Good job on the sap ladder. Started maple syrup when I bought the farm in 2007. No experience but joined the Michigan maple syrup producers association. The association is big on education and they welcomed me with great enthusiasm. I took my syrup to be judged and get a technical evaluation. I even placed in the top 3 for table syrup! I a DIY person who can weld stainless steel. Made a few different wood fired evaporators and bought a 2x6 new leader raised flue. Sold everything and now down to a 2x4 devided pan propane fired with 100 check ball taps. I usually have a neighbor interested in learning and thats where my evaporators are Sold. 30 acre woods for logging . About 100 taps since 2007 2x4 propane devided pan. 100 check ball taps 3in diaphragm vacuum pump Electric 4x4 golf cart 2x2 Rokon, 4x4 43hp kubota. Retired trade school educator .
From Remsen NY here, Foothills of the Adirondacks. Been doing maple for a decade. Haven't had a season that I didn't spend more than I make, but it makes me happy 😊
I am from the province of Québec in Canada, just built my sugar shack and received my evaporator last Friday. Will start by tapping 200 trees next February. A total newbie.
Super helpful video!!!! I have a small equestrian property (just under 2 acres) with only 36 trees in south western Quebec. Going on year 3 tapping my trees and wanted to set up a small vaccuum line so I don't have to lug buckets as I get older and my back and hips get more useless lol! Property is pretty flat but I needed to lift the line over my driveway high enough to drive a gooseneck horse trailer under it. Your video was super easy to follow and really down to earth. Can't wait to learn more from you :)
I can’t believe you only have 1.11k subs. You have so much knowledge and I like that you want to help people like me! I’m from Vermont and we just bought a 221 acre farm with a 3,000 tap sugar bush. We plan on tapping 50 taps this year so I’ll probably buy my materials from you. Thanks again!
I know this video is a couple of years old but hope you still get this message. My maples and sugar house are close to a mile apart. With all the deep snow we get here in Ontario Canada it gets tough on equipment trying to haul sap back with tractor. What would your suggestion be to pump sap from the woods to the sugar house? Elevation is probably not too bad...maybe 20-30' at the high point. I have a 1" gas pump but don't think that would be powerful enough to push that distance.
Hi Maple Dude, I own a farm in VT with about 3000 taps. Haven't started sugaring yet, but hoping to build a new sugarhouse this summer. Love your operation and the content you provide!
@@TheMapleDude1 Would this lift with a smaller shurflo pump, or do you need a more powerful system? Im running about 150 trees and half would get back using a lift.
We run a gravity system and are unfamiliar with the nuances surrounding vacuum. What is the purpose of this? Why couldnt you just run the lower main line up to the upper mainline and skip using this ladder?
@@TheMapleDude1 at 15:00 you have two wires wrapped around the tree protected by black pipe. They are close together facing the same way. Are you using two wires to hang your main line? What is the purpose?
@@MapleBearMike one IS the mainline wire itself, the other is a shorter wire that pulls tension on the mainline tubing by means of the tension grip. see my total tubing install video for more details.
Some people are using a jumper in conjuction with sap ladders. A Tee on each top and bottom main line and a 3/4" piece of tubing connecting them. I'm curious if anyone on here has done this. My team sat in on a class with Cornell at LEME and Childs taught the class. We have 100 sap ladders in one woods... we are interested in this jumper method .
@@TheMapleDude1 me too. In larger applications it might increase yield. I'm going to try it this year and see if it improves vacuum at the end of the lines. Plus no "jump starting"
Central Illinois. 4th year. Made 130 gallons last season. Definitely needing help with tubing. I don't even know what my options are. Im the only one around. 300 taps last season. Going to add 100 this year
You can skip the valve and that bottom length of mainline past the lower star fitting. Its only going to trap sap that will go rank by seasons end. Dead end it at the bottom star using an elbow. One should never induce an air leak for a ladder but if one insist it is normally put at the far end of the run not at the beginning. Rule of thumb is each leg of 5/16 on a ladder will accommodate 5 taps, a 6 star lift would be ideal for lifting 30 taps. 2-6 start lifts for 60 taps etc. using this rule of thumb will eliminate any need for a self induced vac leak.
