Installing the Arteries of a 3,000 Tap Maple System

Añadido: 2026-05-25

[00:00:11][music] >> All right, we are up here on the mountain and right here where we left off the last time. You can see I've got this wrapped around a tree right here.

[00:00:21]This is going to be my end anchor tree.

[00:00:23]Um I would have had this up last time, but if you remember I lost my bit. Fell out of my drill. Never had that happen before. So, that kind of put an end to the day. So, I would had to go and get myself a new 5/16 bit, which is right here. So, I am good to go.

[00:00:41]You think you could find like the multiples of these? Like I went to the hardware store, they had one. No Milwaukee, just one DeWalt. So, we're going to put this in the gun and first order of business, we're going to get this anchor to the tree.

[00:00:55]Dad and Jeremy are on their way up with a four-wheeler and uh we'll see if we can get the rest of these up today.

[00:01:05]>> [snorts] >> Make sure that thing don't come out of there. So, it's in there now. Probably have to pull a wheeler in here like this.

[00:01:16]And put the snatch block on it and pull it around. So, what we have here, this is called a snatch block. It's what we're using to get these lines pulled tight this year. It works great because we're at such a steep angle here, we can't get the wheeler down in here. So, basically the wheeler is sitting downhill. So, we're basically going to make a 90° out of this and we're going to pull this line tight. So, that's what that's used for. We'll get this on here and we'll be good to go.

[00:01:41]This stuff's called pre-lash. This came out I want to say maybe 6 years ago, maybe longer.

[00:01:47]This is kind of the new technology. So, the old way was this high tensile wire and then you'd have stainless steel wire ties that you would have to tie on here every 6 to 8 in like this um lashing wire is. So, this saves tremendous time. You know, if you had to wire tie this thing up every 8 in, you'd never be done wire tying in here. Now, they make wire tying guns now. They're like $4,000, which they are sweet, but this saves so much time because to go the old route, you would have to put this wire up first. So, that's one trip. You walk down, you anchor it, you come back.

[00:02:22]Then you got to go back down through and side tie it. So, that's two trips.

[00:02:26]Then you got to get the pipe out, go down and anchor that. That's three trips. Then you got to come back and pull that tight. That's four trips. Then you got to wire tie it all up. That's five trips. We're doing it in one.

[00:02:37]So, to me, spend a little extra money to save time, I'm all about that. So, this is I like this stuff. A lot of guys say they can't get it tight, but we're going to demonstrate we can get this stuff as tight as we want. We've actually pulled trees over before, haven't we, fellas?

[00:02:49]Last week we pulled a tree over. We also had to put all our body weight on to stretch one down to the ground. So, you don't need all this lashing wire when we put it back on. So, what we do, we cut it off and then we'll just unwind it the way it's wound and then we'll come back through and wind it back up when we're done tying this around the tree. So, we're going to use this tool to pull the pipe tight. Clamps right on top of the wire.

[00:03:14]Feeds down inside with the guide.

[00:03:16]So, there's a couple different methods in how you can anchor it to your end tree. You can use a an anchor like a J bolt or you can wrap it around the tree with some backing.

[00:03:26]The reason we put this behind the tree is so the wire doesn't grow in the tree over time and we can adjust it up and down. I don't know which way's better.

[00:03:33]I've been doing it like this in this new section, but I think maybe the J hook is better because the tree can grow a lot before it gets to it, but I don't know. They're the two, you know, ways that we do it. So, I don't know. I don't know which way's which way's better. Whatever way you want to do it, I guess.

[00:03:50]I've [snorts] done so many of these that I change it up all the time just to change it up.

[00:03:55]You ready, Jay?

[00:03:56]Yes, sir.

[00:03:58]We're going to suck this in. See what happens here.

[00:04:00]>> What we're trying to do here is pull the pipe up about waist level. So, when we tie in our lines and and uh lateral lines, everything's at a good working height.

[00:04:09]So, you got to get the winch set up at the right height. You can see the winch here pulling on it.

