Coffee filters

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

I have access to the really large coffee filters like those used in cafeteria sized coffee systems, has anyone tried using these and will they work?

Thanks!!

Just trying to figure out a better filtering system than I had last year...which wasnt very good!

[seclark]

You can try but I think you will find that syrup will not flow.I tried using one when I first started doing syrup and it did not work on the regular coffee filters.The large one's I'm sure are the same material.

[Tor Haxson]

I had decent success with filtering through cotton t-shirts ripped into squares.

If possible I would filter when I moved the sap to the final container for boiling, You know boil, consolidate, boil again. Filter in between those.

Then for the final pour of finished sap I would put the fabric in a funnel , leaving some airspace if I could and pour through that. The filter would clog after about each pint of syrup but I would have two in rotation, one running and dripping sap, the other being rinsed out for next pour.

Not perfect, but very affordable.

As the filter clogged if I had enough material I would pull the filter and move the clogged area over and provide clear material for the syrup to run through.

I did 3 gallons of syrup last year and this was a tolerable solution.

I think for large runs, I put the cotton in a kitchen strainer to get more surface area than a little funnel.

I bought orlon cone filter this year, will see if it is better or worse than t-shirts. :-)

--
Tom

[whalems]

several options here and not very expensive. The small cone filters and prefilters work well. http://sugarbushsupplies.com/2013_Catalog/filtertankscanningunits.pdf

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Thanks everyone

[sr73087]

I tried it last year and the syrup did not flow through it well at all.

[Spolcik]

Nothing works as good as maple filter try the sugarbushsupplies link they have many options as stated and are relatively inexpensive. Also reusable just clean with hot water.

[maple flats]

Yes, clean with hot water and squeeze, never "wring" them out. Wringing will break fibers and ruin the filter. A synthetic syrup filter, either cone or flat, and several pre filters will last for years without needing replacement with proper care. There's a reason why the syrup filters are made the way they are- that is what works best (until you grow into a filter press).

[maplerookie]

you can use coffee filters. If you have an eternity to wait for the syrup to flow through. otherwise get the pre filters and a synthetic or wool cone filter I set mine in an old fashioned tomato juicer strainer they work great. I clean mine by running the sink sprayer right up against the outside of the filter spraying in it rinses it out quite well. the pre filters are easy to rinse and re use as well. they will last a long time. I also use the pre filters to filter the debris out of my sap. happy sugaring!

[highway]

I use the commercial coffee filters as an emergency filter after the filter press and before it goes into my water jacketed canner. The syrup has to be super hot and it runs right through. The syrup is already filtered through the press so we have not tried unfiltered syrup.

8946

[MJFlores]

I like using multiple layers of cheese cloth. It filters well, and I just throw it out when I'm done a batch. I used to use coffee filters for filtering sap before boiling but that took forever....I use cheese cloth for that too now.