I disagree. What I've shown works well. I've done this before. And I advised against adding a leak. And the valve is good to put in to drain thar bottom line and lifted section when done. I'll do it this way every time.
@@TheMapleDude1 I personally do not run a drain valve on my ladders. I am firm believer in the less fittings the better. When seasons over the lines are flushed at the taps and pumps are left running to dry the lines out. I look at that extra length of main past the ladder like I look at the last T on a lateral, If its a regular T sap is trapped in the section upstream of the T and left to spoil. I try to avoid such scenarios. If works for you thats great, was just pointing out a different effective way as well.
Good job on the sap ladder.
Started maple syrup when I bought the farm in 2007.
No experience but joined the Michigan maple syrup producers association.
The association is big on education and they welcomed me with great enthusiasm. I took my syrup to be judged and get a technical evaluation. I even placed in the top 3 for table syrup! I a DIY person who can weld stainless steel. Made a few different wood fired evaporators and bought a 2x6 new leader raised flue. Sold everything and now down to a 2x4 devided pan propane fired with 100 check ball taps. I usually have a neighbor interested in learning and thats where my evaporators are Sold.
30 acre woods for logging .
About 100 taps since 2007
2x4 propane devided pan.
100 check ball taps
3in diaphragm vacuum pump
Electric 4x4 golf cart
2x2 Rokon,
4x4 43hp kubota.
Retired trade school educator .
Thanks for watching John! You got bit by the maple bug and no telling if you'll ever recover.
From Remsen NY here, Foothills of the Adirondacks. Been doing maple for a decade. Haven't had a season that I didn't spend more than I make, but it makes me happy 😊
That's the case with most people.. It's a hobby for most. Big and small.. Good luck this season..
I am from the province of Québec in Canada, just built my sugar shack and received my evaporator last Friday. Will start by tapping 200 trees next February. A total newbie.
Good luck and keep in touch!
Super helpful video!!!! I have a small equestrian property (just under 2 acres) with only 36 trees in south western Quebec. Going on year 3 tapping my trees and wanted to set up a small vaccuum line so I don't have to lug buckets as I get older and my back and hips get more useless lol! Property is pretty flat but I needed to lift the line over my driveway high enough to drive a gooseneck horse trailer under it. Your video was super easy to follow and really down to earth. Can't wait to learn more from you :)
Thanks for letting me know it helped.
I can’t believe you only have 1.11k subs. You have so much knowledge and I like that you want to help people like me! I’m from Vermont and we just bought a 221 acre farm with a 3,000 tap sugar bush. We plan on tapping 50 taps this year so I’ll probably buy my materials from you. Thanks again!
Man thanks I appreciate hearing that. It seems hard to grow on YT these days. Thanks for your support.
@@TheMapleDude1 Hey Dude I was on your website and couldn’t find any sap line supplies... am I missing something?
@@AlmostItalianBrothers sorry i don't have maple supplies yet on the website. Email me with what you want and i can get an order going.
I know this video is a couple of years old but hope you still get this message. My maples and sugar house are close to a mile apart. With all the deep snow we get here in Ontario Canada it gets tough on equipment trying to haul sap back with tractor. What would your suggestion be to pump sap from the woods to the sugar house? Elevation is probably not too bad...maybe 20-30' at the high point. I have a 1" gas pump but don't think that would be powerful enough to push that distance.
I would go with 1.5" pipe or 1.25" at a minimum. And then use a 2" gas transfer pump if there's no power back in the woods.
@@TheMapleDude1 Appreciate the reply! thanks
Hi Maple Dude, I own a farm in VT with about 3000 taps. Haven't started sugaring yet, but hoping to build a new sugarhouse this summer. Love your operation and the content you provide!
Thanks I think the maple audience out there on YT is a small one. But those who are into it do like it.
Hi, we are From Québec city, 2000 taps. Love your vids man!
Great good to hear from you!
How many taps per 5/16 for the sap ladder. Sizing for the sap ladder.