[00:04:19]We got this first one where we want it, right? We good with it?

[00:04:21]>> Yeah, looks good. So, main thing with this stuff is you got to keep this wire on top right here. This guy.

[00:04:28]Your main line wire because all our hook connectors got to hook into that coming from the trees. That's hard to do sometimes. Depends on how the stuff rolls out. You guys have seen it. We can fight it sometimes.

[00:04:37]But, we get it. It has to be on top. So, we got this one tied. We're going to wrap it around a tree, make the connection.

[00:04:43]I'm going to go down below, keep pulling pipe, and these guys are going to start side tying. So, we're trying to keep the pipe above the strap. So, once we tighten this up, we can still get the strap off.

[00:04:52]And that's pretty much how we anchor. Bolt cutters are the best way to cut this stuff. This is I think this is nine gauge, eight gauge. I'm not exactly sure. Don't quote me, but it's heavy-duty.

[00:05:02]Best way to cut it is with bolt cutters cuz it's nasty.

[00:05:11]And once you get the first one on there, it's pretty easy. It holds itself.

[00:05:14]Second one, same thing. You're finding your mark, and you're just going to overlap it so it ties in the other way.

[00:05:20]Sometimes with that tight to the tree, it's a little tough to get it started. I have my gloves on here. He didn't remember his today.

[00:05:27]So, my hands won't get chewed up like his.

[00:05:30]Yeah, I think uh you know, it's that's what makes strong hands out of you, Jay. You don't have to worry about that keyboard. You'll be able to blow those keys right out of that thing or what?

[00:05:38]>> computer hands are getting a workout these last couple of weekends. There's this channel that I watch on YouTube.

[00:05:43]It's called RR Builders. You guys should watch them sometime. It's two guys. They build. Just two guys. They're construction guys, they do everything just the two of them.

[00:05:54]Going to make sure that this thing is not over this. That'll be your worst nightmare cuz once we let the tension off it's going to be tight against the tree.

[00:06:01]All right, Dad, go ahead.

[00:06:03]You're going the wrong way.

[00:06:08]That is how you pretty much get one tied around the anchor tree. So, these guys are going to side tie. I'm going to continue down and keep pulling pipe.

[00:06:16]All right, we got this roll hooked up.

[00:06:17]We're going up the road this time because I can't get down on that face very good, so I'm going to pull the stuff down.

[00:06:23]Going to start it on the road and work into the woods.

[00:06:46]We're down here on the road right now.

[00:06:48]Figured this would be the easiest way to start this line cuz this is straight up right here, so.

[00:06:54]Yeah, I think both those trees look like they're pretty good. Yeah, I think if we go to the left to where that fence ends and pull it right between there.

[00:07:02]>> Right where your bag is? Yeah. Yep.

[00:07:03]>> Or below it between those two trees.

[00:07:05]Yeah, right between those two, right?

[00:07:07]>> Yeah. Back that up good you want me to?

[00:07:08]I like that angle if you're not worried about anybody coming across the road.

[00:07:11]>> Well, we're just going to have to wind it back up a ways cuz we're going to have 20 ft of That's all.

[00:07:15]>> you back it down here, then we got a cot to go. Okay. Right?

[00:07:19]>> Yeah, yeah, I'm good with it.

[00:07:21]Look at that. Brand new Stanley.

[00:07:24]That ought to work good. How long have you know how long it's been since I bought a hammer? 20-lb hammer, that's for the big boys. That's right.

[00:07:30]All right, so this stuff right here is usually nailed in. There's one nail right here holding it in.

[00:07:35]So, let's pop this nail out.

[00:07:40]And uh make sure you chuck that long ways away so you don't drive over it.

[00:07:45]So yeah, that's basically it. That's how the roll is the tubing is held to the uh the spool.

[00:07:51]And basically I'm just going to grab this and start walking. So we want to keep this as low as we can so we can get all these trees, you know?

[00:07:58]>> Yep. Yeah, so hit that gap right there in the trees and >> And then I'll go down. I think we're going to have to tie in past that little clearing.

