The Birch sap season has finished locally, and it is time to plug the tap that I made three weeks ago .
I found a nice piece of Birch from my carving pile and made a long plug, slightly tapered...

I took my carved Birch plug, Axe and a folding saw into the forest and removed the old spile...
Then popped the plug into the old tapping hole.
Here is a close up of the old spile...
And the hole in the Birch.
I'll soon repair it...
Here is the plug.
With a slight taper at the end...
Pop it in and hammer it home with the pole of the Axe...
Then cut the free end nice and neat with the folding saw...
All done.
The tree should heal nicely around the new plug.
The tree should heal nicely around the new plug.
I am casting around for a stand of Birch for a 'syrup camp' next season...
Enjoy...
J