I battled with tubing and buckets for years. Then I started using reclosable 2 gal 6 mil poly bags I get from uline.com . I stick a piece of duct tape on the back then stick a tubing tap through from the inside. The bag hangs on the tree and holds strong even with two gallons in it. I leave a couple inches on the corner unsealed Then I simply put my collection bucket under and tip the bag out . I run about 1000 bags this way and ill never go back. They are so clean and bacteria free compared to drop tube into buckets. Cost about .60$ a bag. I don't reuse them much so I recycle them after the season. Might seem wasteful but the time and energy i save not washing buckets and lids is huge.just thought I'd throw that out there.

[Sugarmaker]

I battled with tubing and buckets for years. Then I started using reclosable 2 gal 6 mil poly bags I get from uline.com . I stick a piece of duct tape on the back then stick a tubing tap through from the inside. The bag hangs on the tree and holds strong even with two gallons in it. I leave a couple inches on the corner unsealed Then I simply put my collection bucket under and tip the bag out . I run about 1000 bags this way and ill never go back. They are so clean and bacteria free compared to drop tube into buckets. Cost about .60$ a bag. I don't reuse them much so I recycle them after the season. Might seem wasteful but the time and energy i save not washing buckets and lids is huge.just thought I'd throw that out there.

Jake,
holy cow 1000 2 gal bags! your for sure the bag man!
you doing birch syrup?
regards,
chris

[Cedar Eater]

How is your property not right for tubing? Since 3/16" tubing came on the market, it has been a game changer. I never expected it to be as versatile as I've found it to be. So please be specific about what makes your property ineligible.

[ka9bxg]

I have quite a few 5 gallon buckets in very windy area. I put 2 or 3 bricks on top . They stay in place quite well.