making filters

[70 Buick]

I was looking at the felt cone filters & figured I could make my own much cheaper

here is my question, I went to a fabric store asked about felt
she then asked wool or polyester?
they don't have wool there & it seems hard to find, when I told her what I was doing she did not think polyester would work because of the heat

but when I look at Atkinsons they sell polyester filters

so what say the experts here

[happy thoughts]

Good question. I too will be looking for the answers. I was thinking of taking some recycled white (no dyes) wool fabric from old jackets and boiling it then making some cone type filters. But then I thought about any chemicals that might remain from previous dry cleaning. I know my hubby hasa recipe for homemade wine given him by an old friend and the instructions say to filter through an old T'shirt lol. I know that won't work for syrup nor will an old wool sock I suppose:)

What did the old timers do? Or did they just let the sediment fall out and then bottle?

[70 Buick]

I have access to polyester felt
just wondering if wool would be better & why

[xyz5150]

A 8 Qt cone filter is like $12.00 and pre filters are like $1.00 ea. So your telling me that you going to do all the work to make maple syrup and skimp on the very last step. Sell one Qt to someone and your filter is paid for.

[happy thoughts]

A 8 Qt cone filter is like $12.00 and pre filters are like $1.00 ea. So your telling me that you going to do all the work to make maple syrup and skimp on the very last step. Sell one Qt to someone and your filter is paid for.

Your point is well taken:) but first you need to sell the syrup. For small home producers like me who only make syrup for home use in small quantities it's really not worth it. Sedimentation works fine because I can let the syrup sit and futz with it. As much work as it is to get there, if I have to spend even $12 on a filter, I might as well just buy syrup. But what fun is that? :lol:

[Timber Juice]

The polyester felt works fine.
That's all I've ever used, 15+ yrs.
Cut & hem a shape to fit the cone strainers used with wooden plungers to squeeze out applesauce etc.
Great for small scale home production.
Pre-wet at each use, have extras.

Oh sure, boil out any sizing whatever before 1st use, and rinse well.


Goodluck

[70 Buick]

xyz where are you buying them
because here in Montreal I only found a wool one for 33.00

at Atkinsons, a 5qt poly is 16.00 and they want 12.00 to send it

[xyz5150]

Sugarbush supply in mason Michigan shipping will probably be the same. The old timers around here just used cheese cloth.

[happy thoughts]

The polyester felt works fine.
That's all I've ever used, 15+ yrs.
Cut & hem a shape to fit the cone strainers used with wooden plungers to squeeze out applesauce etc.
Great for small scale home production.
Pre-wet at each use, have extras.

Oh sure, boil out any sizing whatever before 1st use, and rinse well.


Goodluck


Any special weight of felt or just the normal stuff they sell on bolts in sewing centers?

[Timber Juice]

Any special weight of felt or just the normal stuff they sell on bolts in sewing centers?

That's where I got it.
Don't remember if there was more than one weight available.
I got the white of course.

[happy thoughts]

Thanks timberjuice. I think I'm going to give it a shot as soon as the floodwaters die down and I can get into town. That may be a day or two.

To all my fellow saps in NE PA who had record snowfalls this weekend, hope you're all dry and on high ground like we are.

[CBOYER]

xyz where are you buying them
because here in Montreal I only found a wool one for 33.00

at Atkinsons, a 5qt poly is 16.00 and they want 12.00 to send it

you probably have a Coop, now Unimat on your way to your place from Montréal. they have a good choice of supply at reasonable cost.i'm sure you read french, so their catalog is on line at Unimat.ca

[70 Buick]

Thats where I was getting my price the co-op just past St. Eustache
or is it a Mondou I forget
39.99 is the only one they have ,but will check out the link you supplied they havea coop in St. jovite even though it is a bit of a drive for us , Thanks


"C', for Claude?

Oui, on parle francais

[BryanEx]

Just in case it helps... online catalogue;

http://www.unimat.ca/

- Bryan
Your Internet link guy

[CBOYER]

i use a polyester filter at draw off near syrup, and at finishing on propane,
i used orlon filter. As i make only small batches my wife make me 3 small filter of an big one, so i could filter and having one ready everytime.
3046

Claude

[maplefrank]

i used to make them out of cotton flannel....a producer who tapped 12000 told me to use this......i had no problem w/them.

[whalems]

I have used the cotton flannel as well (otherwise known as Diaper flannel) but don't say diaper flannel on hear or it really raises some peoples dander:).

[70 Buick]

I have used the cotton flannel as well (otherwise known as Diaper flannel) but don't say diaper flannel on hear or it really raises some peoples dander:).

Are they food grade LOL


you had to know someone would

[wnybassman]

Are they food grade LOL


you had to know someone would

Been there, done that :D

[maplematt]

I bought two 5 qt synthetic cone filters, and two dozen prefilters online from Sugar Bush Supplies this year. The total, shipped, was $55. I can't break it down by item exactly, but the filters were around $12-15 each, same for a dozen prefilters, so shipping couldn't have been too much.

You can buy flat filters there too, and maybe sew multiple filters from it.

Even a 5 qt filter is HUGE, when you're not making much syrup :)

[Turtlecreek]

Here we go with the diaper again!!! I knew we couldn't go a week without it!!!

[70 Buick]

I'll take pics
I think I came up with a pretty good system
a restaurant pasta warmer, basically a cone shaped stainless device
and my sister in law brought me 2 yards of wool felt home from her work

wife cut and sewed me 25 filters out of it
so everything for 8.00
got the strainer for 8.00

[maplematt]

You might also find the "pasta warmer" sold as a "china cap" in restuarant supply stores.

[70 Buick]

BTW this is my filtering system
total cost 8.00, got the restaurant pasta heater at a discount store for 8.00

My sister in law got me 2 yards of felt, my wife made me 20 filters

should work great

The pasta heater

http://shootthebull.freeforums.org/download/file.php?id=208&t=1


the home made felt filters


http://shootthebull.freeforums.org/download/file.php?id=207&t=1


the whole setup


http://shootthebull.freeforums.org/download/file.php?id=209&t=1

[Brent]

Jeeesh guys if you're going to get really cheap, just put it in a tall jar and let it settle for a week or two.

All that costs is a little patience.

You don't even need to pay for the gas to get to the orlon shop.

[70 Buick]

Filters we made worked awesome
no sediment in the bottles at all

not bad for 8.00 LOL

[500592]

I got one of those metal cone filters cheap at mardens

[KenWP]

I used the same felt my first batch and got too much sediment and went to the CO-OP and paid the 17 dollars for a orlon one and got rid of my sediment. I found them cheaper then the D&G store even. Also I can get them at the feed store in Lennoxville for $17 bucks.