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Thread: Leaking bags

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Grand Rapids, MN
    Posts
    17

    Default Leaking bags

    2020 I replaced at least 50 of my 71 bags. Had a good year and its painful to think about what could have been with the sap lost due to bad seals.

    2021, so far I've replaced 20 or so. Each day 2 or 3 more are leaking.

    Bags from CDL. Anyone else having issues? Any recommendations on a better option to supply the bags? I've been doing this for 15 yrs and prior to last year only bags replaced were due to the occasional squirrel and the dead mouse floating in the bag.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Speyside, Ontario
    Posts
    270

    Default

    I put duct tape on the bottom corners of my bags as that's where I've seen the most chew holes. Last year was worse for me. This year I have had zero chew holes. I probably just jinxed myself.

    Edit: I've never had anything dead floating in the bag. I use home made pvc hangers.
    Last edited by wobbletop; 03-18-2021 at 08:56 AM.
    2015 - 8 buckets, 332L sap, 8.5L syrup - Barrel evaporator, 2 steam pans
    2016 - 8 buckets, 432L sap
    2017 - 10 bags, 470L sap, 9L syrup
    2018 - 20 bags, 1050L sap, 17.6L syrup
    2019 - 20 bags, 970L sap, 22.2L syrup
    2020 - 17 bags, 813L sap, 17L syrup

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    I use the bags from Smoky Lake that have the gallons marked on them. They seem to be heavier duty.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Poland wisconsin
    Posts
    10

    Default leaking bags

    I also had quite a bit of problems of rubbing against silver maples . Someone recommended to use old washed bags from last year and double bag them . I have tried it
    this year and it is working quite well

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    St. Johns, Michigan
    Posts
    101

    Default

    I used bags for two years and ran into a couple of problems which were during a storm the bark would wear a hole in them causing a leak and squirrels. This year I replaced all bags with buckets and really the benefits have been: Almost double the storage of sap at the tree giving me options to boil, sap quality is better at the end of the season due no sunlight penetrating the bucket, clear sap and no squirrel damage. Our loss of sap at the tree has gone way down.
    2022 - 157 taps, 40 gallons of syrup
    2021 - 171 taps buckets and tubing, 41 gallons of syrup
    2020 - 225 taps bags and tubing, 45 gallons of syrup
    2019 - 180 taps buckets and bags, 50 gallons of syrup
    Lapierre 2x8 Vision with reverse flow, hood & preheater
    Leader Micro2 RO
    Lapierre 10" short bank press

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