Filtering before syrup

[Troutman10]

Quick question...I filtered before I was at syrup on my last draw. There was quite a bit of stuff in the filter. Then I boiled to syrup and filtered again. It seemed easier to filter when I did it twice compared to filtering only at the time when I had syrup. Is this a normal occurance when filtering more than one time or should I just be filtering once? Any help is appreciated.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

Troutman,
I am using cone filters and I do the same thing. I have found the same as you have, it's much easier to filter twice. I also end up with crystal clear syrup as a result. I found that when I was filtering only once the syrup would start to cool because it when through the filter much slower due to all of the excess niter.

[Troutman10]

I think I filtered today above 200 degrees. Is there a certain temp range i should filter at? Last batch was crystal clear but todays syrup has some precipitate compared to last time. What am i doing wrong?

[barnbc76]

I have been doing this the same way, filter 2 times first with just the prefilter (only because i'm a little careless and get soot all over and dont want the cone filter messed up.) The second time i filter as hot as possible since it takes so long to filter I figure the hotter the better, then i heat it back up and bottle. I use a strainer collander thing that just happens to be the same shape, flip the strainer upsidedown and put the cone filter and prefilters on it. It works alot better this way for me. How long does it usually take you guys to filter a gallon? Currently it takes about an hr but we break it down into half gallons for ease of use so it takes a bit longer. Also how many prefilters/gal do you use?

[Troutman10]

It took me about 45 mins to filter my first gallon this season. Today it took about 5 minutes with 8 oz short of a gallon. The pre-filter was dipped in the hot syrup then i poured the syrup into the cone prefilter and held it up while the syrup ran through. I was surprised at how fast it ran through. I should have done it again because theres some precipitate as described in my previous message. I'll master this sooner or later.

[Troutman10]

So this is what I'm getting after running through a prefilter. What'd I do wrong and how can it be corrected? I dont know why the picture is still sideways even after rotating it. Sorry about that. 15730

[barnbc76]

After the first batch you made how did you clean your filter? Perhaps that has something to do with it. I know you're not supposed to ring it out, I think you are supposed to rinse it and pat it dry.

[treehugger89]

Did you try forcing any of the syrup through the filter at the end.

[Sugarmaker]

Not exactly sure what process your using?
The 45 min vs 5 min is a clue that something is not the same?
If the syrup in the jar was passed through a prefilter only then your going to get the niter in the bottom and a 5 min time.
The clean felt cone filter with a couple prefilters inside should be the method to remove the sugarsand from the boiling syrup.
The felt should be only wet with clean warm water prior to filtering too. Dipping the felt in the unfiltered syrup could pick up sugarsand on the exterior of the felt.
Regards,
Chris

[RollinsOrchards]

A single pre-filter by itself won't do much for you. I stack four to six inside the orlon/felt/wool filter to protect the orlon. It seems that if I use only two prefilters that the sugar sand will find it's way through and then plug the orlon, but with several prefilters the flow is slow enough to trap the sugarsand in the pre filters.

You do need to keep the whole arrangement warm. Hanging the filter over a metal syrup pot with a burner underneath set on low will do wonders for your speed of filtering.

[Jolly Acres Farm]

A single pre-filter by itself won't do much for you. I stack four to six inside the orlon/felt/wool filter to protect the orlon. It seems that if I use only two prefilters that the sugar sand will find it's way through and then plug the orlon, but with several prefilters the flow is slow enough to trap the sugarsand in the pre filters.

You do need to keep the whole arrangement warm. Hanging the filter over a metal syrup pot with a burner underneath set on low will do wonders for your speed of filtering.

I 2nd this......