[00:08:05]>> I don't know. We have to tie in farther down so we get to pitch, you know? Going to be able to pull that or are you going to need me to pull it to the hill, do you think? I should be all It's long as it's Long as this See what happens is this thing will shift. See the gap and it'll get up against this and it won't roll out really good.

[00:08:22]Follow me for a little ways. We'll see what we can do going up over this bank.

[00:08:26]Whoa, something just come to a stop.

[00:08:30]That bolt hitting right there on that.

[00:08:34]So so we're going to have to put a spacer in there.

[00:08:36]>> have to put something on the level it up.

[00:08:43]See if if this thing is like this, I should put a bolt in here.

[00:08:47]Then it keeps the roll from moving.

[00:08:49]But if we can find a couple rocks, maybe to put under that someplace. Watch the man at work.

[00:08:56]Every day, never a day off.

[00:09:00]The size of that, that'll work.

[00:09:09]That'll true it up, I think.

[00:09:13]We'll get this under here like this.

[00:09:16]Back that wheel right on that.

[00:09:18]Let me know when it's dead center, bud.

[00:09:24]Yep.

[00:09:25]I got Yep.

[00:09:28]You're pulling the hose, so I love it.

[00:09:32]This is how you stay in shape right here, bro.

[00:09:35]You know?

[00:09:37]It is.

[00:09:38]I either wore extra clothes to sweat it off.

[00:09:40]>> [laughter] >> All right, let's see how that rolls now.

[00:09:44]Should be good.

[00:09:51]This This going to be tough.

[00:09:55]Get it up over here, we'll be golden.

[00:10:01]You want me to spin it? All right. No, we got it, buddy.

[00:10:06]Made the top.

[00:10:07]>> [laughter] >> Just walk follow me down road ways. I got to figure out what's the best way to go with this.

[00:10:15]Looks like right through there.

[00:10:18]We got to be careful we don't get too low here.

[00:10:20]Cuz if you get too low here, you're not going to get it back up into the mains, you know?

[00:10:24]Cuz some of these trees we can bring it back to the line this way, you know?

[00:10:29]You can. I'm not tall enough to tap those. We got watch this wire right here. That's a good way to put a hole in this main, see it?

[00:10:36]It's pretty easy to put a hole in the main. I learned that about 10 minutes ago.

[00:10:40]You'll have that.

[00:10:42]This is how you do that, but you always think, you know, there's always something.

[00:10:47]I'm a little worried it's going to rub this tree and rip this That's why I wondered if you wanted me up there just guiding it.

[00:10:53]That turkey is hammering it.

[00:10:56]>> That we're going to have a third person here in a minute.

[00:10:58]He's back already.

[00:10:59]>> Is he good? So, what I'm doing is a couple barb wires up here that I'm getting out of the way because if we start pull dragging our pipe, it's going to rip a hole right in it or catch one of those lashing wires and rip it off. And we'll be starting all over again. I think we anchor that tree right there, Jeremy.

[00:11:13]This should That should track pretty good. I'll keep an eye on it.

[00:11:27]That's pulling pretty nice, dude. You see it?

[00:11:29]>> Good.

[00:11:31]Now, we're going to start this out at high so we have that high.

[00:11:33]>> Yeah, and you're going to have to stay high across that gap.

[00:11:35]>> Yeah, we're going to be But, most of the trees are right here, so then after that, who cares how high it is, you know?

[00:12:24]>> [gasps] >> Now, we're going to have some These are berry prizes. This ain't going to be pretty. Dad and Jeremy up there, they're side tying. The second to last one, I just pulled out the last one right here on the bottom, right by the road. Talk to you guys a little bit about the sub mains and why they matter. I'm going with 1-in subs right here. Um a lot of the old techniques is 3/4-in.

[00:12:45]Um reason being, this puts more vacuum back to my trees. More vacuum equals more sap. It's it's that simple. Everything we got here is is steep, you know, we're probably if I had to guess, I didn't put a slope level on this or anything like that, but we're probably pushing 5, 6, 7, 8% slopes. That's really good. That means at the end of the night when this tree starts freeze and the sap starts to freeze in the line, it won't be much in the line.

