What Is A Maple Drill Bit?
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Handcrafted in USA Handcrafted in USA Some folks use tubing to connect their spout to a covered bucket that is sitting on the ground. These short lengths of tubing are called “Drop Lines”. If sealed properly, this is a great way to collect sap and keep it clean.
Many folks prefer to attach their drop lines to the spouts while they are sitting in the warmth and comfort of their home rather than attaching each drop line at the tree. The plastic tubing will be more pliable when it is warm vs when it is cold. When you cut your drop lines, make sure it is long enough to reach from your spout to your bucket.
While it is possible to attach spouts to the tubing by hand, a Single Hand Pliers or a LineViper can be very helpful, especially if you are setting up a large volume of drop lines. Lubricating the barbs on the end of the spout with water can also help the spout connect to the tubing with greater ease.
This method connects many trees together and routes all the sap to a single collection location (rather than each tree having its own collection bucket). It’s an incredible time saver and it keeps sap nice and clean.
For the most comprehensive explanation of tubing systems, we point you to the following reputable resources:
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This is a Free Downloadable PDF from Cornell University[/threecol_one][threecol_one_last]
Downloadable PDF or printed copies are available for purchase from MapleResearch.org.
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4 Comments
Kevin
Is there a benefit to installing a vent in your lines to break the siphon? My first year collecting, I have some tree’s tapped singly, and some near each other run with tubing to a common collection bucket. I noticed the sap builds up in the lines, but if I pull the tap from the tree and break the siphon, it flows into the bucket quickly.
Can/should I install a siphon break in-line? Or leave the line at the hydrostatic pressure from the tree and let it drip?
Angela
Hi Kevin
The siphon is typically considered a good thing because it is similar to putting the tree on vacuum. Make sure your lines have enough pitch. Check out the resources provided above for more details in tubing install.
Nick
I had the exact same question. I came across some research suggesting that not venting the lines tends to yield more sap than when you install a vent:
https://mapleresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/1006ventedlaterallines.pdf
I suspect its because of what Angela suggested. The sap buildup in the lines is caused by a bit of a vacuum, and that vacuum helps to draw more sap.
Danny Aerts
How is tubing sized? Are 3/16″ and 5/16″ the inside diameter or outside diameter?
Thank you