Help with sugar sand

[Jal-Bear]

I'm noticing in some of my glass bottles I have a very fine trace of sugar sand that has settled, a little more in some that others. Here is my method for filtering and bottling. I filter almost finished syrup directly off the evaporator into a synthetic cone filter with 3 pre filters into a stainless steel pail then pour into finisher. Once enough in the finisher I boil until proper density then filter directly off into canner with a synthetic flat filter with 3 pre filters on top. Once everything is filtered I set the canner onto it's steam tray (double boiler) and slowly bring temp to 190 and start to bottle. Any advice or insight to where I'm going wrong? Or is a filter press needed to get it perfectly crystal clear when bottling in glass? Thanks.

[jmayerl]

I would say you are doing the best you can, filter press is the only way to fully assure complete filtration(other than never heating over 190)

[Super Sapper]

I had that issue 2 years ago. Some batches stayed clear and some developed niter after a couple months. I used the flat filters with an orlon and prefilters. I went to DE and a wine press and it got it crystal clear but limited in volume. I went with a press this year and am very happy. You could try some DE with the flat filters as some have had success with this.

[maple flats]

I believe you may have at least 2 causes. First, do you heat the syrup for final filtering hot enough. Even with my filter press I found that filtering syrup at 205-210 gives clearer syrup. Second, when you heat the syrup for bottling, in addition to holding the temp between 185-190, cover the syrup to minimize evaporation during bottling. If you get too much evaporation at that stage, you may again have super saturated the syrup with minerals causing more sugar sand to precipitate out.

[Jal-Bear]

Once I reach proper density I immediately put the cover back on the finisher and shut off the propane and start to filter off into my canner right away so it stays as hot as possible. When re-heating and holding at 190 for bottling the cover for the canner stays on at all times as well.

[mike z]

How close are you when drawing off the evaporator?

[Jal-Bear]

I usually crack the open the valve just a little when I get around 216-217 then shut it if temp gets below. I never really checked with the hydrometer off the evaporator because I know I still have a ways to go till syrup. Does this make a difference even though I do another filtering once I have finished syrup off the propane finisher?

[sk8heaven]

Just wondering if you re-use your synthetic filter? I had this problem show up when I discovered that my wife had put the filter in "upside down" from the first times I used it. Seems like I may not get all the niter out when rinsing. I now make sure I mark the "top" with a magic marker x in the corner. Just an idea :)

[Jal-Bear]

Just wondering if you re-use your synthetic filter? I had this problem show up when I discovered that my wife had put the filter in "upside down" from the first times I used it. Seems like I may not get all the niter out when rinsing. I now make sure I mark the "top" with a magic marker x in the corner. Just an idea :)I do reuse my filters after a really good rinsing. Will make sure next year to have the "unfiltered" side up each time. Thanks for the tip!

[brookledge]

Also remember to never wring your synthetic filter out. It is ok to just compress or squeeze. Wringing can tear the fibers leaving thin spots. You can hold the filter up to a light bulb looking for areas that are thin. That can cause niter to precipitate through
Keith