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Thread: Tap Hole Viability

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Hudson NH
    Posts
    170

    Default Tap Hole Viability

    Looking for some tapping timing opinions/advice. The last two years here in S. NH I have tapped on the 24th of Feb and pulled the taps around April first all buckets. With my work schedule I have to be done by April 1. My question is, I am switching about half of my taps over to 3/16 tubing this year. If I were to tap my tubing on Feb 1 and pull the taps on April 1 would I expect to have viable tap holes toward the end of March? I know the big guys will tap very early due to sheer volume however they have vacuum etc. I am not using check valves this year but thought I might put out the taps on tubing and wait on the buckets if the weather was a little iffy. Thoughts?

    19x48 mini pro oil fired, Nano R/O, CDL Vacuum Press,Mountain Maple Vacuum setup
    6x12 sugar house off back of shed
    2024-103 Taps Mostly Sugars, Dozen Reds
    "The days are long, but the years are short"

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2015
    Location
    Rumney NH
    Posts
    125

    Default

    I'm up here in Rumney NH and I tap my tubing on the 14 of February. most years. I would think in the south you would tap tubing a couple of weeks earlier. tubing is going to run first and longer. sap runs 7 to 8 weeks on the tubing.
    2017 140 taps 30x8 12x16 shack 28.5 gal
    2018 158 taps 30x8 12x16 shack with 8x8 kitchen 44 gal
    2019 223 taps 30x8 12x16 shack with 8x8 kitchen 36 gal
    2020 226 taps 30x8 12x16 shack with 8x8 kitchen 250 waterloo ro 63 gal
    2021 230 taps 30x8 12x16 shack with 8x8 kitchen 250 waterloo ro 37 gal
    2022 230 taps 30x8 12x16 shack with 8x8 kitchen 250 waterloo ro 55 gal
    2023 235 taps 30x8 12x16 waterloo ro

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,530

    Default

    As long as you have good drop, thus good vacuum, your taps will remain open far longer on 3/16 than buckets do. Even 3+ months is not out of the question. On buckets 4-6 weeks is typical.
    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.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Hudson NH
    Posts
    170

    Default

    Thank you for all the advice. I am going to shoot for the first warm day in February with my tubing. Thank you.

    19x48 mini pro oil fired, Nano R/O, CDL Vacuum Press,Mountain Maple Vacuum setup
    6x12 sugar house off back of shed
    2024-103 Taps Mostly Sugars, Dozen Reds
    "The days are long, but the years are short"

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