I’d like to try some. 5/16 spouts this year. Abscond has some plastic with hooks, but I don’t see those holding up well. They also have some stainless (no hook) but they say they won’t work with flat top buckets. I have a mix.
Suggestions?
I’d like to try some. 5/16 spouts this year. Abscond has some plastic with hooks, but I don’t see those holding up well. They also have some stainless (no hook) but they say they won’t work with flat top buckets. I have a mix.
Suggestions?
30ish taps, all buckets
StarCat evaporator with divided pan
The plastic ones are usually seasonal, so you would buy new ones each year. If you want metal I think all your good options are still in 7/16. You can Try looking for some good used stainless ones. If you really want to do 5/16 just grab some plastic ones and toss them after the season. They are pretty cheap.
Jake
smoky lake 2x6 drop flue SSR on homemade arch
235 taps on 2 gast 1550s and lappiere releasers
24x12 sugar house
2019 Kubota L2501 work horse
I switched from 7/16 to Sap-Meister 5/16. I tried the plastic 5/16 and they did not work for me. They leaked and would come loose. I bought the hooked spouts and use a 19/64 drill bit to tap the tree. The one complaint I have with them is the hook they use. The hook they use is a little smaller then the hook that my 7/16 used and my buckets did not sit as well on them so I just switched out the hooks with my old hooks and they work much better.
2011 - 6 buckets
Stove Top
2012 - 15 buckets
2013 - 19 buckets
Camper cook stove with 3 high propane burners
Custom made 42x14x7 maple pan with dividers
2015 - New 12x16 Sugar Shack
2015 - New Lapierre Propane Evaporator
2016 - 28 buckets
2017 - 30 buckets
2019 - 32 buckets
2023 - 32 buckets - Good to be back
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I'm very happy with the latest Sapmeister spouts. Their design has evolved over the last few years and now they really work well. I love stainless steel. It doesn't wear out. It doesn't degrade in the sunlight, and it can be cleaned. My spouts are as clean as surgical instruments at the beginning of every season. Now if we could get someone to make a reasonable stainless bucket...
i have been gradually switching over from buckets to bags and 7/16 spouts to 5/16. The only complaint i have about the CDL spouts is that i have broken a couple when tapping them into the tree. They are definitely not as stout as the 7/16's and when it's cold you need to be aware and use a lil more finesse.
mark
Thanks all –*I saw some older messages complaining about the design of the sapmeister spiles. Spoke with someone from the company and they said they were modified a while ago. I ordered a bunch and will report back.
30ish taps, all buckets
StarCat evaporator with divided pan
At the risk of thread hijacking...I'm looking to see if anyone has advice or suggestions on using bits for 5/16 bucket spouts?
I recently bought a bunch of new "health spouts" from Roth's to use with our buckets and also bought a specific 5/16 bit for maples. I drilled my first two taps and both were much too large to properly seat the new taps. Should I be using 1/4" bits instead ?
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2015: 8 bucket taps (7 red, 1 sugar) on DIY barrel evaporator
2016: 13 taps (bucket and tube) on block arch and hotel pans
2017: SAME
2018: 25 taps on 2x3 flat pan and resurrected barrel arch
2019: 25 taps...same setup plus DIY 3x150gpd RO filter
2020: 50 taps, all buckets..."new" oil tank arch setup
2021: 100 taps (50/50 buckets/3-16 tubing) on 2x4 divided pan
2022: 150 taps (50/100 b/t) on 2x4 pan with sap warmer pan
2023: SAME
2024: 150 taps, added single-post 4x40 RO system
The newest version of the Sapmeister is a thing of beauty, with a slight trumpet shape that works very well at sending the drip in the right direction.
When I was still using buckets I used the Leader 5/16" aluminum bucket spouts. They have a nice hook on the top to hold the bucket on. The bucket has to have a 3/4" hole in it to slide onto the spout and some older buckets have smaller holes. That's the only problem that I had with them.
Russ
"Red Roof Maples" Where the term "boiling soda" was first introduced to the maple world!
1930 Ford Model AA Doodlebug tractor
A couple of Honda 4 wheelers
Four chainsaws and no chickens!
They work really well, though I’ve found they’re less forgiving if the taps aren’t level. I had a few where the sap was running back to the tree. Was able to fix it easily. I’ll pay more attention next year.
30ish taps, all buckets
StarCat evaporator with divided pan