OK, well I did it.
I tapped a maple tree for the first time.
Pix & narrative are below. I was surprised at how fast it went!
First, I had to figure out the pieces & parts (my stuff from Lehman's was not the usual metal bucket setup, instead a few yrs back I decided ?wisely? to try it with a plastic bag setup).
Yes, you figured it out, I've had this equipment in the closet for a number of years & never got around to it...
So, let's assemble the syrup-catching device.
Metal housing & plastic bags and no instructions, but eventually I made it work and I hope it is right or I'll lose my sap!!!
Pull out flat metal ring & put baggie through it, then fold the edges down over the ring to the outside:
Then sort-of squeeze the metal ring a little bit, so it is thinner, and slide it back into the "shoulder". Then push the ring downward, into the space/track at the bottoms of the shoulder, and it seems to lock/grab hold.
Then, find your drill bit that matches the size of your tree tap spigot things:
And then go to a tree & drill 2-2.5" deep, sloping a bit upward to help sap flow down & out, then gently pound the tap in the hole. Hang the collecting system on the tap, via the hole in one side of the shoulder. The tap has a spine on the top so your collecting system won't slide off.
Voila:
I tapped a maple tree for the first time.
Pix & narrative are below. I was surprised at how fast it went!
First, I had to figure out the pieces & parts (my stuff from Lehman's was not the usual metal bucket setup, instead a few yrs back I decided ?wisely? to try it with a plastic bag setup).
Yes, you figured it out, I've had this equipment in the closet for a number of years & never got around to it...
So, let's assemble the syrup-catching device.
Metal housing & plastic bags and no instructions, but eventually I made it work and I hope it is right or I'll lose my sap!!!
Pull out flat metal ring & put baggie through it, then fold the edges down over the ring to the outside:
Then sort-of squeeze the metal ring a little bit, so it is thinner, and slide it back into the "shoulder". Then push the ring downward, into the space/track at the bottoms of the shoulder, and it seems to lock/grab hold.
Then, find your drill bit that matches the size of your tree tap spigot things:
And then go to a tree & drill 2-2.5" deep, sloping a bit upward to help sap flow down & out, then gently pound the tap in the hole. Hang the collecting system on the tap, via the hole in one side of the shoulder. The tap has a spine on the top so your collecting system won't slide off.
Voila: