Rapi-Tube vs Pipe/wire

[IPL Technical Support]

Thanks for the feedback Mr. Blaisdell!

We'll make sure to update our comparaison table with the prices you guys provided us. We'll try to determine how many months or years it would take to see the profit of using Rapi-Tube.

IPL

First let me start by saying I believe you are making a great product that fills a definite need for some producers. But economically it does not work for me. The black pipe I use is standard waterline sold by Goodrich Maple and that is their regular price. When all figured in it costs me 28 cents plus my labor to run it. As you state it costs 78 cents to run your pipe. So for 1000 feet of pipe I am saving $500. Now that is a considerable difference in costs. Now I know for a fact that I can run by myself more than 1000 feet of wire, pipe, and wire tie it in less than a day. But it is hard for me to make $500 working out anywhere in a day. I just dont see the savings. Now I know that your comparisons are to other blue pipe, but as I dont use blue pipe I have to compare it to what I use.

Thank you
Thad

[IPL Technical Support]

Hello Flatlander,

We are returning back from a maple show in Verona, NY and I have talked with some producers who are in the same position as you. Quoting them: "Rapi-Tube was the system we were dreaming of!"

I think you should give a call to your nearest CDL Dealer and ask for prices!

Regards,
IPL Technical Support

This is my first comment on this site. Just joined last week.

I am debating on putting up the rapid tubing on my neighbors ground that he normally grazes cattle on. Currently I just run 5/16 tubing for everything and take it down each spring so the cattle don't eat it as well as the squirrels!

Is anyone using the rapid tubing where they have to put it up and take down each season? What is the best way you found to do this? I have thought about using unions at the Y's to make it easier to coil back up on a drum.

Appreciate your thoughts.

[nwoods57]

I'm using black pipe this year, can anyone tell me how much pitch i need to have the sap run through it. I'm depending on gravity not using any pumps.

[ennismaple]

On gravity I wouldn't go flatter than 2% (2ft fall in 100ft). We do vacuum mainlines at 1% (or flatter sometimes) but we use a transit and rod to make sure it's falling and many mainline supports / tiebacks to get the sags out.

[nwoods57]

I have to run the main line about 5oo ft. that means i would have to start about 10 ft off the ground. Does that seem possible?

[unc23win]

I have to run the main line about 5oo ft. that means I would have to start about 10 ft off the ground. Does that seem possible?

You would start at your collection tank whatever height that is and go up 2 feet per hundred feet of line. You have to take the elevation of the ground into consideration if the ground rises at all then that is included in the rise. If the ground is completely flat no rise you would want it up 10' if your using 2% however if that the case you probably would go with less slope as 10' is high although some do it.

[mapleack]

You can do 1% even with gravity, if you have enough tie backs to keep sags out of the pipe. It helps to have a const. leve / transit to check, and also helps to have translucent maple pipe so you can actually see sap backed up if you have a low spot. If you dont have enough trees for tie backs, use steel t posts every 30 feet or so as tie back anchors. Don't try hanging the mainline from them like fence, that'll cause high spots, drive them in 6 ft back from the main then pull it towards the post with a tie back. If you start with a snug line then add tiebacks like this you can make low grade work.

[nwoods57]

Thanks guys for your info .