These buckets will work with the above-listed spiles. They will work with a 7/16" drill bitīuckets to hang off trees: You will need a container to collect the sap as it flows out of the spile. We are recommending these stainless steel tree tapping spiles from Amazon. *It can be very difficult to find the proper spiles for tree tapping online we found. ![]() The sap flows through the spile and either into the bucket or container that is attached to it, or flows down the tube into the bucket on the ground. Spiles (or the taps): These are small spouts that are inserted into the holes in the tree. The spiles we recommend next require a drill hole size of 7/16". *The drill bit set we suggested for your drill comes with both 5/16" and 7/16" which can both be hard to find for tree tapping. *Everything we recommend here will all work together in terms of sizing and fitting.Ī drill and a proper drill bit set for it (we highly recommend this drill and set, it's the one we are using in the photos below. You will need a drill with a 7/16-inch or 5/16-inch bit to create the holes in the maple tree (check what size your spile is so that it fits snugly into the hole you drill). To tap a maple tree, you will need the following tools and supplies (will link a shopping list below for where to purchase proper ones): This tree tapping article can be applied to these trees as well. Other popular choices include birch and walnut trees. Here's a quick video of our own backyard tree tapping from The Farmers Cupboard YouTube channel so you can see what we will be talking about in this article: It does give us quite a bit of sap (and we actually blend it with our black walnut sap we tap from our backyard trees) but just make sure you know the trees you are tapping and whether or not they are suitable for syrup-making. I will let you know that we have a maple tree in our front yard that we tap every year, and it is not a sugar maple or a black or red maple. The same practices are used for either tree the tools, supplies and instructions are interchangeable for each tree type. You will see a mixture of us tapping our maple trees and walnut trees throughout this article. You should also choose trees that are at least 12 inches in diameter and are healthy and mature. Maple trees (and walnut trees) typically have a high sugar content in their sap, which makes for a sweeter maple syrup. ![]() Here is a photo of a black walnut tree we tapped last year (you can see the walnuts on the ground): The best trees for syrup production are sugar maples ( Acer saccharum), black maples ( Acer nigrum), and red maples ( Acer rubrum), but we also tap our own black walnut trees. Tapping trees for syrup is just a matter of drilling a tap hole in a proper tree and tapping it, collecting gallons of sap, and then bringing it to the boiling point so the water concentration reduces and you are left with pure maple syrup.īefore we start, it is important to note that not all trees are suitable for tapping. (Just make sure to place your tap holes in different locations every year!)īelow, we are going to give you a step-by-step guide on tapping trees for syrup, including the tools and maple syrup supplies you will need, the best time of year to tap your trees, and the process of collecting and boiling sap so it can become sweet, rich maple syrup for your pancakes, crepes and other recipes. And once you try it, you will realize how amazing it is to tap trees collect your own sap for maple syrup.Īnd as the years go by, you will see your former tap hole and drill in a new spot to collect each year. You can only tap trees during a very short time in the early spring, but it does involve daily work of checking the sap, as your buckets will fill to the top daily and will need to be poured out.īut the reward is your own maple syrup, and that is something special. Tapping a maple tree for syrup is a tradition that has been around for centuries, and it is a fun and rewarding activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Maple syrup is a sweet, amber-colored syrup ranging from dark syrup to a very light color depending on the length of boiling time and the tree that is tapped.
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