UV in a tap hole ??

[DrTimPerkins]

It is a combination of the dead and live bacteria and the natural tree response to microorganisms within the tree that gums up the open vessels.

The bacteria produce a mucilage that is gummy/scummy (like what is in the bottom of sap tanks) which does affect flow to some degree.

Interestingly, in terms of the tree response it doesn't matter much if the bacteria are dead or alive. The tree "senses" bacteria in the taphole, and moves substances into that area to plug off the affected vessels. This is done to prevent the "infection" from spreading throughout the tree.

Tim P.
UVM PMRC

[Ace_R]

Anyone seen those SteriPens used for purifying water? Couldn't you use that as part of your tapping regime? Drill a hole, sanitize the hole with the SteriPen, tap in your sanitzed spile?

Here is the website for those of you who haven't seen it......http://www.steripen.com/index.html

[Brent]

that looks pretty close to what I was thinking about.

From the pictures it looks like the bulb is too big to go into a tap hole and the sterilizing time would be trial and error. For me the time would not be an issue but is would have a big impact on tapping time for 10,000 taps.