Best filter setup for 100 taps?

[ADK_XJ]

I'm only doing 2 dozen taps right now between myself and a neighbor - feel like I've wasted an awful lot of syrup in filtering with the big felt cone filter. I plan to expand to 100 next year or the year after but would be willing to invest in a small filtering unit (or DIY setup) that is better suited to small, backyard production.

Anybody out there got this really dialed in and willing to share?

[psparr]

When your done filtering, put the cone filter in a gallon freezer bag and throw it in the freezer. Next time you boil, rinse the syrup soaked filter in your boiling sap. That way you won't lose any.

[buckeye gold]

Loosing syrup in filters is just part of doing syrup. I used to fret over it and got over it. If you want clean syrup you pay the price, but you can mitigate the loss. I run around 100 taps most years (75 this year) and I filter twice in a homemade basket/flat filter. I run it through a cone prefilter off the evaporator at near syrup. I finish on propane. I filter one time through a prefilter and finish filter once it's back up to boiling at 217. This usually gets all the bad nitre. When it's finished syrup I run it through another prefilter and finish filter to get it clear. This last set of filters I throw in the flew pan and rinse well, saving that syrup. I do not rinse the first filters, because I don't like adding all that nitre back. The less syrup you make the harder it is to see it stuck in a filter, but it's part of doing a good job.

[maple marc]

I have 100 taps and make between 20 to 50 gallons, depending on the year. Not a big producer, but I have faced the agony of using cone filters and consider it torture. I wouldn't bottle into glass with a cone filter--you'll never be happy with that haze. Things are so much better with a small filter press and a good pump (not a hand pump).

[mudr]

Dialed in, nope. Not even tested on syrup yet. However, I made my own 12x20 flat filter canner in the off season. I've been holding off posting this because I have not actually used it yet, but it fits this post nicely.

The main tank is a water pan, which is slightly larger than a steam pan as it is designed to hold steam pans in them. The rack is a 2.5 (or 3???) Inch perforated pan. I then drilled two holes with a step drill bit to insert the weld less valve and termometer. By my calculations, it should hold like 3-3.5 gallons below the rack. That is 120-150 gallons of sap, which fits 100 taps nicely.

I think I have $70 in this setup. I assume it should be much better than a cone, infinitely cheaper than a press, and still cheaper than a factory built filter canner setup. I should be using it for the first time sunday. My biggest concern is the filter rack, there is more "solid space" than holes. I hope that does not severely impact flow. Worst case scenario I can get a wire rack, which they make for steam pans, and have them be held up using 4-6 stainless bolts through the wall of the water pan.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170217/7905947f8c9e14d310194182f480bf18.jpg

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(Edited post to move cost up from $50 to $70, still a ballpark est)

[Sugarmaker]

That's a nice looking flat filter set up. Although I have never used one.
About loosing syrup in cone filters? I usually let it gravity out as much syrup as possible for as long as possible. Set up another cone station so one can drain as much as it can. Dump the remaining fluid syrup back in the boiling pan and that should minimize the syrup waste. Whats left in the cone filter should be mainly sugar sand. Has worked for years for the smaller producers. Will a flat filter save syrup? Not sure?
Regards,
Chris

[dcast99]

I got tired of waiting for the cone filter to work and fussing with the pre filters. I came up with one like Mudr's. Used it last year and hung up the cone filter for good. It filters the syrup much quicker. No more worries that the last draw off is completely filtered before the next is ready to come out.15470
The bottom pan has the condensate from the flue pan running thru it to keep the syrup warmer. Under the filters is a wire rack. Mudr - I think you will need to lift your filters up off the bottom of the pan. Any area under the filter that is solid will not let the syrup thru.

[wbreitbarth]

I struggled with this my 1st year. My biggest problem was getting syrup to through the filter because it was so thick. Last year I had 24 taps I would filter it before it went into my finishing pan "which was on a turkey fryer or stove depending on the size" I would then complete the syrup and dump it in bucket I could fit in the fridge. All of the niter and anything else will settle out to the bottom. I would let it set overnight I would scoop out all of the syrup making sure not to disturb the bottom . I would then reheat the syrup to 200 degrees " I read someplace niter forms at 200 degrees" I would hot water bath the jars to seal them.

[Sugarbush Ridge]

Really,,, niter forms at 190 degrees. Ray Goodrich of Cabot VT, said not over 189. I know that makes for small window of canning temperature,,,,,, 180 minimum and 189 max

[coastie]

Dialed in, nope. Not even tested on syrup yet. However, I made my own 12x20 flat filter canner in the off season. I've been holding off posting this because I have not actually used it yet, but it fits this post nicely.

The main tank is a water pan, which is slightly larger than a steam pan as it is designed to hold steam pans in them. The rack is a 2.5 (or 3???) Inch perforated pan. I then drilled two holes with a step drill bit to insert the weld less valve and termometer. By my calculations, it should hold like 3-3.5 gallons below the rack. That is 120-150 gallons of sap, which fits 100 taps nicely.

I think I have $70 in this setup. I assume it should be much better than a cone, infinitely cheaper than a press, and still cheaper than a factory built filter canner setup. I should be using it for the first time sunday. My biggest concern is the filter rack, there is more "solid space" than holes. I hope that does not severely impact flow. Worst case scenario I can get a wire rack, which they make for steam pans, and have them be held up using 4-6 stainless bolts through the wall of the water pan.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170217/7905947f8c9e14d310194182f480bf18.jpg

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk


(Edited post to move cost up from $50 to $70, still a ballpark est)

I have one of those pans for my filters. I took a step bit and blew the holes out to a 1/2". Made a world of difference in filtering.