[00:13:12]It'll almost be empty. And that's very important for the next day, when when things start to unthaw, it unthaws faster. In return, more efficient, more sap. All these routes, it's very important to plan all your routes before you run this stuff. And I'd already done that when I built all my roads with a bulldozer.

[00:13:29]So, all these roads are already done here in the woods and so it makes it easy when it comes time to run the sub mains. We just follow my roads.

[00:13:39]Roads are very important. You might ask why what is what is the importance of these? Well, this is what's carrying your sap to your mains.

[00:13:48]And this is taking the sap from the 5/16 lateral lines that are coming from the trees. It's dumping it into these sub mains.

[00:13:55]And that's what gets it to the main lines and brings it all the way to the pump house. So, they're very important. You know, and sizing these correctly are important as well. I feel like, you know, the bigger the pipe, the more vacuum.

[00:14:09]It's a hummingbird right there. Look at that.

[00:14:12]That's awesome. Running these sub mains can be very challenging as you can see me cutting up over these banks, these slopes. Like it's carrying like wicked.

[00:14:20]It's hard. It's like carrying dead weight. That's the only thing I can compare it to. And most of the times you got to pull it by hand. There's no way to get out between the trees.

[00:14:29]Terrain that's half our battle and the heat and the bugs. I mean, it it gets it gets brutal out here. Today is beautiful.

[00:14:36]It's not too bad fly wise. But I think those guys are done up there right now.

[00:14:40]I got to walk down here and make one last connection on the end line tree there and come back up here. We'll make a connection up here on the bank. And we have all the sub mains up. All right, we're down to the last side tie up here.

[00:14:54]We'll walk up there. We'll get that done and then we'll show you something that's probably a good thing you should do so somebody don't cut their neck off.

[00:15:04]You want me to wait, right? Uh you can start.

[00:15:42]>> Yep.

[00:15:43]Yeah, I was going to sure trim a little bit off first.

[00:15:52]I went a little wider for you this time so you can go wider on your side.

[00:15:56]Perfect.

[00:15:58]We'll just get this off that tree a little bit.

[00:16:00]Right there.

[00:16:04]Perfect.

[00:16:06]And that is a wrap, fellas. If you thread this Jeremy, you thread just like those wider sets. You see it?

[00:16:12]>> yep.

[00:16:13]I did this one a little tighter cuz you were coming to watch, so. All right, I like that.

[00:16:17]That's pretty tall, huh? Yep.

[00:16:21]All right.

[00:16:22]We got to go down >> Yeah, first car.

[00:16:24]Yeah.

[00:16:26]We got to go down here quick and I'm going to tie some ribbon around this side tie wire because if you're walking down through this woods looking for leaks not paying attention, you could walk right into this thing.

[00:16:36]So, let's go down and put some ribbon on this quick.

[00:16:40]I've walked into this before and let me tell you, when you're in a hurry and you got a million things on your mind, it does not feel good. And right here as you can see, it's right about that level. So, it don't feel very good. So, usually just a couple strands of this gives you a visual.

[00:16:52]And the deer lets the deer I think deer are color blind, aren't they?

[00:16:56]Yeah, I know people like this popular topic, but your old man here said that he was out here one time and saw a deer try to go under it and took a strip of hair right off their back.

[00:17:06]All right, guys. Hey guys, that's going to wrap up another day out here in the maple woods. Today, we got the backbone of this entire maple system put together. Honestly, I started to feel like less of a patch of woods. Every one of these sub meetings matter and eventually this will be the infrastructure that carries all of our sap down to the pump house. So, that's going to be it for today's video, guys.

[00:17:24]If you guys enjoy what you're seeing, enjoy this content, hit that subscribe button and we're going to keep working in the woods. We've got tons of tubing to put up. Thanks a lot for hanging out today, guys. Appreciate you.