Wine Press for Syrup

[Mike R.]

Just to spark some conversations, does any one else use a wine filter press for syrup? Its a lot cheaper for the press $60 and the filter pads already have the d-earth on them. I used one last year and was amazed at the results. Seemed to work fine for me.

Any one else use one?

[aws]

Do you plan on using it again this year. If so I'd love to hear more about it. We still gravity filter through cones, a press being cost preventative. I am also surprised I haven't seen talk of this before.
I am assuming you filtered hot still. Did you bottle into glass or plastic?

[aws]

What press are you referring to for $60? Where did you find it?

[Mike R.]

I filter the syrup hot, right off the finishing pan. I bottle in glass and I can't see and sediment in the bottom. The only issue is that the filters plug early after about 5 gallons. The filter pads are cheap, the guy at the store just gave them to me. The pads come in different microns.

The press is a simple top and bottom plate with a pressure tank that you pump much like one on the hand weed sprayers.

Sorry for the poor quality photo

6795

Here is a link to one very similar.

http://morewinemaking.com/view_product/5759/103288/Beer_and_Wine_Plate_Filter_Kit_

[heus]

Can it handle the heat?

[Mike R.]

Can it handle the heat?

Well is stood up to it last year, with the syrup at 216 degree. It is a heavy plexi glass or whatever you want to call it. Just gave to have the clams tightened down properly.

[SPILEDRIVER]

interesting but how do you pressurize your syrup to get it to flow threw the filter? and how much can you filter at one time?how long dos it take to filter that amount???

[Mike R.]

SPILEDRIVER it uses a tank with a pump on it. The Pump pressurizes the tank and forces the syrup through. The tank is 5 gallons. I have never had it filled but it takes maybe a minute with new filter pads in to push 1/2-3/4 a gallon through. I am thinking of getting rid if the tank and pump set up and going to a pump like the one on the WesFab hand pump press. Much simpler and easier to clean as well as I can keep the syrup hot on the finisher while I filters, as opposed to it sitting in the tank slowly loosing heat.

[aws]

Thanks for the link. I was looking online and couldn't find anything in that price range, was starting to become a skeptic. Might be a good step up for those of us who only want to make 15-30 gallons in a season. If you don't mind, start a new thread (or add on to this one) at the end of the season and let us know if you are still pleased with it, if it kept performing as new or if problems started to appear.

[NH Maplemaker]

Mike, would it be possible to buy another complete filter and add just the plates to your filter? That way you would have a larger filter capacity! The picture looks like it could be done. Kinda like adding more plates to a WesFab. Just a thought!

[Homestead Maple]

The wine press idea is great. It is made of food grade materials I will assume because it's for wine or beer. Because it's small there isn't much for filtering area, that's why you can't filter much before the filter is plugged. If you find a place to buy additional filters I wouldn't think they would be very expensive. You could prefilter then run your syrup this wine filter. This press is a nice idea I would say.

[DanE.]

This really interested me. Here is a link to Home Brew forum with some better pictures and information on assembly.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/plate-filtering-pictorial-238690/

I did find one site where the plate press was 43$ and 20 filters for 32$. for beer anyways thay say you can get 5 gallons through it before they need changing.

Mike, what size filters did you use, and did you try the other sizes? do you know if all of the filters come with DE already applied? It was unclear on the reading I did.


Than

[Mike R.]

I an sure adding more plates could be done. Much like the true filter presses the center plate is hollow, and I will keep y'all updated on how its working throughout the season and will get some pictures of it in action.

Dan your question is unclear to me, the diameter of the filters or the filtering clarity rating. They are 10" diameter and I'm not sure on the micron-clarity rating. I think you can get them with or without the DE.

I prefilter when the syrup comes of the evaporator and then through this into the packaging.

[DanE.]

When I said size I was referring to the micon. Thanks dane.

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[Sticky McDoogal]

Like many of you we were not interested in spending $1200.00 on a filter press to filter 50 to 60 gallons
Of finished syrup per season fortunately a good friend of ours home brews his own beer and showed us the setup he uses to filter beer. So we purchased a diaphragm pump for $100 and a beer filter for $50.00 few dollars on clamps and we were in business. Its not as fast as a electric pump but the results are great much
Better than a cone filter.

