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Thread: Screwing a hook to maple trees.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    Crivitz, Wisconsin
    Posts
    52

    Default Screwing a hook to maple trees.

    Do you think it will be a problem if my screw a hook into my maple trees to hang the buckets from? I plan on leaving the hook in place for several years before taking it out. I just am tired of placing a chunk of wood on top of the buckets...only to see it tipped over when I collect a few days later. I picked up 100 galvanized hooks from Menards when they were free after rebate. I was thinking of screwing the hook in a location close to a previous tap hole because that area should be already damaged and not leak much sap. I know removing it eventually is important being a firewood cutter.
    Dan of Jack & Daniel's syrup.
    2021 - First time tapper, 40 TAPS, 7 GAL syrup
    2022- 105 taps, 17 gal syrup,
    2023- 143 taps, New permanent 12x16 shack. Lost my father in law Jack who helped me build it. His name lives on in our syrup. New Badgerland filter press.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    I would have to believe there is a better solution for your buckets rather than creating more damage to your trees.
    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

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

    Default

    Since you want to drill new wood every year, how many screw hooks will you install?
    I don't think it's a god idea. When using buckets you should locate last years tap hole, move over about 3" and up or down 6". I don't see a semi-permanent screw hook a help for more than year 1.
    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
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Murrysville, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    476

    Default

    Will the bucket hang on this hook? Why not hang on the spile? Or set on ground and run a drop line to it. The excess damage to the tree is not a good idea.
    D. Roseum
    www.roseummaple.com
    ~100 taps on 3/16 custom temp controlled vacuum; shurflo vacuum #2; custom nat gas evap with auto-drawoff and tank level gas shut-off controller; homemade RO #1; homemade RO #2; SL SS filter press
    2021: 27.1 gallons
    2022: 35 gallons

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Location
    Crivitz, Wisconsin
    Posts
    52

    Default

    The buckets will have a drop line going to it. The line will be 2-3 feet long so if the bucket is hanging from the hook I should be able to reach it with a line for many tapping seasons. I found by putting the buckets on the ground they do not sit level as the ground always is higher at the base of the tree. I tried putting log quarters on top of the lid but with uneven ground and possibly inquisitive deer I many times found my buckets tipped over. These are 6 gallon buckets that I can only empty on the weekend so too heavy to be supported off the plastic tap. I was rethinking and I have access to unlimited supply of plastic banding from my work. I could make a belt to go around the tree and screw that to a block of wood that has the hook in it. Then the belt could be rotated around the tree for future holes or loosened as the tree grew in diameter. I assume that within 5 years I would go to vacuum as I already have a 1hp vac pump and reds do better on vac. I retire in 4 years so then I could stay up at the cabin longer during the season. Just don't think the vac would work now being a weekend boiler.
    Dan of Jack & Daniel's syrup.
    2021 - First time tapper, 40 TAPS, 7 GAL syrup
    2022- 105 taps, 17 gal syrup,
    2023- 143 taps, New permanent 12x16 shack. Lost my father in law Jack who helped me build it. His name lives on in our syrup. New Badgerland filter press.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2018
    Location
    Merrill, Wisconsin
    Posts
    69

    Default

    I have the same setup with buckets and drop lines to them and only check them on the weekends as I have a 3 hour drive to our cabin. If I need to level a bucket I will put a branch or something what ever I find here the tree to help level. And then I have 6" field stones that I locate under the snow by my trees to put on top of the bucket that is usually enough weight to keep them standing. If there is snow on the ground, I always dig down to the ground before placing the buckets so there is no tipping as the snow melts and I will also pile snow in around the buckets if I can.
    Bryan

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Bgreisch View Post
    I have the same setup with buckets and drop lines to them and only check them on the weekends as I have a 3 hour drive to our cabin. If I need to level a bucket I will put a branch or something what ever I find here the tree to help level. And then I have 6" field stones that I locate under the snow by my trees to put on top of the bucket that is usually enough weight to keep them standing. If there is snow on the ground, I always dig down to the ground before placing the buckets so there is no tipping as the snow melts and I will also pile snow in around the buckets if I can.
    Bryan
    I also use 5 gallon buckets on the ground and only collect once a week, and I do the same. My sugarbush is very hilly, so it is sometimes impossible to find enough level spots for two or even one bucket. I sometimes take downed branches and run them between the tree I'm tapping and the nearest tree to make a platform that the bucket can sit on. And yes, I also use nearby stones and sometimes even dig a divot out of the ground if need be.
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

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