Drop Size on 3/16" tubing
Is there any empirical evidence showing whether or not a 5/16" drop to a 3/16" line yields more or less sap than a 3/16" drop to a 3/16" line?
I know there are several other factors involved such as elevation drop, number of taps, weather, etc. but wanted to ask.
I figured that a 3/16" drop to 3/16" line would yield higher vacuum thus higher sap yield, but this year is showing me otherwise, at least so far.
Thanks
2015- Didn't know my new property enough to tap anything. 4-feet of snow on the ground.
2016- 41 Taps with home made barrel evaporator. Made 1.5 gallons syrup.
2017- 79 Taps with home made block arch evaporator. Made 2.47 gallons syrup
2018- 91 Taps again with home made block arch. Homemade RO worked great. Made 6.96 gallons syrup.
2019- 84 Taps. Building another arch. RO in place. New Smoky Lake 2x4 Divided Pan. Everything switched to 3/16" tubing.
My understanding from others here is 5/16 is preferred not for sap volume but to prevent the tree from sucking sap back into the tree when temps drop, like a reverse vacuum. I tried 5/16 drops on my 3/16 lines this year but haven’t concluded anything yet on its performance.
Tom
Tom
2022 is season 7
2016: 20 taps on buckets, 4 gallons on a borrowed 2x3.
2017: 32 taps on buckets, 8 gallons of syrup, on a "loaner" Lapierre 19x48.
2018: 80 taps. First time tubing. New 10x12 sugar shack, Lapierre 2x5. Made 17 gallons
2019: 100 taps. 22 gallons. Added a small RO 50 gph.
2020: 145 taps, 30 gallons, sold half. Murphy cup is a great addition.
2021: tapped Feb 23, 150 taps, 35 gallons.
2022: 200 taps. I lost 50, added 100. Having fun but short season?
That's interesting, I'd never heard of this or thought through the possibility that it could draw sap back up into the tree...I'm ready for the Maple Research Center guy to show up and debunk this.
--
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
Tom-
I have seen this phenomenon myself this year where the sap either hangs out in the tubing or actually will run in reverse. I never saw this with the 5/16" drops. It would be nice to hear from Dr. Tim.
Thanks
2015- Didn't know my new property enough to tap anything. 4-feet of snow on the ground.
2016- 41 Taps with home made barrel evaporator. Made 1.5 gallons syrup.
2017- 79 Taps with home made block arch evaporator. Made 2.47 gallons syrup
2018- 91 Taps again with home made block arch. Homemade RO worked great. Made 6.96 gallons syrup.
2019- 84 Taps. Building another arch. RO in place. New Smoky Lake 2x4 Divided Pan. Everything switched to 3/16" tubing.
This is the science to the check valve tap. It keeps the trees from sucking the sap back into the tree and causing the holes to close up. I have switched to 5/16 drops on 3/16 lines this year and can already see the sap does not fill the 5/16 drop so hopefully will protect the taphole. We will see.
2021 230 Taps on vacuum
Smokylake 2X6 pan set with auto drawoff
Homebuilt 2 4x40 membrane RO
Homebuilt filter press
Rebuilt arch with under and over the fire air we have named V 2.0
Smokylake steam bottler
Hoods and preheater
500 gallon vertical polytank to store sap for RO
Adding a laser eye to my bottler for autofill/stop
I assume there is some kind of transmogrified tee that takes a 5/16 drop to plug into a 3/16 lateral?
Can check valve spiles be re-used?
2024 - New Maine resident, 12X12 sugar shack under construction
2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO
Yes you can buy the 3/16 x 5/16 x 3/16 tee anywhere you get 3/16 supplies.
2021 230 Taps on vacuum
Smokylake 2X6 pan set with auto drawoff
Homebuilt 2 4x40 membrane RO
Homebuilt filter press
Rebuilt arch with under and over the fire air we have named V 2.0
Smokylake steam bottler
Hoods and preheater
500 gallon vertical polytank to store sap for RO
Adding a laser eye to my bottler for autofill/stop
The 5/16 drop has less chance of having sap pulled back into the tree, because in 5/16 as it freezes the sap falls while the gases (air) gets pulled in. Unlike a 3/16 where the sap does not pass the air of vice versa.
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.
My plan is to replace all my drops next year with 5/16ths.
Noel Good
1998 to 2009: 15 taps on buckets, scavenged fire pit and pans
2010: New 2x4 SS flat pan w/preheater
2015: New to me Lapierre 18x60 raised flue, new shack, new everything!! 59 taps 23.75 gallons
2016: 85 taps 19 gallons
2017: Purchased 2.5 acres and tubed half with 3/16. 145 taps total 49.25 gallons
2018: 200 taps (162 on 3/16ths 38 on buckets) New NextGen RO 63 gallons
2019: 210 taps 73.5 gallons
2023: 210 taps 89.75 gallons
www.wnybass.com
I quit buying CV spouts when I switched to 5/16 drops.Originally Posted by eustis22
The most sap I have seen in the 5/16 drops is 14". That equates to 1.07 cubic inches. That would fill 38" of 3/16. the 3/16-5/16-3/16 tees are readily available and cheaper than CV spouts- win win.
'12 15 jugs - Steam pans
'17 125 3/16 - 18" x 72" drop flue on homemade arch
'18 240 3/16 - Deer Run 125
'19 450 3/16 - Converted RO to electric/added a membrane
'20 600 3/16 - Maple Pro 2x6 Raised Flue, added AOF/AUF
'21 570 3/16 - Built steam hood, Smoky Lake filter press
'22 800 3/16 - Upgraded RO to 4 4x40
'23 500 3/16 - Re-plumbed RO, new "Guzzler"
'24 500 3/16 - Steam Away, DIY 8x40 RO
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