Faucher Vacuum Filter

[Atgreene]

Has anyone tried the vacuum powered filtering set-up from Faucher? Local dealer bought one, has yet to try it. I'm really intrigued. No pump, uses a shop vac or your vacuum system to pull a vacuum on the filter. Pour your syrup on top mixed with filter aid and turn on the vav. Simple. We've got 1000 taps, still using cone filters. Tried a press once and had lot's of issues with blowouts and papers. I was looking at trying another press when he told me about this.
https://evaporateurfaucher.com/produit/siroptier-et-presse-vacuum

[BAP]

Looks interesting, Do you know how much it cost?

[Atgreene]

He had the 2nd largest, I think he said $1400.

[Atgreene]

Dealer says the manufacturer is shipping one down Monday for me to try. We'll see.

[BAP]

Let us know how it goes.

[raptorfan85]

After spending hours staring at a filter this just seems unfair...

[Atgreene]

I finally got my hands on one. Local dealer, Merrifield Farm in Gorham gave me his to try. He hadn't used it yet, so he figured he'd have me try it. It's the largest size, as near as I can figure.

We used a Shurflo to create vacuum. 1-2" will work, certainly better when we got up to 5-7".

The clamps that pull the top ring down need to be adjusted, but the nuts won't budge. Didn't want to break the threaded rod, so we improvised with some dowels as spacers.

Ran 10+ gallons through thus far, works good. Filters are easy to clean, simple unit.

[BAP]

Does it use a flat filter?

[fisheatingbagel]

Thanks for the info. Any chance we could see some photos of the individual parts? Seems a little pricey, especially compared to a press. I'm curious how the filter is held in place

[Atgreene]

It uses two flat round filters. A thinker one and a light prefilter on top. They sit on a punched plate that sits on a gasket. The top ring then sits on top of that and is clamped down to seal it.

The simplicity is what I like. I'm not ready to give it my stamp of approval yet, but there's nothing to go wrong, filters are flat and reusable, and filter changes take just a minute or so.

[prairietapper]

how big of a batch can it hold?

[BAP]

Do you use filter aid? How much Syrup can you get through before changing the filter?

[Woodsrover]

I like the idea of it but it still doesn't address syrup cooling off before you get a chance to bottle it all.
Put a water jacket around it and you'd have something.

[Atgreene]

You could bottle directly out of it, as it only holds vac for a minute after you shut vac valve off. I used a little filter aid in the first bucket, tgis one holds 15 gallons. You could set it on a small burner to keep it at temp as well. Filter change is quick, shut off vac, pop the top hoop off, pull both filters off, slap the new ones on and start again.

My brother used it yesterday while I was at the firehouse, he hooked a small shop vav to the vac valve, pulled 5" of vac. Quick and simple.

We used to have a wesfab press. Had issues with pump and with the small batches we do. My father hates using filter aid, so I'm hoping this is a compromise, as it uses less.

[Atgreene]

Here's a quick video.
https://youtu.be/3rRgCDEE6Ag

I'm fairly impressed. Quick filter changes, easy to clean, simple and nothing to break. I'm pretty sure I'll buy the smaller one. We've been filtering a pail at a time as we draw it off the evaporator. No issues.

[BAP]

How much is the small one you are thinking of getting? Who carries them?

[Atgreene]

Merrifield Farm in Gorham ME. I think he said around $1000, but there was questions on shipping costs. He's supposed to get back to me.

[maple flats]

Educate your father as hard as it may be, that filter aid (DE) is the best filter there is and it is not in the finished syrup. Filter aid (DE) IS THE FILTER.

[BAP]

Did you end up buying the filter? If so, do you like it?

[Atgreene]

It's still on loan. I've asked him for a smaller version, he's supposed to get vack to me. I've run 100+ gallons through it, I like it. I did find that about 5 gallons per filter change is all it will do. We only pull 2-3 gallons per draw, so it works great for us.

[claystroup]

Will these be available through CDL dealers in the states? I live in Michigan and was considering buying a small filter press for my hobby operation for next year but sure like the apparent simplicity of this new concept.

[Atgreene]

No, sounds like they are distributing through their own dealers. As near as he knows, this may be the only one in the northeast, perhaps anywhere other than Quebec. I can't find anyone who has one.

For a small producer it's ideal. If you filter direct from your evaporator and add a pump, it would be excellent as well. Last weekend we had 1500 people through the sugarhouse, so we drew off and put everything in the canning rigs unfiltered. Monday we heated and filtered 30 gallons at once. We found that much more than 5 gallons required a filter change. But filter changes are quick and easy, so it was no big deal. If you draw a lot at once to filter it may not be better than a press.

[BAP]

Any updates on the filter?

[Sugarmaker]

5 gallons is better than 1 gallon as in cone filters sometimes but still not great if a producer is making 20 gallons a day and you have to tear down 3 times to get it all through? Interesting piece of equipment.
Regards,
Chris

[Atgreene]

It's a 2 minute filter change, not much tear down to it. No matter what you filter with, if you're filtering each batch as it comes off you're changing filters anyway. No filter system can sit for hours between filtering without a fresh filter.

[BAP]

If anyone is interested in one of the Faucher Vacuum Filters in the USA, contact CDL-USA in Swanton, VT. I spent quite a bit of time trying to find out how to buy one and was finally put in touch with the Operations Manager there and he got me a price on the smaller unit. He told me that for now, you have to go through them because it is not an available item through the local dealer network. Price is $895 retail for 12” and $1095 for 15”. Did not get a price for the biggest one. These prices are before the spring discounts which they are offering on these.

[BAP]

I got a call from the Lancaster CDL store that my filter is in. Going to do a road trip up there and go to there open house on May 5 and pick it up.

[needmoremaples]

built my own vac filter from a larger pot, a bulk head fitting and then strapped a flat filter to the top. i use a 6 hp vac which connects thru a reducing fernco fitting into a ball valve attached to 3/4 bulk head fitting. i pre filter going into the flat filter. i do about 3-4 gallons which is what my finishing pots hold each. after im done i will reheat to 185 and bottle. to bottle i still use my stainless coffee pot with spigot on the bottom. i do filter again with cone filter inside but it stays really clean so i think im just catching any newly formed nitre from reheat. way cheaper than buying and its the clearest ive ever made. did about 40 gallons thru it id say in total. this was my trial run.

1867318674