[DanE.]

Sticky, Where did you get the diaphragm pump from? Dane.

[Zamkev]

Sticky - any pics?

thx

[Mike R.]

Just thought I would let you all know how I am doing with the press. I upgrade to the hand pump-pump(same as used on wes fab presses), and using the wine press. I let the syrup stay on heat and hold it about 200 degrees for 45 minutes to let the sediment settle. I can then put over 15 liters through with out changing filter pads. I just put 17.5 liters through and it still wasn't plugged.

[highlandcattle]

Pics please. I don't know what this would look like!?

[western mainer]

http://morebeerpro.com/view_product/6928/101786/Wine_Plate_Filter_W__Noryl_Plates_20x20_-_6_Plate_Benchtop
More money but not bad.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/buon-vino-mini-jet-filter.html


Brian

[wiam]

http://morebeerpro.com/view_product/6928/101786/Wine_Plate_Filter_W__Noryl_Plates_20x20_-_6_Plate_Benchtop
More money but not bad.
Brian

I paid about that for a used cast iron seven inch and a box of 400 filters is about $40. Not $63 for 100.

[Super Sapper]

I picked up a wine filter press http://www.midwestsupplies.com/wine-beer-plate-filter.html and a hand pump because I was not happy with the results I had with the flat filter setup I had. With the pre and orlan filters I still had niter in my bottles even with filtering 2X's. The filters were all new. Using the wine plate filter and 3 cups of DE I had 30 quarts and 12 1/2 pints come out crystal clear.

[SeanD]

Super Sapper,

Thanks for reviving this thread. I missed it the first time around.

It looks like the filter pads would absorb a lot of syrup. How much did you lose over the 7-8 gallons you filtered?

Did you use just the one pad for all that syrup or did you change filters?

Did you pre-filter off the evaporator and filter it hot?

Thanks in advance. I'm very interested in how this worked out for you.

Sean

[SeanD]

Sorry, one more question:

Where did you get the hand pump? Could you provide a link?

Thanks,
Sean

[Super Sapper]

I bought the pump from Cole Parmer as that was the only place that had them rated for the temps. It is the same pump used for filter presses. It's hard to say how much I lost as I had it stored in Mason Jars and filled Decanter bottles. I filled them to the bottom of the threads and I think I have more than a quart in each. I started with 14 half gallons and 10 quart Mason jars and ended up with 30 quart decantor and 12 oval half pint jars. There is no way I lost that much syrup, I would guess that I lost between a pint and quart with what was left in the filters and DE. I was able to get a 10 pound bag of DE from Maple Hollow so I figured it would be good insurance and I used the coarse filters. 3 cups is about all that will fit in the filter plate. I only used 1 set(2) of filters and could have put more through it. I plan on using prefilters off the evaporator and then using this when I have at least 6 or 7 gallons to put through it.

[wino]

Has anyone used the Buon Vino Mini Jet Filter to filter syrup? http://www.midwestsupplies.com/buon-vino-mini-jet-filter.html. I sent an e mail asking if the unit could handle 180 F and the response was it could only handle up to 120 F. I would only be filtering a gal or two at any time. I think it would be perfect for the little guy like me that makes 5-8 gal per season but is looking for clear finished product.

Wino

[Groves]

A filter setup like this could connect my worlds of winemaking and sugarmaking.

I wonder if they would tell you which parts were only rated to 120F?

Sometimes it's just a few parts that can't take the heat and it's easy enough to upgrade those parts alone.



Other times is a major part that cannot be upgraded.

[Timberwolf]

Super Sapper,

Thanks for reviving this thread. I missed it the first time around.

It looks like the filter pads would absorb a lot of syrup. How much did you lose over the 7-8 gallons you filtered?

Did you use just the one pad for all that syrup or did you change filters?

Did you pre-filter off the evaporator and filter it hot?

Thanks in advance. I'm very interested in how this worked out for you.

Sean

To not 'loose' syrup/sugar after you are done filtering run some hot sweet through the filter to extract most of the trapped sugar then add back to your evaporator.

