Galvanized stock tank questions

[Bucket Head]

I know that galvanized tanks were not reccomended in a previous post. I was always told to "stay away from them".

The concern then was the leaded solder, not the galvanizing. Does anyone know if the ones availiable today are soldered with the lead free solder? Or since they are not for human drinking water, is the leaded solder allowed?

The other question is about using them for a collection point tank versus a storage/holding tank.

If your going to use one, is it alright to use one at the tree's, since the sap would'nt be in it as long there? Or is it just a bad practice to use them at all?

I'm just wondering here. I do not have any use for one. Just curious so incase I need another tank, I'll know what to shoot for.

Steve

[maplehound]

Steve, Stay away from Galvinized tanks if at all possible. Even the galvanizing has lead in it and maple sap is an acidic liquide and will eat away at the galvinizing over time. If you are going to make syrup to sell to the public it is a bad idea to have any galvinized metal in your operation.

[Fred Henderson]

There is no lead in solder or galv after about 1994. If you buy a new stock tank then you will be OK. It can rust over time.There are also draw backs in the use of some plastics unless it is stated to be food grade. SS is your best bet.

[mountainvan]

I use lots of stock tanks and have not had a problem with lead. NYS ag and markets has been checking my syrup for lead, passes everytime.

[gmcooper]

There are thousands of galvanized sap tanks in use many made before they stopped lead solder. One of the speakers a few years ago spoke against using them but then had to admit they had no cases of lead being traced to a galvanized storage tank. Maybe that has changed but at the rate used galvanized tanks are selling not everyone stopped using them.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I think you could make the argument that if that cow drank from the stock tank then there is lead in the food chaine . Now California is in the prosses of outlawing any Brass that has lead in it (most do) it helps with machineing. I wonder if all producers will swap out the brass pumps on the filter presses, ball valves, older evaporator floats valves..............MMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[maple flats]

Bucket Head, If you get new tanks from TSC theirs are lead free. Might be all are now but I called their mfgr 2 years ago and was told they had no lead now, solder nor galvinizing. I still use one such tank. My other tanks are all plastic rated for potable water. If you use the stock tanks be sure to clean well after each season and store in dry location, upside down or they will rust inside in just one year. I made a galv. lid for mine that keeps the elements out and it has a hole to run the tubing in. I strap it on in case of wind which is needed until the tank is about half full.

[Bucket Head]

Thanks for the information guys.

Steve

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

If all the syrup producers that used galvanize stock tanks were shut down tomorrow, then about 70% or a lot more of the syrup producers would be gone. About all of the new galvanized tanks are crimped closed and then seals with a very tough and hard rubberized/plastic/silicon type product, so I don't see a problem with them. We have a large percentage of our population living in old buildings and houses and drinking water out of pipes that have, well you know the rest.

[lobstafari]

I wouldnt be afraid of them as most of them are crimped and silicone, but if you were concerned, could you maybe do a plastic lining setup? Just a thought.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I think any applied coating such as a food grade epoxy or plastic type coating would not stand up to the dings abnd scratches that could lead to sap getting under the coating causing bacteria to build up and be more of a problem. Dont we use galvanized water pipe.