It is nice to watch the deer bounce off the mainline, watched it happen last year when I kicked a few up. 2 of the 3 made it through gracefully the last one not so much!
It is nice to watch the deer bounce off the mainline, watched it happen last year when I kicked a few up. 2 of the 3 made it through gracefully the last one not so much!
Maple Man 85
Anthony & Rebecca Renken
2017=200 taps
2018=4000 taps (goal) 3000 taps (actual)
2019=7000 taps (goal)
30x45 Sugar House
4x16 Leader Vortex
www.northwoodsmaplefarm.com
DSD saddles are king! I think spin seals may be good, but I would like to see what happens 5 years out when the sun has worked on them.[/QUOTE]
I am also curious to see what time and weather does to spin seal fittings.
Maple Man 85
Anthony & Rebecca Renken
2017=200 taps
2018=4000 taps (goal) 3000 taps (actual)
2019=7000 taps (goal)
30x45 Sugar House
4x16 Leader Vortex
www.northwoodsmaplefarm.com
So I’m formulating a plan for the tubing system... it’s going to be a bit of a Frankenstein job but experimenting is what pushes the industry... thinking D&G mainline with DSD Saddles with D&G 5/16 laterals with Leader Max Flow 3/16 drops and leader stubby spouts (seasonal Y1 Y2 check valve spouts).
This also allows me to compare 3/16 to 5/16 as one of my properties is all 3/16. Decision is being based on a blend of cost savings on the tubing versus longevity versus material workability. When all is said and done I know not every manufacturer makes the best everything so bringing a combination of supplies together should be very interesting.
Keep the thread going I may continue to change parts of this formula as more people post...
Maple Man 85
Anthony & Rebecca Renken
2017=200 taps
2018=4000 taps (goal) 3000 taps (actual)
2019=7000 taps (goal)
30x45 Sugar House
4x16 Leader Vortex
www.northwoodsmaplefarm.com
Without a doubt I prefer h2o equipment, by far the easiest and best quality in my opinion. There tubing is easy to work with and seals like you wouldn’t believe, and the customer support is great. Just my 2cents. Not a dealer
What is the thought behind using a 3/16 drop on a 5/16 lateral, sap travels back up a 3/16 line up to 4x as far or 12' or more when the trees freeze up at night. I think/thought that most people including me are running 5/16 drops on 3/16 laterals. I certainly understand that you intend to use check valves in year 2 but even still are they as effective on a 3/16 line? I'm not sure.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
I'm not really concerned with sap traveling backwards, once we start the pumps for the year they stay on unless there is an extended freeze. I have 3/16 material left over from my last install and DSD has a 5/16 to 3/16 T fitting. To be perfectly honest I don't know if I'd gain/lose or remain the same in terms of sap per tap.
Maple Man 85
Anthony & Rebecca Renken
2017=200 taps
2018=4000 taps (goal) 3000 taps (actual)
2019=7000 taps (goal)
30x45 Sugar House
4x16 Leader Vortex
www.northwoodsmaplefarm.com
I guess it may not be much of an issue maybe 1 tap isn't enough to fill the drop anyway.
Nate Hutchins
Nate & Kate's Maple
2022 1000 taps?
3x10 Intensofire
20x36 sugarhouse
CDL 600gph RO
A wife and 2 kids.
I like cdl tubing for drops and fittings, D&G stiff for laterals and DSD saddles.
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/
When 3/16" tubing became a thing for suppliers to manufacture, I was looking through fittings at CDL in St Albans. They had a bunch of t's for 5/16 laterals and 3/16 drops. I inquired as to what the idea was there and they said the thinking was that the 3/16" would generate vac. over the length of the drop... oh really I thought... seemed questionable as there is certainly not enough sap to fill the drop in most situations. I see they still have the fittings there but I don't think they have sold very many.
Having experimented with 3/16 on vac for several seasons now, I think one of the major challenges is the fittings clogging up. I do use 5/16 drops and CV2 spouts and change the drop out every other year. This year I used CV2 spouts on some new drops and those seemed to run the longest. As Nate mentioned, backflow in 3/16 is substantial, even on vac, so whatever can be done to minimize blockages and backflow to the taphole seems key with 3/16. The blockage issue is why I would be concerned about the longevity of a fitting for a 3/16 drop on 5/16. I just can't see how 3/16 drops would provide an advantage for sap yields.
And as far as concerns about spin seals lasting... is it the material (same as the mainline) holding up that's the concern, or the weld holding up?
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
And as far as concerns about spin seals lasting... is it the material (same as the mainline) holding up that's the concern, or the weld holding up?[/QUOTE]
I was more concerned about the weld, heating plastic generally makes it more brittle. Maybe with having the proper heat setting they would be just as durable as the mainline itself if the plastic isn't being overheated...
Maple Man 85
Anthony & Rebecca Renken
2017=200 taps
2018=4000 taps (goal) 3000 taps (actual)
2019=7000 taps (goal)
30x45 Sugar House
4x16 Leader Vortex
www.northwoodsmaplefarm.com