Filtering too hot?

[TonyL]

Every year it seems we have "that" batch.....the one that gives us syrup with suspended, filmy particles, that eventually settle to the bottom of the glass. And while it doesn't happen every batch, when it does happen it's aggravating. So my question is regarding filtering temps. We finish on propane, taking our sweet to syrup via hydrometer. At this point, (syrup), the temp. is obviously high. As soon as we reach syrup, we drain the finish pan through the usual orlon cone filter with paper prefilters, removing the prefilters as they slow down.

We have a Bill Mason filter tank, which we have wrapped in Styrofoam insulation. According to the temp gauge in the tank, we still are at 200 degrees once the syrup runs through the filters, although it drops as we begin filling bottles. I know 200 is asking for trouble when bottling, but hot syrup does filter easier....so, should we let the temp come down while still in the finish pan, before filtering? How do we filter hot, but not hot enough to create niter?

[Big_Eddy]

Can't filter too hot. I pour it into the filter as soon as it stops rolling in the pot.
Did you preheat your glass?

[Maple Man 85]

I've found 190 to be a good filtering/bottling temp. No suspended particles, niter or sugar sand. Also still hot enough to kill anything in the head space of the bottles.

[TonyL]

I agree on the 190 temp for bottling, but how?? If we bottle right after finishing like we are doing now, we have some syrup going into the bottles at 200 degrees. If we wait for it to cool before filtering, it won't run through the filters very well.

Big Ed, we are not preheating the bottles.

[maple flats]

No such thing as too hot to filter. However you want to let it cool to 190 before bottling but do not let it cool to under 180. For your filtering, try a half cup of filter aid (FA) in the first gallon thru the filter, then mix 1 cup FA for each 4-5 gal. after that. The FA will trap the fines you are missing and the FA will not get thru the orlon or wool filter

[Sugarmaker]

I always consider this two different operations. And that may help you.
First the filtering off the evaporator through the felts should be as mentioned as hot as possible.
I then take the cooled filtered syrup which should be clear. (if its not clear at this point then something is not right in your hot filtering process go back to step one,)
Next take the cool clear syrup back up to 180 and then can it. You should now have clear syrup that will keep for a long time.
Regards,
Chris

[TonyL]

Thanks all, appreciate the help. I'm still missing something, though. If I filter hot, right off the finish pan, then the syrup that runs through the filter and collects in the tank is still 200 degrees. Shouldn't that mean that my already filtered syrup is still making new niter, after its been filtered?

[psparr]

I think the niter forms with added heat not from residual heat left in the syrup. Don't ask me how it works but it does. How old is your filter? Rough handling when cleaning it can cause niter to pass through. Wouldn't really see it till it all settled out.

[Russell Lampron]

Thanks all, appreciate the help. I'm still missing something, though. If I filter hot, right off the finish pan, then the syrup that runs through the filter and collects in the tank is still 200 degrees. Shouldn't that mean that my already filtered syrup is still making new niter, after its been filtered?

psparr has it right. No new nitre will form unless you add more heat. The nitre is released as the water is boiled off and it can't stay suspended in the syrup. When you turn off the heat the evaporation process is done and there won't be any noticable nitre released.


I think the niter forms with added heat not from residual heat left in the syrup. Don't ask me how it works but it does. How old is your filter? Rough handling when cleaning it can cause niter to pass through. Wouldn't really see it till it all settled out.