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You have 2 options as I see it,
1. short runs using 3/16 and build a slope into the run, Maybe start at 6' high and slope down to 2' high, with a low container to catch the sap in. Then the highest tap will have about 4.4" of vacuum if the tubing going into the container is 1' high (actually .88x5) As the taps get lower, the vacuum decreases. The beauty of 3/16"{ tubing is at least 3 fold, the sap will not pass the gasses in the tubing, it thus generates some vacuum with each foot of fall, and it is cheaper to buy. If you try this method, it's best to keep at least 1-2% slope on the tubing (1%=1'/100') and have at least 12-15 taps on each line, too few takes too long to get enough sap in the line to get the gravity vacuum to work.
While this method will only give you minimal vacuum, it will help some.
2. Another method that some use is little short tubing drops, maybe 1 or 2 trees (1-4 taps depending on tree diameters) and feeding into a container on the ground.
For either method have a large enough food grade container, on a good run day a single tap can yield 2+ gal of sap, but 1 is likely closer to the average.
On both methods the tubing from the tap (the drops) to the lateral (the line connecting the drops and transporting the sap to a collection container, use 5/16 tubing from the tap to the lateral.
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
Originally Posted by Adirondack-Maple
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