About 10 per line.
Love the video learned a lot from it. I was wondering if you could do more videos on vacuum systems because I just installed one in my woods this year
Thanks! Glad you liked. Check out my complete tubing install video. It's on my channel.
How high could you lift sap is there a distance it will not lift
About 15 to 20 feet with good vacuum.
Were do you get the wire ties & the twister ????
I sell them. Contact me.
2 years later out in CT
We all 6 learn in our own
Timing.
Thanks for making the videos learn a lot .. from Wausau
Thanks Chris good to hear!
Hi Dude from Haliburton Ontario. How high can this system lift?
About 10 ft is my recommendation. Then to go higher install yet another lift.
@@TheMapleDude1 Would this lift with a smaller shurflo pump, or do you need a more powerful system? Im running about 150 trees and half would get back using a lift.
@@sajaco01 i would use a pump that can pull 20 HG min, figure you need 1 cfm per 100 taps. do you know the cfm of the pump you have?
We run a gravity system and are unfamiliar with the nuances surrounding vacuum. What is the purpose of this? Why couldnt you just run the lower main line up to the upper mainline and skip using this ladder?
The gases (air) in the Sap from the trees escaping up the ladder lines are what takes the Sap up with it.
What the reasoning for doubling up your bottom mainline wire?
I'm not sure what you mean? Can you elaborate?
@@TheMapleDude1 at 15:00 you have two wires wrapped around the tree protected by black pipe. They are close together facing the same way. Are you using two wires to hang your main line? What is the purpose?
@@MapleBearMike one IS the mainline wire itself, the other is a shorter wire that pulls tension on the mainline tubing by means of the tension grip. see my total tubing install video for more details.
Some people are using a jumper in conjuction with sap ladders. A Tee on each top and bottom main line and a 3/4" piece of tubing connecting them. I'm curious if anyone on here has done this.
My team sat in on a class with Cornell at LEME and Childs taught the class. We have 100 sap ladders in one woods... we are interested in this jumper method .
I've never used that as this has worked for what I want to do.
@@TheMapleDude1 me too. In larger applications it might increase yield. I'm going to try it this year and see if it improves vacuum at the end of the lines. Plus no "jump starting"
@@BissellMapleFarm it may help
Central Illinois. 4th year. Made 130 gallons last season. Definitely needing help with tubing. I don't even know what my options are. Im the only one around. 300 taps last season. Going to add 100 this year
Will the bottom line have thesame amont of vacuum as the main? It seems like the answer is yes.
It will have less after the sap lift
Did you see my total tubing install video?
@@TheMapleDude1 looking for it
What is the maximum practical height you can go with the sap ladder?
Figure 1 foot per inch of Hg.
@@TheMapleDude1 I don't understand your answer, can you please be more specific?
@@audreybarker6420 what is your vac pump capable of?
Why don’t you use a cordless drill for your clamps
Just don't want to carry another tool along.
So is that all gravity drop lines
@@Basskler no its vacuum.
👍👍👍
Thanks
You can skip the valve and that bottom length of mainline past the lower star fitting. Its only going to trap sap that will go rank by seasons end. Dead end it at the bottom star using an elbow. One should never induce an air leak for a ladder but if one insist it is normally put at the far end of the run not at the beginning. Rule of thumb is each leg of 5/16 on a ladder will accommodate 5 taps, a 6 star lift would be ideal for lifting 30 taps. 2-6 start lifts for 60 taps etc. using this rule of thumb will eliminate any need for a self induced vac leak.
I disagree. What I've shown works well. I've done this before. And I advised against adding a leak. And the valve is good to put in to drain thar bottom line and lifted section when done. I'll do it this way every time.
@@TheMapleDude1 I personally do not run a drain valve on my ladders. I am firm believer in the less fittings the better. When seasons over the lines are flushed at the taps and pumps are left running to dry the lines out. I look at that extra length of main past the ladder like I look at the last T on a lateral, If its a regular T sap is trapped in the section upstream of the T and left to spoil. I try to avoid such scenarios. If works for you thats great, was just pointing out a different effective way as well.