Smaller Bulk Containers

[RIVERWINDS]

I have a few years of sap sales under my belt but will be moving into the direction of making syrup. Being a smaller operation, I expect to see 8-10 gallons per day of finished product. There are a few bigger operations near me that will heat and filter press it for customers. Any suggestions on containers for the process? If I finish a batch to correct density, can I put it into food grade 5 gallon pails until I can take it all to get filtered? I am not opposed to buying SS barrels, but I would need double the amount of barrels. I would need to take 1 full barrel and then an empty one for the filtered syrup? Not being that big, this could end up being a large expense to try to keep 2-3 grades separate. I'm hoping to do 75+ gal this year of finished product but my daily batches aren't big enough to hot pack a 30 gallon SS drum until I can get it filtered. So maybe my question is what should I do for storage between my finisher and taking it to get filtered with such small daily amounts of finished syrup?

[StayinLowTech]

Around here we can get these or similar ones from the sugaring supply houses:
https://www.bascommaple.com/item/dblu5r/bulk/

[maple flats]

You can store unfiltered syrup of the correct density in any food grade container. It will not need to be hot packed over the short run, it will keep just fine for 2-3 weeks. However to filter it the temp must be hot, I prefer 205-210. Then to can it you must have at least 180 degrees, I use 185-190. Will the sugarhouse filtering it for you, heat it from cold to the 200+?
For containers, you can use food grade buckets available from bakeries, or better, you can buy 5 gal syrup jugs from any equipment dealer to store it in, then have enough clean extras to haul the filtered product back in. Then realize that you must heat it to at least 180 to pack it in retail or even to store it for future packing. Each time you heat it the color darkens and if you evaporate it more in the process you will create additional sugarsand and it will get cloudy.

[Sunny Knoll Farm]

I was able to pick up some 6 gal. SS soda kegs for this purpose at the salvage yard ( 20 kegs @ $6/each) They have a cover with an o-ring. You can drop right into them and seal. They are easy to handle and stack well. I was also blessed with a big cylinder of medical grade nitrogen. If I pressurize with nitrogen it will keep next to forever. Originally intended to use SS beer kegs and expansion plugs to seal. I'll pm you about the beer kegs.

[DaveB]

Is there a source for 5-10 gallon stainless kegs that use a standard threaded bung opening? I usually use the 5 gallon epoxy containers from Bascom but I'd like to see if there is something that I can reuse each season.

[markct]

In the latest maple digest there is an ad for a place that shows 10 gal barrels maybe sunrise or a and a metalworks cant recal

[maple flats]

I was able to pick up some 6 gal. SS soda kegs for this purpose at the salvage yard ( 20 kegs @ $6/each) They have a cover with an o-ring. You can drop right into them and seal. They are easy to handle and stack well. I was also blessed with a big cylinder of medical grade nitrogen. If I pressurize with nitrogen it will keep next to forever. Originally intended to use SS beer kegs and expansion plugs to seal. I'll pm you about the beer kegs.
I had a set up for pressurizing the kegs with food grade nitrogen (not medical grade) but most failed to hold the pressure (This was before I converted the kegs to seal on vacuum). I only ran the pressure to 35 PSI, maybe I needed higher, but most had no pressure as I opened them. That being said, I did not get mold.
In theory nitrogen will hold them "forever" but you must have good seals to hold the pressure.

[markct]

Also Daveb if you arnt dead set on screw in plugs you can get 1/6 barrel kegs that are just over 5 gal or the more common 1/4 barrel that are 7.75 gal and use a 2 in dairy clamp fitting and cap with an o ring in it. Or cut out the neck and weld in a 2 inch stainless pipe locknut for a straight thread bung. The 1/6 barrel are available from time to time on ebay, I had gotten 4 of them together for around 200 I think it was a few years ago. They work well altho mostly I use 15.5 gal ones nowdays

[brookledge]

Greg
You mentioned using larger drums. With your size you don't want to be using containers that are bigger than a days production or two. The reason being is that as grades change you want to be able to keep them seperate. So going with 5 gallon or small kegs,soda kegs etc. is your best option in my idea
Keith