Filter for a small batch 2-3 gallons at a shot producer

[Ejsmass2]

What should I be looking at? Can I use a filter press. The Orlon filter seem to go super slow. It this normal.


Please help a frustrated syruper.


Ted

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

I use the cone shaped profilers, 5 of them at a time and it comes out crystal clear. I've used the wool filter, but it sucks up so much syrup I gave up using that and just go through all the layers of the profilers and I'm happy with the results

[liljohn]

This is my first year so my experience is limited. I purchased a 8 gallon stainless steel pot with a 1/2" valve a the bottom. I use the orlon filter with the 5 prefilters. I poor the syrup in hot and keep the lid on while bottling. I have the pot sitting on a low burner to keep it warm. I bought the large 8 quart filters but found they where only an inch from the bottom of the pot. I cut the bottom 4 inches off and resewed them. This seems to work we'll as I paddle the syrup in and pull the prefilter as it gets dirty.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[PerryW]

filter press is overkill for a small producer. I make 120 gallons per year and still don't use one.

your problem is the syrup is cooling too much and the filters don't work unless syrup is real hot

you can buy a cone filter and prefilters and tack together some strapping and build a small frame to hold the cone filter over a stainless steel pot. tack cardboard or towels to the outside for hold the heat in and dump the syrup in boiling hot. then put a cover over the whole mess to hold the heat in.

When done, lift the rack off, throw the filtered syrup on the burner and bring it up to 185 and then bottle it.

[village idiot]

It is normal for it to go though slow especially the second or third gallon of the night. That's the beauty of using several pre-filters all stuffed inside each other (nested). When the inside most pre filter starts to get clogged with that muddy looking junk just pick it out (careful not to burn your fingers!) and dump it into the next one. Most of the mud will stay in the plugged filter and the next pre-filter will work a lot faster (for a gallon or so).

At the end of the night I usually rinse the used pre filters first in my back pan to get any sweet out of them (careful not to burn your fingers!) and then dump the mud in the trash, wash out any remaining mud in the sink and then its ready to go for the next boil.

[Big_Eddy]

9516
This is what I use. With an Orlon and 3-4 pre-filters inside and I can get two or three batches through before the Orlon starts to plug. A batch for me is 12-18 litres which I pour in all at once. I preheat my Orlon by steaming it for 10-15 mins just before filtering. Hot and steamy, but not wet.

I draw off during the day into a 20l stainless pot, which I later bring back to a boil, adjust for density and filter and bottle all at once.

I've found that the filter/canner holds the heat and steam in well enough that the entire batch will flow through without plugging, and I can bottle fast enough that the temperature does not drop below 185 before I'm done. There is usally less than 500ml that drips through "after" which goes into the fridge unless the kids find it.

Before getting this, what I found was that the outside of the filter would cool and that would cause the syrup to thicken on the outside and slow the flow through. It wasn't too bad in the kitchen, but really bad in the sugar shack where it was cooler. With the filter/canner, the hot filtered syrup continues to steam and keeps the outside of the filter hot allowing the flow to continue.

I got mine from Atkinson's in Oro Station.

[rayi]

I use a resturant pan with water in it setting on a propane burner. The second resturant pan sits on that pan at a 90 degree angle. The top resturant pan has a insert that has holes in it. Flat filter with 6-7 pre-filters and a lid. All this sits by the evaporator so I filter right off the evaporator. When done for the day I adjust density (I usually draw off at a little higher density) and make sure the temp is 180 then bottle. If I was a welder I would have some sort of spout on the pan to draw off the syrup

[TerryEspo]

When stacking or nesting the prefilters, do not remove them, just push it aside and fill the next one, leaving all inside your container, the heat helps the next filter being filled and way less messy.

Hope that helps.

[village idiot]

That's BRILLIANT!

No more hot sticky fingers, no more syrup splashed all over the place.

[Lukie]

That sounds interesting any pictures .
I use a resturant pan with water in it setting on a propane burner. The second resturant pan sits on that pan at a 90 degree angle. The top resturant pan has a insert that has holes in it. Flat filter with 6-7 pre-filters and a lid. All this sits by the evaporator so I filter right off the evaporator. When done for the day I adjust density (I usually draw off at a little higher density) and make sure the temp is 180 then bottle. If I was a welder I would have some sort of spout on the pan to draw off the syrup

[TreeTapper2]

The first year we fought the paper filter. They would clog and the syrup eould get cold. It would take hours to filter. Hated it!
Now we cook the syrup down on the pan then pour it in a 3 gallon pot. It sits in the cold garage for two days and everything settles out. Next we pour off the good stuff finish it on the stove and pour it through an orlon filter for clarity. This we the orlon filter never clogs. After use the filter is put into a container then into the freezer until next batch.
No more paper filtrts ever again!

[Daveg]

Hot syrup and a hot, steamed Orlon filter work good. Try 1 dampened paper pre-filter to be removed if things slow down.
Figure out a method to insulate your system while it is filtering. This is the key! Watch Craigslist for used coffee urns. I covered my urn with 1/2" dense foam padding (backpackers sleeping pad). I had my first successful bottling session with this system, except when I started pouring the syrup into the urn I didn't realize the spigot was open. 1/2 cup onto the hardwood floor!