[Algonquin]

Super Sapper, could you explain how you add the DE to the syrup. I'm going to try this type of filtering, and really don't know much about it. Thanks,Tom

[Super Sapper]

I heated up about 7 gallons and when it got to temp. I stirred in 3 cups of DE and ran it throught the wine press.

[lpakiz]

You can stir with a spoon, a whisk, or a whisk in cordless drill. A food-grade mortar mixer would maybe work. I sprinkle the DE in the syrup and wait. It settles by itself, eventually. I use a BBQ spatula to"scrape" it off the bottom and keep it in suspension.

[metalhead62]

hey guys instead of using their padsfor filters could you just use some 7" papers from a bank press,maybe double or triple them up or put some de in between them to get the thickness you need from what i have seen at 3$ for a pair of filters that will only do 5 gallons or so seems a bit high just wondering thanks

[Super Sapper]

I put 13 gallons throught the press yesterday and it turned out nice and clear. I did blow out the O Ring when I put too much pressure on it, but just took it easy for the rest of the way and it was fine. I run through prefilters off of the evap. to cut down on what needs to be filtered out with the press. After have enough saved up I heat it and run it throug the press. I started with 2 cups of DE in about 6 gallons and then added a cup later and it seemed to work fine.

[Dave Lister]

Well is stood up to it last year, with the syrup at 216 degree. It is a heavy plexi glass or whatever you want to call it. Just gave to have the clams tightened down properly.
Hi all,
Sorry to renew an older thread, but I didn't see a point in starting something new that would just create multiple threads about the same thing.

How many people tried this last year and had good or bad results with it? I only make about 10 gallons of syrup a year, and think this looks like the best alternative to the agonizing process of filtering through wool filters. I stopped by the local home brew store and checked out one of these, and the guy behind the counter advised it would probably not hold up to the heat and that the plastic would probably warp over time with anything over 150 degrees.

I've done some looking and can really only find one manufacturer for this type of filter. Does anybody know if there are other manufacturers that are available that I'm just not finding?

Mike R., in one of your initial posts, you stated you had one made out of Pyrex. Do you remember where you purchased it? Is there a label on it by chance? I just like the idea of pushing boiling hot syrup through something built to withstand that type of heat than something made out of plastic that is not.

--Dave

[Mike R.]

Dave, I do not know where it came from. I will look for a label on it tomorrow when I get a chance. As per the warping, I had never had any issues with it. The metal hardware on it never melted into it with 200 degree syrup going through it. The lines do get soft buy that is a easy modification.

[Super Sapper]

The one I used did start to warp but I have put 63 gallons through it so far. I am getting a 7 inch press this year but at $60 it worked well.

[Marvel26]

Super Sapper,

Was the one you used the buon vino mini jet or the plate filter from morebeer? or something else?

[Super Sapper]

http://www.morebeer.com/products/beer-wine-plate-filter-kit.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArqKmBRCOj_qfmuqinnYSJAAkAYw G9DEUD2LrSyNXXppuxtOOSzNa0ms3fItam_ZvSPWJvRoCGJbw_ wcB

This is the one I have.

[Marvel26]

Thanks Super Sapper

[personandy2]

this thread may have changed my life!

haha, sorry, but filtering is a pain and i am purely a hobby guy. I'm excited to give this a go.

Question though, is the DE necessary if i'm only filtering a gallon or 2 at a time? if so, what would be the best process for using it?

thanks!

[wiam]

Defiantly need filter aid. That is what filters the syrup. The paper is just there to catch the filter aid. Filter aid should be well mixed with the hot syrup. I would guess 1/4-1/2 cup/ gallon.

[Schiefe4]

Question though, is the DE necessary if i'm only filtering a gallon or 2 at a time? if so, what would be the best process for using it? thanks!

Probably not if you use one of these filter presses Super Sapper posted.


http://www.morebeer.com/products/beer-wine-plate-filter-kit.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArqKmBRCOj_qfmuqinnYSJAAkAYw G9DEUD2LrSyNXXppuxtOOSzNa0ms3fItam_ZvSPWJvRoCGJbw_ wcB
This is the one I have.

