Any ideas why my syrup won't filter?

[abbott]

I'm using a 12"x20" canner with a filter rack. I use an orlon filter, dipped in my flue pan, with several filter papers on top. Immediately after drawing off i pour the syrup in the canner. I have used this method succesfully for the last four years, making about a gallon of syrup per hour. This year, i can make 2 gallons of syrup per hour on my new evaporator, so i bought a second canner to keep up with the filtering. My first draw-off was about a gallon of syrup, which i put in the canner just like i always do. Some went through, then it clogged. I pulled a paper off, which had almost no niter on it, but the syrup wouldn't go through the next one either.

In the end i was able to filter syrup only through papers (i took the orlon off) and only if i kept scraping a flat stick across the filter every 2 minutes. Any thoughts on why i suddenly can't filter syrup? Does the larger evaporator make finer sugar sand somehow? Do i need to start using filter aid? Usually the syrup filters slowest at the end of the season, not the beginning.

[hotfire]

Hey steve , are you having problems with your filter rack that i made you ? I always wet my felt with hot water and also my pre filters, maybe you should try that instead of your flue pan . Or you could bite the bullet and get a filter press like i did. Good luck

[Father & Son]

It might just be the year. A couple of years back when I was still gravity filtering I would use a cone filter and 6 prefilters and remove a prefilter as it clogged. I would get less than a gallon through before the pre would clog. The sand was black and muddy looking. Last year filtering was better. Some of those I've talked to this year say the syrup is filtering hard again. It's not your rig it's mother nature.

Jim

[Dill]

Are you putting the lid back on the canner? Just thinking with how cold it is, maybe the syrup temp is dropping fast. I know my shack is cold.

[red maples]

use hot water not flue pan condesate...the Flue pan still has niter, a high amount of sugar, I used to do that and found it clogged everything pretty quickly. I also use a ladel to move the syrup around the fliter. and sometimes I might use 2-3 pre filters for a gallon of syrup. it all depends on the niter, temperature of the syrup, and thinckness of syrup as well. If your drawing off too heavy as soon as that syrup hits the cool air it will thicken pretty quick. and just keep the lid on and keep the warm syrup in there.

[couponqueen1]

We had the same problem when we filtered our syrup too. Also used the pre-filter and the orlon. It went hard through both filters. I too was wondering the same thing, why is this happening when it hasn't happened in the past years. The filter doesn't seem to have much in it either and the temp. of the syrup is hot. Glad to be making the syrup though!!!! Have a good day everyone.

[Dill]

Also once I get some syrup in the canner I'll fire it up and keep it warm, that seems to help the next batch filter.
However I haven't drawn off any syrup this year so this is just what worked in the past.

[abbott]

Hey steve , are you having problems with your filter rack that i made you ? I always wet my felt with hot water and also my pre filters, maybe you should try that instead of your flue pan . Or you could bite the bullet and get a filter press like i did. Good luck

Nope - i was trying to put it through my old canner. The next draw-off was supposed to go through that new filter rack, but i realized that i hadn't washed it yet. I don't have running water at the sap house. Thats right... you have a filter press. Perhaps i could bum a bit of DE from you to try?

[abbott]

I talked to an old pro who puts over a thousand gallons a year through flat filters. He said that sometimes its like that on the first couple of boils, but clears itself up before long. We can only hope!

I think i'll try resting my filter rack, with the filters all on it, on my flue pan dividers before i need them. That way they will be moistened with hot steam and the rack will be hot too. And if i can round up some DE i might give that a try to see how it goes.

[mike z]

A few years ago, about mid season, we got hit with the worst sugar sand I have ever seen, filters plugging like crazy. That lasted about a week and a half then the weather changed and the sand subsided. So, hopefully, this bad time for you will pass. I do remember though, that the syrup, after all the trouble filtering was very polished looking.

[John c]

A few years ago, about mid season, we got hit with the worst sugar sand I have ever seen, filters plugging like crazy. That lasted about a week and a half then the weather changed and the sand subsided. So, hopefully, this bad time for you will pass. I do remember though, that the syrup, after all the trouble filtering was very polished looking.

I ran into that same thing last year at the end of march, but after all the trouble the syrup looked absolutely amazing! I filtered less than a gallon today and it went right threw in about 3 minutes.

[Dave Puhl]

I agree not to swish your filters in the sap pan and every year the sugar sand is more or less....how do you clean the orlon...I have very hot water and turn the cone type filter inside out gently and run the hot water through it till its white again...

[abbott]

Well, the old pro was right. When i started boiling today the filtering was still really slow, but by the end of the boil I was putting a gallon and a half of syrup through in under 3 minutes. Had no trouble putting a second draw-off through without even taking the old paper off.

[Taffypull]

An early maple sugar producer who had a large camp in Somerset County told me to use Handiwipes for a prefilter. It doesn't clog as much but gets out the worst before filtering through the cones etc. I just rinse them and lay them criss-cross in layers. They catch a lot and don't clog easily. The Handi-wipes I am referring to are the ones usually sold in a three pack, are blue, yellow or green in color and look like a cloth with small holes in it.