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Thread: 3/16 natural vacuum SPOUTS

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    vermont
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    233

    Default 3/16 natural vacuum SPOUTS

    So what are people using for spouts this year? We have used the black D&G spouts. Last year we had some of them and some of the clear CDL spouts. We get pretty good natural vacuum on most of our lines. I know there has been a lot of data on the color of spouts. Haven’t bought spots for this year. What are people trying or using this year?
    Thanks as always.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Bristol, VT
    Posts
    1,978

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    On 3/16 I use a T with a 5/16 drop and then use a poly check valve spout or a CDL smart spout if the tubing is new.
    About 750 taps on High Vac.
    2.5 x 8 Intens-O-Fire
    Airtech 3 hp LR Pump
    Springtech Elite 500 RO
    14 x 24 Timber Frame SugarHouse
    16 x 22 Sap Shed w/ 1500 gal. + 700 gal. tanks
    www.littlehogbackfarm.com

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    NE PA (Pocono's)
    Posts
    1,426

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    I like clear cdl smart spouts. Easy leak check
    CDL 2x8
    Around 4000 taps
    Polaris ATVs, Ski Doo snowmobiles to get around
    Atlas Copco pumps
    Lapierre two post RO




    http://s272.photobucket.com/albums/j...Sugar%20shack/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,391

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul VT View Post
    I know there has been a lot of data on the color of spouts. Haven’t bought spots for this year. What are people trying or using this year?
    How spout color will affect yield over a season depends upon the temperature and amount of sun we get during the season. In some years black does better; some years light does better, some years clear does better. Generally they are all really close unless it's a hot sunny season, in which case black spouts don't do so well. So...if you can give me an accurate and detailed weather forecast for your area over the next two months, I can try advise you which color to use.

    Barring that...if you have a normally cold sugarbush, choose a darker-color spout. If you have a normally warm sugarbush, choose a light-colored spout. Clear spouts normally run about the same as a light-color, and have the added advantage of being able to observe leaks directly.

    All the variety of tints really (probably) don't do much in terms of sap yield, but they are made so the big operators can give each member of the crew different colors to allow them to check and correct problems/tapping issues.

    We tend to use clear spouts.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Bow, NH
    Posts
    622

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    I have good luck with 3/16 drop with a DSD Stars .225 thin wall tap. Thin walls don't seem to leak at the tap hole. Color depends on my mood when ordering.
    Bruce Treat
    825 Sugar Maple Taps
    3/16 w/ DSD .225 Spiles
    H2O RO
    H2O 2.5 X 8
    Bow, New Hampshire

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    vermont
    Posts
    233

    Default

    All good advice. Thanks. Have used the black D&G spouts most years. Last year used a mix of those and clear (mostly clear). Never got a good run. It’s a cold bush so what Tim said makes sense. Think we will go with black.
    Thanks again.

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