While you are talking tap holes, the tap does create a permanent mark inside the tree which discolors and creates a character mark in the wood(boards) when cut later. Some woodworkers like this, and others don't. Often when a mill is purchasing maple trees on a property they will ask whether or not the trees have been tapped. Value may go up or down depending.
Yep. That's why many cringe at the thought of tapping walnuts...perceived loss of timber revenue. We just tapped em' short, close to the ground, below the log.
However I have a customer who has a sawmill, and he sawed the flooring for his home from logs cut out of his grandfather's sugarbush from years ago. The tap holes show up very plain in the flooring, and it's beautiful. He had lumber left over, and it fetched a premium price for flooring in a couple of other homes as well.
I suppose it's all in the eye of the beholder.
