New Press!

[syrup2nv]

Picked up my new press last week. Just waiting on the air pump so I can try it out (Saved 2 drums of late season, unfiltered).

Leader is claiming upwards of 120-160 gallons per. Time will tell.

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Also, picked up some check valved spouts.

[Sunday Rock Maple]

Nice unit, I tried to count the cells but had to give up. Is the air pump a diaphragm?

[Thad Blaisdell]

What did that unit cost?

[syrup2nv]

It's a 7.5" 15 bank press. The pump is a Stainless Steel Air Diaphram Pump. Leader is getting $3200 with the air pump upgrade.

[DoubleBrookMaple]

Very Nice!
I just saw the clear unit today on a visit to Leader in Rutland. Interesting that it does not have waffle plates. You can see in the second picture that the backup plate has a perforated metal sheet with a small space behind it. The plastic bank molding has supports for the sheet that I tried to pull out, but could not. It will be interesting to watch the flow. Leader has a big investment in the moldings for these. With the cost of metals today, it should pay off one day. Another example of the advancement in plastics. Russ told me in the testing that they took it up over 100 psi without a failure.

[syrup2nv]

Brad @ Leader said that they had 40k into the mold before they realized it measured 7.5x7.5. They originaly sent a 10" metal plate, then the molding company realized that it was too big to fit into their molding machine. So Leader told them to subtract 3" and make it a 7", never sending a 7" plate to the molding company. The molding company took 3" off the external measurement, resulting in a 7.5" bank. Now Leader needs to produce special sized paper filters to fit, and hopefully supply the demand!

If it was my decision, I would have eaten that 40K and made it to the industry standard size of 7".

During testing they did bring it up over 100psi until one of the plates broke. Then they added a gusset along the top of the plate for more support, and have had no issues thus far.

One of the main selling points for me was filter paper support, being clear had nothing to do with my decision to buy. Though the consumers that fill the Sugarhouse during the season should enjoy it.

[Thad Blaisdell]

WOW.... $3200.... That is a lot of $$$$. You can buy a wesfab double 10" for $3100. (3600 with air pump) http://www.maplemadness.com/equipment.html

I know its a nice filter press but that is a shocking amount of money.

[syrup2nv]

No doubt, $3200 is alot of coin/sap/syrup. If it performs as they claim, it will be money well spent!

Now with 2, I should be able to go a full "day" of boiling without having to brake down and clean on the fly.