Spiles

Spiles are small taps or spouts used to extract sap from trees, most commonly sugar maples, for maple syrup production. A spile is inserted into a drilled hole in the tree and serves as a conduit for sap to flow into a container or into a tubing system.

Spiles can be made from wood or metal. Wooden spiles are hollow and shaped to fit the drilled hole, directing sap outward and sealing against leaks. Metal spiles are small hollow tubes with an outlet for sap. The hole is drilled at a slight upward angle, typically about 1/2 to 2 inches deep (2–5 cm). The spile is seated in the hole; traditional setups use a bucket hung from the outlet, while modern systems often employ plastic tubing that carries sap to a central collection container.

Operation and collection are tied to seasonal conditions. Sap flow generally begins in late winter to early spring when daytime temperatures rise above freezing and nighttime temperatures fall below freezing. Flow rate depends on weather, tree health, and tapping techniques. Collected sap is transported to a sugar house, where it is boiled to evaporate water and concentrate sugars into maple syrup.

History and practice: spiles have been used for centuries, with Indigenous peoples and later settlers adopting sugaring methods. Proper tapping practices are important to minimize tree harm, including avoiding excessive tapping on a single tree, using appropriate drill sizes, allowing wounds to heal, and rotating taps among trees within a stand. Spiles remain a standard component of maple sugaring, alongside containers, tubing, and evaporators.