Typically the filter press papers used to filter wine/beer already have the DE in the filter paper. They can be purchased in three different grades Rough, Polish, 0.5 Micron

[Super Sapper]

I am not sure if it is necessary but I used it and it worked great. I heated the syrup in 3 gallon batches in stock pots and added a cup of DE in the first one and a little in every other one until I couldn't pump any more in. The filter can hold 3 cups of DE. I prefilter off of the evap. and was able to get 25 gallons through a set of filters early in season last year but only 5 gallons per set at the end.

[personandy2]

if you are using this filter as we've been discussing, what are you using to pump the hot syrup through the device?

http://www.morebeer.com/products/beer-wine-plate-filter-kit.html?gclid=CjwKEAiArqKmBRCOj_qfmuqinnYSJAAkAYw G9DEUD2LrSyNXXppuxtOOSzNa0ms3fItam_ZvSPWJvRoCGJbw_ wcB

[Sandersyrup]

I found this online.

http://www.fulkersonwinery.com/product-detail/homewineandbeer/pressurized-pump-tank

You could also run the filtered Syrup through a copper coil submersed in boiling water to reheat just before entering the bottle.

I spoke to a guy at the homebrew store here and he said a Chugger Pump

http://www.amazon.com/Chugger-Stainless-Brewing-Comparable-809-SS-HS-C/dp/B009Z17DJQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1423854448&sr=1-1&keywords=chugger+pump

He said it should work if you put a valve on it to regulate flow as it is a strong pump.

I might be tempted to try one of these. http://www.amazon.com/temperature-108GPH-DC12V-Water-grade/dp/B007XZAJ3I/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1423854657&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=foofd+grade+pump

You could also put 3 of these plate filters in succession starting with coarse filters and than finish filters.

[Super Sapper]

I use a hand pump just like the hand pumps (diaphram) on filter presses. I think that I got mine from Cole Parmer.

[Jbablak]

For the folks who have this press, did you switch out the tubing to a Silicone Tubing to account for the heat, and what size tubing does this use?

Thanks

[BobMac]

http://www.coleparmer.com/Product/Guzzler_diaphragm_hand_pump_8_5_GPM_7_Strokes_gall on/WU-07090-10

[theraven06]

Just interested to see anyone who has gone this route how it has worked out?

[Abattoir]

I would like to know how it works out for you .I have been looking into these for syrup also.

[canaanmaple]

I would like to know how it works out for you .I have been looking into these for syrup also.

For anyone who has used the buon vino press, what filter did you use? they come in 3 densities....
Have a wine maker friend getting rid of his super jet. Looks identical to the maple turbo jet from maple guys, so i am curious about it!

[full moon maple]

Been using a buon vino wine press that I converted over for the last 3 years, works great for batches up to about 5 gallons. I buy my filter papers from The Maple Guys with about 2 cups of DE powder per batch. A guzzler hand pump and milker hose to handle the heat
.

[rlapointe]

Been using a buon vino wine press that I converted over for the last 3 years, works great for batches up to about 5 gallons. I buy my filter papers from The Maple Guys with about 2 cups of DE powder per batch. A guzzler hand pump and milker hose to handle the heat
.

Hi Full Moon Maple. I'm still newbie at this but quite interested in reducing the labor of gravity filtering. Which Buon Vino filter pump did you have? The small Mini Jet or the next one up? Also, when you guys refer to DE I assume it means Filter Aid? But what does DE stand for?
Thanks

[Icefisher]

? But what does DE stand for?
Thanks
diatomaceous earth?
I need to up my filtering game very interesting thread.

[rlapointe]

diatomaceous earth?
I need to up my filtering game very interesting thread.

Thanks Icefisher. I read more on it and it sounds like an interesting thing to try. In the meantime, I got me a small used Buon Vino Mini Jet Pump for $75 today to try. I'll try w/o the DE first since those filter press don't have the plates for recovering the DE cakes as I have seen on 5" press filter video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-myjhFiJeY and I'm afraid it might clog up the filters really quick.

[full moon maple]

I have the buon vino super jet and DE is diatomaceous earth or commonly called filter aid