Sap Tapping Tutorial
- Thread starter g4ghb
- Start date
Nice one Graham........as easy as 1..2..3.., when you know how.
Where'd you get the drill from??
Luke
Where'd you get the drill from??
Luke
Nice to see someone using a smaller bit! Save the trees!!!! no need to plunge great holes in them. Thanks Graham.
I bought some sugar maple spiles off ebay and tried them out yesterday, they're ace! I got about 400ml in one hour! You could get a good guzzle!
Leo
I bought some sugar maple spiles off ebay and tried them out yesterday, they're ace! I got about 400ml in one hour! You could get a good guzzle!
Leo
forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Another technique that I use quite a bit is to simply cut off a small branch/twig (say around 3--5 mm) and sticking the bottle on top of that. Some branches have given over 500 ml/day (i.e. the bottle was overfull), others a few tablespoons.
I have gone through the post and the information is amazing to understand so being as a beginner i really appreciate what you have shared.
Nice one Graham! This is an awesome thread. 
If by 'sticky' you mean make this easy to find again, yes please!!
What other uses are there for sap other than drinking it? Are particular types of sap suited to particular functions?
If by 'sticky' you mean make this easy to find again, yes please!!
What other uses are there for sap other than drinking it? Are particular types of sap suited to particular functions?
Fantastic! I know the answer is roughly "spring", but when's the best time to do this? Are there any other signs that the sap is rising, or is it just a case of trying a wee nick to see, as per the photos?
I wait till the first green buds appear - size of a squirrels toe I think lord mears describes it as.
When the first buds of the new spring leaves appear is a good general rule I have found (the size of a squirrels toe says sir Ray I believe)
On a different thread I have asked about using cedar oil to (don't know the dilution) use to control fleas on dogs. Would it be possible to use this technique to get the cedar oil in the first place? thanks
oooh, very interesting! Completely new to the concept of this, but keen to give it a go next Spring, now!
Great tutorial, have been looking forward to "the rise" since reading about it a few other places.
Nice one Graham! This is an awesome thread.
What other uses are there for sap other than drinking it? Are particular types of sap suited to particular functions?
It has numerous uses, but as far as I know all consumption related. You can brew wine or beer with it, use it as the base for a fine pine needle tea. Another option is to can boil it down to make syrup. I beleive it takes 80litres to make 1 litre of good thick syrup (compared to maple which is 40:1) which is an epic amount of boiling and lots of steam. You dont have to boil it right down, you will just have a lighter, less syrupy syrup if that makes sense.
In saying this I have never tried any of the above, but look forward to doing so very soon - "the rise" has started, but not yet flowing freely.
Did some in Wiltshire last weekend Andy, was flowing well.
Spring is on its unstoppable path.
I might be off out for a couple of days next week so I think I'll give it a go. 
I'm going to take it slowly though as my mum is allergic to birch.
Andy
I'm going to take it slowly though as my mum is allergic to birch.
Andy
I checked my local Birchwood yesterday Andy and no sap yet. Might take another week or 2 for us up here.
Really fancy trying the tapping out myself
Ness
Really fancy trying the tapping out myself
Ness
