Question on filtering

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post and my 1st year sugaring. I have a small setup, 35 taps, all buckets. Im not getting a huge run but have boiled down almost 110 gallons of sap so far. With my small yeild im annoyed with losing so much sap to the filters. I have some of the thick fabric filter, I believe its Orlon?, and I also have the thin paper sort of filters. I have been filting through the thick material, and have a layer of the thin material under that. My question is, IF I filtered before I get to syrup, is it necessary to filter again once I get it to 219 degrees? Reason im asking is of course the liquid is not as thick and it will go through the filters easier and I would assumer still be removing the sugar sand, or any other sediment thats in the liquid.

Just really trying to figure out the best way to do this without losing so much syrup. Im sure I cant be the only one who has expierenced this and found ways to make it easier.

Thank you in advance!
-Scott

[happy thoughts]

Hi everyone,
My question is, IF I filtered before I get to syrup, is it necessary to filter again once I get it to 219 degrees?

Welcome to the forum scott :) The answer is yes because bringing the near syrup or even syrup back to temps above 195-200F will cause more niter (sugar sand) to precipitate. This is why you need to be careful not to exceed those temps if/when reheating filtered syrup for bottling.

[Russell Lampron]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post and my 1st year sugaring. I have a small setup, 35 taps, all buckets. Im not getting a huge run but have boiled down almost 110 gallons of sap so far. With my small yeild im annoyed with losing so much sap to the filters. I have some of the thick fabric filter, I believe its Orlon?, and I also have the thin paper sort of filters. I have been filting through the thick material, and have a layer of the thin material under that. My question is, IF I filtered before I get to syrup, is it necessary to filter again once I get it to 219 degrees? Reason im asking is of course the liquid is not as thick and it will go through the filters easier and I would assumer still be removing the sugar sand, or any other sediment thats in the liquid.

Just really trying to figure out the best way to do this without losing so much syrup. Im sure I cant be the only one who has expierenced this and found ways to make it easier.

Thank you in advance!
-Scott

First thing is that you are setting your filter up backwards. The papers are a pre filter and go on top. Second the answer to your question. You will need to refilter after you reach syrup temp. The hot sap almost syrup will release more nitre as it becomes syrup. To save on the amount of syrup lost wait and only filter it once. Once you are done filtering you can rinse the filter in hot sap to get the syrup out.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

First thing is that you are setting your filter up backwards. The papers are a pre filter and go on top.

UGH!!! Well that explains a lot LOL

Question about rinsing the filters in the hot syrup, wont that just put all the niter and sediment back into the syrup??? Oh wait, you said in hot sap! That makes sense!!!

Thank you Russ and Happy Thoughts!

[tuckermtn]

One other option depends on what you are planning on doing with the finished syrup. If for your own use and friends and family, might make sense to let the syrup settle for a few weeks in glass jars and then re-pour in to another jug. If you do this, either keep poured off jars in fridge or re-heat to 185ish and re-jug.

Before we got the filter press, we would filter right as we drew off the evaporator. We bought 20-30 paper cone filters, cut two slits on opposite sides of the top of the cone about 1 inch from the top. We then made a hanger for the paper cones out of high tensile wire (or you could use a coat hanger) and bent it so it made a round hoop that had a hooked wire that you could hang it off the draw off valve. Slip the paper cones through the slot and you have a hanging filter holder to draw off into. hot syrup filters fast...

once you have enough to jug, check your density at around 150 or so, and if you are heavy or spot on, then just jug at 185. If you are light and need to boil to remove some water, then you will need to filter again.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Thank you Eric!

Are these paper cone filters available at any particuliar stores? I was thinking of going to Kitchen Etc...or something like that this weekend to find some better filters or filtering options. I saw someone post about a Jelly Filter?Im not big enough to have a filter press be a viable investment so just trying to figure out my best option. I do like the idea of rinsing and cleaning the filters in the hot sap, that seems almost too obvious and not sure why I didnt think of that.

[Rrwws]

Try using one of those wire mesh coffee filters, pretty cheap and the best thing Ive used so far. Its only my second year doing this and ive tried a few things. The only thing left in my filter is sediment and I filter into a funnell because the coffee filter is so wide.

[aeautodetailing]

Here's what I do, right or wrong, but it works! I buy a couple new white t shirts and when I take it off my flat pan to finish I clothes pine the tshirt over the finishing pot and run the hot "almost" syrup thru and then finish and bottle inside.

Works for me!!!


Hi everyone,
This is my first post and my 1st year sugaring. I have a small setup, 35 taps, all buckets. Im not getting a huge run but have boiled down almost 110 gallons of sap so far. With my small yeild im annoyed with losing so much sap to the filters. I have some of the thick fabric filter, I believe its Orlon?, and I also have the thin paper sort of filters. I have been filting through the thick material, and have a layer of the thin material under that. My question is, IF I filtered before I get to syrup, is it necessary to filter again once I get it to 219 degrees? Reason im asking is of course the liquid is not as thick and it will go through the filters easier and I would assumer still be removing the sugar sand, or any other sediment thats in the liquid.

Just really trying to figure out the best way to do this without losing so much syrup. Im sure I cant be the only one who has expierenced this and found ways to make it easier.

Thank you in advance!
-Scott