Cone filter squeeze

[Twin Chimneys Syrup]

I filtered my first gallons of finished syrup this weekend, seemed to come out great. I used a synthetic cone filter and a pre-filter. I've heard many times in here that the filtering process is brutal slow and it was. I did my own thing to speed it up, so I'm just checking what everyone thinks.

After heating the syrup back up I set up my filter hanging over a pot and poured it in. It went fast for a second then quickly slowed to a trickle then I drip and then basically nothing. I gave it quite a few more minutes and then I lost interest in waiting. I had bought sterile nitrile powder free gloves just incase. So I put them on and squeezed the syrup through. It was hot as hell but it worked great, I squeezed a some then let my hands cool and do it again until it was all out. I filtered through my 2 gallons very quickly.

Anyone think there is a problem with filtering this way?

[Trapper2]

I filtered my first gallons of finished syrup this weekend, seemed to come out great. I used a synthetic cone filter and a pre-filter. I've heard many times in here that the filtering process is brutal slow and it was. I did my own thing to speed it up, so I'm just checking what everyone thinks.

After heating the syrup back up I set up my filter hanging over a pot and poured it in. It went fast for a second then quickly slowed to a trickle then I drip and then basically nothing. I gave it quite a few more minutes and then I lost interest in waiting. I had bought sterile nitrile powder free gloves just incase. So I put them on and squeezed the syrup through. It was hot as hell but it worked great, I squeezed a some then let my hands cool and do it again until it was all out. I filtered through my 2 gallons very quickly.

Anyone think there is a problem with filtering this way?

Yep, when you force the sap through, you also will force niter through. How many gallons did you filter?

[Twin Chimneys Syrup]

About 2 gallons! 😐

[Trapper2]

About 2 gallons! 😐

Last week I filtered 3 1/2 gallons on 1 boil. I used 1 Orlon and 3 prefilters, when a prefilter was plugged I'd dump what was left into the next prefilter and when that one was plugged I dumped it into the final prefilter. Sap was at 210-220 when I poured into filters. 3 1/2 Gallons in 90 minutes with bottling. Twin Chimmneys, did you wet your filters before filtering?

[Twin Chimneys Syrup]

Last week I filtered 3 1/2 gallons on 1 boil. I used 1 Orlon and 3 prefilters, when a prefilter was plugged I'd dump what was left into the next prefilter and when that one was plugged I dumped it into the final prefilter. Sap was at 210-220 when I poured into filters. 3 1/2 Gallons in 90 minutes with bottling. Twin Chimmneys, did you wet your filters before filtering?

That seems like a good idea with the prefilters not sure why dumping the prefilter into the next didn't occur to me. My temp was right about the same when I poured it in. It cooled pretty quick though. The filter was a little damp from rinsing it off before first use. Should I have wet it?

[wobbletop]

Something I tried that worked better for me... although I still seemed to have a bit of "sugar sand"

Instead of starting with just the filter in a "cone" shape, pull the centre of the filter up so you have a "sailor's hat" shape, or "paper boat" shape. This give you more surface area for the filter. Then you can move the "peak" up or down to expose different cleaner areas of the filter to the sap to make it flow better as you filter.

Someone on here sells a metal wire frame to help with this, but the filter is stiff enough to not really need it.

[Trapper2]

1624316244 Yes wet or soak your filters.
I soak my filter in a bucket and then hang them in a coffee pot which steams them warm. I put a cover on the bucket while filtering to keep the syrup hot.

[Twin Chimneys Syrup]

I'm wondering now how bad the niter is in the jars. Is it bad to have it in there other than aesthetics. I am going to give it my friends and family and such. Obviously I don't want to give junk syrup just for the heck of it. Should pop the jars open and redo the whole thing?

[Trapper2]

I'm wondering now how bad the niter is in the jars. Is it bad to have it in there other than aesthetics. I am going to give it my friends and family and such. Obviously I don't want to give junk syrup just for the heck of it. Should pop the jars open and redo the whole thing? Just aesthetics. If it really bothers you, just buy some plastic maple jugs, pour your contents in slowly without the niter and give away like that and tell them to refrigerate. No one will know but the 2 of us. (and the other 12,000 on this site)

[BSD]

Something I tried that worked better for me... although I still seemed to have a bit of "sugar sand"

Instead of starting with just the filter in a "cone" shape, pull the centre of the filter up so you have a "sailor's hat" shape, or "paper boat" shape. This give you more surface area for the filter. Then you can move the "peak" up or down to expose different cleaner areas of the filter to the sap to make it flow better as you filter.

Someone on here sells a metal wire frame to help with this, but the filter is stiff enough to not really need it.
1625116252

forgery is the sincerest form of flattery, so i copied the design i found on here. $5 for 304 SS rod from the scrap yard and $15 bottle of syrup for a friend with a tig welder... VOILA! it works great. filtered up to 6 gallons at a pass with it with 9 pre-filters, and i think it will do 8-10 before it plugs up.

[Twin Chimneys Syrup]

Just aesthetics. If it really bothers you, just buy some plastic maple jugs, pour your contents in slowly without the niter and give away like that and tell them to refrigerate. No one will know but the 2 of us. (and the other 12,000 on this site)

Haha right just a little secret! I think since it is such dark syrup I'll just have to explain the niter situation for the ones that are canned and done. For the last bit I make I'll just do a better job filtering it or put it in plastic they are pretty cheap. I got some great methods to work with so I'll see what works best for me. I'm going to work on a more permanent filter setup this week.