Filter preferences?

[Jmsmithy]

Hello All,

I'm looking toget into some small commercial sales, hopefully this season. I've never done much filtering, if any, for my syrup in the past but it's only been made for my family and friends. If I'm going to try and sell some, I should filter. My question(s) what method/medium do you prefer and why? :confused::confused:

It seems that the two big options (without getting into bigger, expensive presses etc) are cone filters or the flat filters utilizing a tray system...

Any and all advice GREATLY appreciated :)

[Father & Son]

That really depends on how much syrup you are going to filter and how much messing around you want to do. I started out using cone filters with multiple pre-filters. I would remove a pre-filter when it clogged and continue filtering. At the end of each night you have all that to clean, quite time consuming. I have since bought a 5" hand pump filter press from Daryl, a member of this site. For me that size press is right.

Jim

[adk1]

For the amt you are talking, a simple cone filter with fre-filters in them would be the best and least expensive. Also, I am suprised that you have never filtered your syrup at all, even for you and friends. Once you do filter your syrup, you will realize that it is MUCH better filtered and you will see why you should always filter syrup once you look at what is left in your filter bag!

[Jmsmithy]

Yes. I've always sort of felt that some filtering would be the way to go but it's been a real trial and error situation until finding this site, and all the folks/resources on it! I could see in my jars some of the "stuff" at the bottom! :o

I've looked at some of the cone units as well as the LP fired filter/bottling units (both by Leader). When I see per-filters, is that just what it is? A filter medium prior to one of the felt or wool cones? I did buy a wool cone before I saw some of the other types available.

For those of you using the cone method, do you prefer wool or felt, or something else?

I absolutely LOVE the journey of discovery that this new found addiction is leading me on! :cool: :lol:

I'm an avid Fly Tyer/fisherman and archer and this new found love is in the same vein...a constant discovery/learning process that leads to very satisfying (and SWEET!) reward!! :D

[mustanger]

My experience with cone filters was not a good one. I used an Orlon cone with plenty of prefilters. I would remove the prefilters as they clogged and got moderate filtration of the product. I did not use any filter aid, and that might have helped. I had better luck with a flat filter but still had some sugar sand getting into my bottles. I now have a press from Daryl Sheets and have high expectations. If I were starting over, I would go straight to a small press with filter aid. It was a major investment for me, but I have no regrets. Daryl's press is a beautiful piece of work and Daryl is a straight up great guy to deal with. I don't think you will find one for a better price and I am sure you won't find one as well built. I am very impressed with the press (no pun intended) and Daryl.

[Longyearfarm]

I also used the cone filters with multiple ore filters with moderate success in removing all of the sugar sand. Last year I purchased a 5" press form Daryl. Wow. What a time saver this is for a small scale sugar maker.

[Spanielslovesappin]

Clearly a Filter press is ideal, BUT a cone filter with pre-filters in it works just fine too.... I have even packed in glass having only filtered like this. The key is to saturate the whole shebang with sap or water before you put a drop of Syrup in. Also never let unfiltered syrup get to the wool or felt or Syntetic cone. I hang my filter in a 10 gal milk can with 3-5 pre-filters in place. once the top pre-filter slows down, i dump the remaining syrup into the next filter while trying to a. not burn myself and b. not dump all the niter in the next filter. I then swish the dirty filter in my flue pan to take the sweet off the outside while not letting the trapped niter out and then clean the niter out with wash water. Then the pre-filter goes back in rotation. This was how my grandpa taught my dad and so on and so on.... 100 gal per year can be done like this with little effort of course in the name of full disclosure i now have a filter press.

[Jmsmithy]

I think at some point I will go to filter press, once funds allow....for now though, what is the difference between a cone filter and the flat, pan type filters? I know the flat uses filter papers, as opposed to the felt, wool or synthetic sheets...

I'd like to hear the differences, which is better, more efficient (barring the presses of course) ????? :confused:

[Spanielslovesappin]

Cone filters are cheap and don't need special equipment to use hang them off something over something and go crazy. With a flat filter you need a flat filter tank that can support the filter element and they are more unruley to change. That said, a small flat filter tank is just a small draw off tank with a filter frame so once you get a press you just stop using the filter portion and use the tank to draw into and add/mix your DE.

I used to draw off 100 Gal/year through a single cone filter hung in a 10 gal milk can. I used milk cans to store my syrup in so this worked very well for me with pretty low cost and great results. (see previous post)

No idea how much syrup you make so there is that!

I have a ~30 gal Grimm Galvanized flat filter tank that i used as my evaporator feed tank rather than filtering my syrup with it. Probably should put it up for sale...

Good luck!