Next step up from Hobby Filter Kit?

[DonMcJr]

Right now I have a hobby filter kit. S.S. pot, S.S. strainer and 5 layers of filter material.

This year I will have about 25-30 taps on my leader half pint and I'm wondering what I should step up to for filtering.

I see there's 1 and 2 cone filters then gas fired filters.

Not really sure how any of them work. I have the trees to get my taps up to 100 next year if I want.

I don't want to over do it and not have big enough batches for the filter I buy but yet if say the 2 cone is $400 and the gas fired is $600 I'd rather get the better one if I can still filter small batches with it.

Can someone fill me in on what's best for me? Thanks!

[spencer11]

well if your willing to spend $4-600 on a cone filter tank, i would get a filter/canner for flat filters. then when you expand you can filter more syrup and it will filter faster. i got mine from wegner metal works for $245 shipped(i didnt get a lid for it) i got the pan, thermo and valve fittings, and filter rack to hold the filter. and it looks awesome and cant wait to use it

[johnallin]

My last evaporator was a Leader 1/2 pint and I had lots of fun -and made lots of really nice syrup for two years - with it.
When I got the 1/2 pint, I also bought the leader single cone filter tank to filter and used it right up to this past year.
Link here: http://www.leaderevaporator.com/p-7-one-cone-filter-tank-for-maple-syrup.aspx

As long as you pre-wet the felt filter and add 3-4 (also wet) pre-filters, it will do a great job for you, my syrup would come out darn near crystal clear.
I would peel off the pre-filters one by one, as they slowed down; rinse them in the flue pan and let them steam, and then reload them into the felt filter to get ready for the next draw. If I did it right, I never had to worry about plugging the felt filter - the orlon pre-filters did all the heavy lifting. Also, with the spigot at the bottom and a thermometer in the port, you can sit the tank on a burner to reheat for bottling.

I've got a new water jacketted canner from Jim at Smokey Lake late last year and a Siro Press on order for this year to play with...
Good luck this year.

[DonMcJr]

Thanks John! I think I'm gonna just dish out for a Daryl 5 inch filter press...

[maple flats]

You won't regret buying a filter press. You are a mite small for one, but it will work good for you and as you add more taps it will be able to handle more syrup. If you keep growing, you will at some point outgrow the 5" but selling it will not be an issue as you need a 7" short bank. I bought my 7" short bank when I had 325 taps, now at 1400 I bought two extra set plates to make it a 5 bank.

[DonMcJr]

Yep I don't think ill get over 100 taps on my property. But I like making things quicker and easier even if I only get up to 50 taps.