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Thread: Minimum Gravity Fall

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    Cincinnati, OH
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    Question Minimum Gravity Fall

    Forgive me if this has been asked before... but what is the absolute minimum for fall (not worried about natural vac, but would be nice)?

    Residential setting with total mainline (1/2") distance of under 100' (more like 88-90') with laterals branching off another 30-45'.

    Will be tapping a little higher on the trees with the laterals (maybe just under BH). I know I will need the 55 gal barrel below grade (some), and will be pumping into above grade IBC for larger capacity (330gal)) but would like to minimize my digging based on your suggestions.

    1/4" per 10'? 1" per 10'?

    Also, I have read something about this on another post, but cannot find it. What is the easiest way to tell fall (over 90') without a transit? Was thinking about getting my wire strung and in place then take a simple inclinometer and put a few º on it.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
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    Kingsbury, New York, United States
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    On a 100 ft run just eyeballing should be pretty accurate. If you want more precice measure then put a clear piece of hose on either end and fill with water. Measure the water rise in each hose and take the difference. If you have 2 ft drop from hi end to lo you have more than enough slope. Don't be afraid to tap high on end trees. I probably have 30+ taps at 10-12 ft in the air to make them work on our lines, just back wheeler up to tree and stand on rear rack. Easier than a ladder

  3. #3
    lpakiz Guest

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    I would consider 1% to be minimum. That's 1 foot per 100 feet. Or 1 inch per hundred inches. Even then, you will have to have supports no farther apart than 25 feet. That computes out to 3 inches every 25 feet. Of course, a bit more fall is better. Use a clear tube and water to set the grade on the posts. Or a transit if you can get vision thru the trees and brush.
    Last edited by lpakiz; 02-04-2014 at 02:43 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
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    Halifax, VT.
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    You could also take any level 18" or longer and just sight down the top of it. Either prop it on something or have someone hold it level. Its plenty accurate.
    Sean

    2013-1st year...94 taps, 12x24 sugarhouse, home built evap. Gast 2065 pump with bender
    releaser.
    2014-30x36 sugarhouse, 2.5x10 "Jutras" evaporator, 1200+ taps on vacuum, sap brothers RO. 2 sihi 2 stage pumps, 440 gal.

    2015- 1000gph memtek RO, 3250 Taps, 1200 gallons

    2016- Modified grimm 4'x12' evaporator with auf and aof with air preheater. Home built airtight arch front. 4250 taps?

    2017- 2400gph. Lapierre RO, 10" filter press, 5000 taps

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Salt Point, NY
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    Quote Originally Posted by madmapler View Post
    You could also take any level 18" or longer and just sight down the top of it. Either prop it on something or have someone hold it level. Its plenty accurate.
    I also found that this worked well for us.

    I also found that a handheld GPS with altimeter is reasonably useful for confirming if you really do have 10-20 feet rise over a couple hundred feet when it's not so obvious by sight. And it allows you to make cool maps of your maple woods!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    toronto
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    283

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    mount an old rifle scope to an 18" level....
    2010 40 buckets- 4 gals finished
    2011 80 buckets- 14 gals finished
    2012 105 buckets- 8 gals finished
    2013 maxed at 130 buckets- 24 gals finished
    2014 new max at 240 buckets- 18 gals finished
    2015 newest max 240 buckets-+48 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22.5 gals finished
    2016 150 taps on 3/16 gravity- 23 gals finished
    2020 250 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22 gals finished
    2021 385 taps on 3/16 gravity 25 gals finished
    2022 385 taps on 3/16 gravity- 26 gals finished

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Lyman, NH
    Posts
    2,311

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    Quote Originally Posted by madmapler View Post
    You could also take any level 18" or longer and just sight down the top of it. Either prop it on something or have someone hold it level. Its plenty accurate.
    You can use a small mirror to see the bubble at the same time as you are sighting down the level. (poor man's sight level)
    2012: Probably 750 gravity taps and 50 buckets.

    600 gal stainless milk tank.
    2 - 100 gallon stock tanks
    one 30 gal barrel
    50 buckets

    3' x 10' Waterloo Raised Flue wood fired evaporator w/ open pans.

    12" x 20" Filter Canner

    Sawmill next to sugarhouse solves my sugarwood problem

    Gather with GMC 3500 2wd Pickup w/ 425 gallon Plastic Tank.

    Been tapping here in Lyman NH since 1989 but I've been sugaring since 8 years old in 1968.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Clarion, PA
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    29

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    Quote Originally Posted by PerryW View Post
    You can use a small mirror to see the bubble at the same time as you are sighting down the level. (poor man's sight level)
    Just make sure you have the mirror adjusted correctly or you might be looking at the wrong "bubble". Ha hahahaha! just kidding!
    2014 - 330 taps on high vacuum, new RO/Pump house, Home Made RO (2 XLE 4040)
    2013 - 230 taps on low vacuum, new 2x8 from Smokey Lake Maple, small 5 plate press from Yeany's Maple Products (Lapierre)
    2012 - 26 buckets over a copper kettle heated with Natural Gas (outside)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Ashtabula County, Ohio
    Posts
    1,792

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    I tried mounting a green dot laser pointer on a 3 foot level. You could see the dot hundreds of feet away during the day. However, I was not sure how accurate this would be so I couldn't trust it.
    1000 taps on vac down to 100+ buckets 99% sugars
    2x5 SL Hi-Output Raised Flue Corsair evaporator
    SL Short bank press with CDL diaphragm pump
    Leader Micro 1 RO for 2024
    Constantly changing
    2010:36 gal 2011:126 gal 2012:81 gal 2013:248 gal 2014: 329.5 gal 2015:305 gal 2016:316 gal 2017:258 gal 2018:147 gal 2019:91 gal 2020:30 gal 2021:30 gal 2023:50 gal Total since 2010: 2047.5 gal
    Tapping the same trees my great, great and great grandfathers tapped.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2009
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    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
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    Quote Originally Posted by jcyphert View Post
    Just make sure you have the mirror adjusted correctly or you might be looking at the wrong "bubble".
    Of course with the level you're looking for dips....so incorrect mirror adjustment might just result in finding one. Fixing it might be more difficult.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

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