Maple taps question

[Firewoodjoe]

I know what taps do and heard all the horror stories. Talk to a land owner that has some really nice maple he would cut but they tapped it last in the 80s and has been logged once since. In the late 90s. My question is what are the chances the taps or stains would be in this cut of trees? 18-20"

[Southside]

I have to think back in the '80's those were too small to tap to make it worth it.   It's been a long time but I want to say the standard is 10" or 12" DBH minimum before you risk harming the tree - and your profits.

[Haleiwa]

Most taps are about three or four feet off the ground, so anything above that will probably be clean.  Ten inches used to be considered the minimum to tap; some recent research has shown it is possible to tap much smaller trees, but that was not standard practice in the 80's.  If you really want a horror story, I knew of a tract in Pennsylvania that was located downhill from a cannon factory from the post Civil War era.  An old sawmiller told me he remembered three outfits trying to saw out of it; they all gave up after wrecking a few saws.  Apparently the factory test fired every cannon by firing it into the woods.  Some of those trees were ancient and huge; the growth over the cannonballs was sufficient as to leave no visible sign on the log.

[Firewoodjoe]

yeah I've seen my share of junk sawn up. Fence insulators are a bad one. Really hard after encases with wood and metal detectors don't pick them up. Well thanks for the replies. I'm going to gamble and think most of these trees were to small to tap then. Does the stain carry out in the new growth sap wood for all those years?

[moodnacreek]

Just check the standing trees with a 'coin finder' metal detector.

[mike_belben]

My grandfather had cannons, shot them at matches in upstate NY alot in the 80s and 90s.  Projectiles would go over the berm and cut trees down now and then.  Theres lead in them there hills.  And us boys dug up a lot of it. 

[petefrom bearswamp]

The taps may only be 4 or 5 feet from the ground but the stain from tapping runs up the tree for a substantial distance

[Ron Scott]

Always be suspicious when cutting timber near a rifle range and expect lead in the trees. ;) I still remember when the USFS had a jack pine timber sale behind the military missile base and rifle range in the UP at Raco Mi in 1962.The timber operator reported that 90% of the trees had "lead defect". ;)

Yes, stain from the tree taps will knock back the grade of a usually good first log so always bid accordingly if you know that the hardwood stand has been "tapped".

[celliott]

I'd say the majority of our trees are tapped over 8', some are 10-12'. Modern tubing systems. Bucket tapping will be much lower.

I know one I personally tapped that was at least 16' from the ground. I climbed a down tree that was angled into a crook. On a steep chunk of ground. 

[mike_belben]

Hold wood tore right off.  Lead poisoning. 

[GAB]

The taps may only be 4 or 5 feet from the ground but the stain from tapping runs up the tree for a substantial distance

pete:
In the 1980's a 7/16" (.4375") bit was common for tapping maple trees.
The past two springs I've used a 19/64" (.296") bit.
The length and width of dead wood from the tapping of the tree is shorter and narrower with the smaller bit. 
Using the smaller bit I will tap 8" trees that I would not tap with a 7/16" bit.
Gerald

[Bruno of NH]

I can sell tap hole maple for a premium price.
It doesn't stay around long.

[nativewolf]

I can sell tap hole maple for a premium price.
It doesn't stay around long.

You da man.  Problem solved Firewoodjoe, in fact you might want to look for them and find someone to saw them for you so you can merchandize them.

[petefrom bearswamp]

Back in the 70s when I had a 1200 tap bush, I used the Cornell rule for tree size, I think minimum of 12" if memory serves.
When selling timber if the wood was tapped I would allow 6' off of the butt for tapping.
The loggers left these butts in the woods.
BTW my Maple syrup operation was 98 percent 1 man,all gravity tubing part time after work and weekends.
I hated the sight of a pancake by the time it got buddy

[John Mc]

I can sell tap hole maple for a premium price.
It doesn't stay around long.

If you know the market, you can get a very nice price for tap hole maple around here as well. That kind of "character wood" has become quite popular for tabletops, bars, floors, wall paneling, etc. Local craftspeople use smaller pieces in cutting boards and such, and get a premium for them.

[Firewoodjoe]

Well someone set me me up in northern Michigan! I may have a batch of prime butt logs. Or I may send it to the Amish otherwise.

[nativewolf]

What's it cost to ship a container over to Bruno?  Can't be more than 800 or so could it?  

One thing I'm learning is that time spent dialing for buyers is worth more than working in the woods.  

[mike_belben]

Bigtime.  

Its called arbitrage.  Move things from low value market to high value markets.  Makes the world go round.

[Bruno of NH]

It just takes the right marketing and it will sell fast.
2" slabs
1"1/2 slabs
1" for wall paneling and bar fronts
God doesn't make this stuff every day.
Craft size pieces.
Bruno

[Southside]

What's it cost to ship a container over to Bruno?  Can't be more than 800 or so could it?  

One thing I'm learning is that time spent dialing for buyers is worth more than working in the woods.  

Flatbed with pocket stakes.  Used to see them all the time trucking White Pine east out of Ohio.  Maybe a guy could piggy back on a partial load as the pine has to be headed in the same general area.