Homespun
04-11-2015, 03:15 PM
To avoid the waste, time & hassle of filtering finished syrup for small batch & hobbyist bottling I bought a Pneumatic Brake Bleeder from Harbor Freight ($30) to siphon the beautifully clear syrup off the settled niter in my gallon size settling jars. Only the "dirty brake fluid" resevoir & its suction tubing in the kit are used to do the task.
I clean these parts with hot soapy water and and then suck a gallon of hot soapy water through the assembled parts (using my shop air compressor and air tool hose), as if it was syrup. Then the parts are disassembled & rinsed well with hot water. They are reassembled and a gallon of hot water is sucked through them. The assembled brake bleeder parts are shown in the picture.
My method:
1. Let the niter settle out of the syrup to the bottom of large, tall jars for about a week at room temperature, until the syrup above the niter sediment is crystal clear.
2. Connect the running air compressor (regulator set at 80-90 psig) & the tool hose to the handle of the assembled brake bleeder.
3. Place the syrup suction tubing into the jar of the clear syrup, keeping its end just above the niter sediment.
4. Squeeze the trigger on the handle and suck the syrup out of the jar until the bleeder's resevoir is full (32-34 fl oz)...this takes about 25 seconds. Release the trigger to stop the siphoning.
5. Remove the resevoir and pour the collected syrup into the container used for warming the syrup up to bottling temperature. Repeat filling & emptying the resevoir until the clear syrup has been removed from the settling jar.
6. Pour the remaining niter sediment filled syrup out of the settling jar and into another smaller, narrow & tall jar for more settling and clear syrup collection about a week later. Repeat this step as needed, until no more clear syrup can be found above the settled niter. The remaining niter-syrup sludge is used or disposed of as desired.
Pros: Works great for small batches and backyard producers, no filters to buy, clean or dispose of, no filtering process or losing syrup to filter absorbtion, the syrup doesn't have to be kept warm (as when filtering), it's fast - it removes a quart of clear syrup in about 25 seconds, the suction hose is about 40" long x 1/8" ID and the resevoir is very strong (about 1/8" thick plastic).
Cons: You need an air compressor capable of 90-100 psig & an air tool hose with a quick coupler end fitting, you need to buy a quick coupler end (to screw into the brake bleeder trigger handle), you have to stop and empty the resevoir every quart / 25 seconds.
11681
I clean these parts with hot soapy water and and then suck a gallon of hot soapy water through the assembled parts (using my shop air compressor and air tool hose), as if it was syrup. Then the parts are disassembled & rinsed well with hot water. They are reassembled and a gallon of hot water is sucked through them. The assembled brake bleeder parts are shown in the picture.
My method:
1. Let the niter settle out of the syrup to the bottom of large, tall jars for about a week at room temperature, until the syrup above the niter sediment is crystal clear.
2. Connect the running air compressor (regulator set at 80-90 psig) & the tool hose to the handle of the assembled brake bleeder.
3. Place the syrup suction tubing into the jar of the clear syrup, keeping its end just above the niter sediment.
4. Squeeze the trigger on the handle and suck the syrup out of the jar until the bleeder's resevoir is full (32-34 fl oz)...this takes about 25 seconds. Release the trigger to stop the siphoning.
5. Remove the resevoir and pour the collected syrup into the container used for warming the syrup up to bottling temperature. Repeat filling & emptying the resevoir until the clear syrup has been removed from the settling jar.
6. Pour the remaining niter sediment filled syrup out of the settling jar and into another smaller, narrow & tall jar for more settling and clear syrup collection about a week later. Repeat this step as needed, until no more clear syrup can be found above the settled niter. The remaining niter-syrup sludge is used or disposed of as desired.
Pros: Works great for small batches and backyard producers, no filters to buy, clean or dispose of, no filtering process or losing syrup to filter absorbtion, the syrup doesn't have to be kept warm (as when filtering), it's fast - it removes a quart of clear syrup in about 25 seconds, the suction hose is about 40" long x 1/8" ID and the resevoir is very strong (about 1/8" thick plastic).
Cons: You need an air compressor capable of 90-100 psig & an air tool hose with a quick coupler end fitting, you need to buy a quick coupler end (to screw into the brake bleeder trigger handle), you have to stop and empty the resevoir every quart / 25 seconds.
11681