Sap leaking from taps

[DrTimPerkins]

I've had that wet stop around the tap as well. ... I was told not to worry about it.

That is correct. There is often some slight amount of sap weeping around the taphole when tapping or during the first run. This is not an indication that anything is wrong, but rather is simply sap coming from the other edge of the wound. It is normal, but should stop within a day or two.

[dsaw]

I had a fair number of leaking taps after my significant other did the initial tapping when I wasn't around this year. I discovered a good way to fix them is to replace them with 7/16 taps (assuming you're using 5/16 taps). Of course, I'm now running low on 7/16 taps even though I don't want to be using them. I do appreciate the effort, so I know better then to bring it up and replaced them without mentioning it.

[eustis22]

I gotta be the worst driller ever. ALL my tapholes leak. I tried additonal hits with a small modelers hammer but the holes still weep. this year I went in with a slight angle but my hands gotta be unsteady

[DrTimPerkins]

I gotta be the worst driller ever. ALL my tapholes leak. I tried additonal hits with a small modelers hammer but the holes still weep. this year I went in with a slight angle but my hands gotta be unsteady

A small amount of sap weeping around the outside edge of the spout is normal for a few days. DON'T keep pounding them in.

[eustis22]

so it might not be me? Why does this happen?

[DrTimPerkins]

so it might not be me? Why does this happen?

It happens because you have cut a hole in the tree. It is perfectly normal that when you make a wound, sap flows out. Why should it only flow on the inside of the spout? The cut is actually on the outside edge of the spout, so it shouldn't be surprising that some amount of sap that will seep out from that area immediately after wounding or the first time the tree thaws out. However those cells will quickly dry out and stop flowing, but the fresh tissue that stays moist on the inside of the spout will continue to flow. Now if you keep pounding on that spout to get it to stop, then you WILL create a bigger wound (a crack) on the outside of the spout that extends above and below the hole, and this WILL leak more sap and/or be a vacuum leak that you can't stop. So it is best NOT to keep pounding the spouts in after they are properly set. Now a few days/week later when you're out checking for leaks you can tap them in a bit if they are still leaking (unless you've already driven them in too far) or have popped out (typically due to sap freezing in the taphole pushing the spout out), but again, the key thing is to TAP them in, not POUND them in.

[eustis22]

ok...just for the record, I didn't pound them in but gave them a few extra taps with this teeny tiny hammer smaller than a rockhound hammer.

Is there a way to check for cracks? I don't want to harm my trees thru ignorance.

[mapleguy]

Mine seep after I tap, but dry up within a week. Interesting though , I use 7/16 steel spiles for my buckets and they never leak.

[DrTimPerkins]

ok...just for the record, I didn't pound them in but gave them a few extra taps with this teeny tiny hammer smaller than a rockhound hammer.

I am not suggesting you did, but I'm hoping to prevent you (and others) from heading in that direction. Things are starting to get very busy, so I don't have as much time to write a carefully worded reply.

Is there a way to check for cracks? I don't want to harm my trees thru ignorance.

If the cracks are large enough you can see them, but often you can't until later in the summer when the healing is taking place. Your best option at this point is to just hope you didn't, and if not, then the weeping will stop in a few days or a week. if they were over-driven, the weeping could continue all season. If you're on gravity it won't make much difference. If on vacuum, they you'll have a leak. The usual tendency for people trying to fix leaks is to continue driving the spouts....if they already have cracks that usually only makes the problem worse.

[eustis22]

thank you. I appreciate your time.