I'm an idiot!

[konwinski]

I am a second year newbie. I just boiled of 24 gallons yesterday and finished a half gallon of syrup today. I filtered it through a clean towel to get the big stuff out before finishing it. What I didn' know was the towel was apparently quite detergents. So I am now the proud owner of soap flavored maple syrup. I am ordering proper filter tonight, what do I need to look for? I do not need top of the line, just something pretty good. So any guidance will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

[MapleME]

We filtered through cone orlon filters for years. They were actually pre-filters for the felt cone filter but they got 99% of the nitre out. Find a place that has them near buy and pick up a few.

You can also use cone coffee filters from what I understand. Not sure where you read or heard you could use a towel. That is a new one to me...

Those cone orlon pre-filters are DIRT cheap. Get a few, since they clog up a few times as you filter. They also need to be wet to work. Here is what we did:

Put 4 of the filters in one another.... dipped them in hot water or hot sap for 30 seconds. Poured the syrup through em. It goes through pretty fast at first but as they get full of gunk, they slop down. At some point they pretty much stop. at the point I would pick out the top filter and slowly pour it in to the next filter which was still nice and clean. I repeated this a number of times until I got it all through. Also keep in mind the colder the syrup gets, the slower it goes...so I pinched or folded over the tops of the filters filled with syrup to keep the heat in.

This is probably the most economic and simple way to filter syrup for you.

Hope that helps!

[Homestead Maple]

Your not an idiot. I didn't clean a filter tank before the season started one year and even though the tank was stainless, the fitting for the draw off valve wasn't and it had rusted some during the off season. My first syrup of the season was 5 gallons of nice light syrup but it had a metallic taste that no filtering could remove. Just things that you learn from.

[adk1]

Yeah, detergents are BAD BAD! I wold never trust anyting that could be laundered. You just never know in my opinion. Use the synethetic cone filters with pre-filters. The pre-filters are cheap and do an excellent job, the synthetic cone filters are pretty in expensive and will last for years. the prefilters will last several seasons as well. I bought 2 synethetic filters and a dozen prefilters.

[PerryW]

and stay away Chlorox that has added scents (use only unscented Chlorox)

[konwinski]

Pre filters go in a cone filter correct? And how do you re-use them?



Thanks

[MapleME]

Pre filters go in a cone filter correct? And how do you re-use them?



Thanks

Yup the cone pre filters go in the cone felt/synthetic filters. They are both reusable for multiple seasons if cleaned. Once you have used them for a batch, take them inside and turn them inside out and wash out all of the scuz and nitre with hot water. This cleans pre filters really well.

As for the felt filters, I run them through the washing machine with no soap of course. I usually run a cycle just to wash out any soap before I put my filters in. My washer has a high heat sanitary cycle, works great.

[Flat47]

As for the felt filters, I run them through the washing machine with no soap of course. I usually run a cycle just to wash out any soap before I put my filters in. My washer has a high heat sanitary cycle, works great.

x2.

Soak them in hot water before use and run through washer after each use. We use flat filters and pre-filters set in a stainless collander.

[happy thoughts]

I filtered it through a clean towel to get the big stuff out before finishing it. What I didn' know was the towel was apparently quite detergents. So I am now the proud owner of soap flavored maple syrup. I am ordering proper filter tonight, what do I need to look for? I do not need top of the line, just something pretty good. So any guidance will be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

Oops! Live and learn and try not to get too down on yourself. Look on the bright side. You could probably find a market for maple body scrub:lol:

[Brent]

Don't screw around trying to re-invent the wheel.

Get a few pre-filters and one orlon or felt filter. If there was something cheaper that worked we'd all be using it
and the maple dealers would be selling it.

You work to long and hard to make a gallon. Don't waste any of it.

Coffee filters absolutely positively do not work. If they did we'd all be using them.

When the orlon filter gets plugged, hold it over your evaporator and pour some hot sap through it to recover the syrup
in it. Then take it home and wash it with nothing but clean hot water and gently squeeze out the excess water. Do NOT ring it out.