Originally Posted by
Stiets
Looks nice Mark. Let us know how it worked out. I put out a 3/16 line with 25 drops on natural gravity yesterday. Going to tap it this morning. I am considering getting a line on a vacuum pump next year for a run that's flat.
Thanks Stiets. My land is very flat. probably less than 1% slope in most areas. So using some kind of pump to generate vacuum is really the only option for me. All my maples are Reds. And they just don't run very well, if at all, on buckets. So even more of a reason to use vacuum for me.
I do find that when using a diaphragm pump, you really need to find and fix every single leak, no matter how small. Even a small leak in tubing will kill the vacuum. Also, I had a heck of a time last year tracking down vacuum leaks caused by hollow or semi-hollow trees. They're harder to pinpoint then a hole in the tubing.
Mark
Mason 2x4 w/raised flue pan, 240 gal. sap tank, 80 Reds on 5/16 tubing and Lunchbox releaser/pump, 20 sugars on buckets