Quebecguy
Gold Member
I thought other Forum members might be interested to see the set-up I use to gather maple sap from about 800 buckets. So far this year I've made about 60% of an average year's production.View attachment 461356
Gathering Sap
- Thread starter Quebecguy
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BAP
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Nice setup, 800 buckets must keep you busy. I use a Farmall H with a 125 gallon poly tank on a trailer to gather mine. No buckets, just tubing with 3 tanks.
RobS
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Impressive! Love maple syrup...
Gordon Gould
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That looks like a nice set up for moving thru the woods. 60% so far seems good.
gg
gg
motownbrowne
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If anyone making syrup hasn't heard of the new 3/16" tubing which makes natural vacuum, you NEED to check it out. I just installed a line at my place as an experiment and it really works. It's making more sap on less taps than anywhere else in the woods.
BleedingOrange
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That,s interesting. How does the 3/16 tubing produce natural vacuum ?
motownbrowne
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It fills with sap and creates a siphon. You need an elevation change, ideally 35' or more to work to its full potential, but it can make a lot of vacuum. Google it and find the University of Vermont papers on it.
MossRoad
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This is something I hope to be able to pursue after I retire (someday... someday...). We have about 30 sugar maples on a hillside, with about a 30-40' drop in elevation. I'd love to be able to tap them into tubing, down the hill to a tank and make syrup for the family and friends.
motownbrowne
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Sounds like a prime setup. With 30 sugar maple trees you could put out somewhere between 30-60 taps depending on their size. With this 3/16 tubing or a small vacuum system, you could make between 10-30 gallons of syrup if you get decent temps.
It's a fun and addicting hobby.
OP
Quebecguy
Gold Member
To: BAP, RobS and Gordon Gould,
Thank you for the kind comments regarding my tractor set-up. I used to tap much more than I do now but have found that anything over 800 buckets starts to seem like work! I got caught up with the canning today and found that I`ve only done slightly over 55% of an average season but I am still hoping for a good run or two. How is the season down in the north-east U.S.A.?
Thank you for the kind comments regarding my tractor set-up. I used to tap much more than I do now but have found that anything over 800 buckets starts to seem like work! I got caught up with the canning today and found that I`ve only done slightly over 55% of an average season but I am still hoping for a good run or two. How is the season down in the north-east U.S.A.?