Homemade Filter press

[BrutemanAl]

Evening all, I have been watching and seeing allot of videos on people making their own filter press with vacuum pumps, stainless steel pots, air pigs, flat filters ect ect ect, but I have yet been able to find anything or anyone that wants to share the entire process of making one.

Anyone have any detailed instructions or a link to instructions? I am a DIY kinda guy but need instructions to follow so I know what to do and where.

Thanks for any help or suggestions you may have.

[In da bush]

1949819499So I looked at both the YouTube videos as well as the CDL website to make my own version. I looked at the cheap stainless steel pots that most people seem to be using from Walmart and decided to spend a little bit of money and ordered a double boiler from Amazon that I was able to adapt to what I think will work just fine. I was also able to order weld list fittings to except 1/2" stainless steel fittings also on Amazon. I will also pick up a vacuum pump from Harbor freight to use for the filter press that I think will work great. I am still in the process of putting it together but given the YouTube videos and the information I was able to glean from CDL, I think I should be fine.

Dbl boiler
Winware Stainless 20 Quart Double Boiler with Cover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AS7YSC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_TdbCCb7K7YW3R

Ball valve/fittings
Concord 1/2" 304 Full Stainless Steel Ball Valve Spigot w/ Bulkhead Nipple and Barb https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GPEQYIW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_yebCCbK00YFN6

Vacuum pump
https://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html
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[Polaris1]

I built 1 of these last yr. Worked good. But you would need the clamps like cdl has. I didn't have clamps an needed a second set of hands to hold down pressure to make the seal. I also started by using pre filters but still had sand. I then started using the orlon filter and 2 or 3 prefilters depending on the amount to filter. After that syrup was clear and free of sand. I have sense went to the small press like Maple Guys have but a different kind. That works better and can filter up to 14gals on a set of papers.

[Rosser's Ridge]

I just built a similar prototype. SS pot for vacuum chamber, 5 gal bucket lid fits perfect over SS pot to get seal (a lot easier to drill than bottom of a SS pot!) & cut bottom out of 5 gal bucket as top chamber and a 12 cfm 2 stage vacuum pump W/ no reservoir tank. Worked pretty good. Latches will be an improvement over bungie cords. My concern is all the moisture mixing in with pump oil. I'm thinking of adding a 3rd chamber to cool steam back to water. By sucking stem through a couple inches of water? Any thoughts?

[needmoremaples]

I used about 10 binder clips to seal the orlon to the pot. They press it down so theres about 1" of volume there too. I

I say forget the vacuum pump and use a shop vet vac. Trickiest part of the whole ordeal is getting the vac right for me. I had too much vac sucking in the orlon with a 5hp shop vac. I closed the ball valve almost all the way and drilled holes in the hose to get it right. Super cheap and effective. Most people have these things in there house too. Just get the bulkhead fitting in the pot and attach the hose.

[DrTimPerkins]

Very creative folks....just keep in mind to use food-grade materials for anything you use or make that contacts syrup.

[fisheatingbagel]

I used about 10 binder clips to seal the orlon to the pot. They press it down so theres about 1" of volume there too. I

I say forget the vacuum pump and use a shop vet vac. Trickiest part of the whole ordeal is getting the vac right for me. I had too much vac sucking in the orlon with a 5hp shop vac. I closed the ball valve almost all the way and drilled holes in the hose to get it right. Super cheap and effective. Most people have these things in there house too. Just get the bulkhead fitting in the pot and attach the hose.You need to be careful using a shopvac. If you don't allow some air to go through the vac you'll burn up the motor. Ask me how I know, lol. Anyway, the HF vacuum pumps are pretty inexpensive.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[DrTimPerkins]

You need to be careful using a shopvac. If you don't allow some air to go through the vac you'll burn up the motor.

Good advice. Cooling is necessary for most all pumps...just achieved in different ways, air, oil, water, etc. Put a bleed air valve in-line somewhere and use it to regulate the vacuum level and to allow some cooling air in.

[eustis22]

So I have constructed the two-pot vacuum filter but apparently my vacuum was TOO strong :).....any ideas on how to prise the pots APART after sucking the finish thru?

[billschi]

I used this to control my wet/dry vac that ran my aerator last season. It ran the whole season while making birch.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0714FFG4F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_bia_widget_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[GotSap?]

I built my own vacuum filter out of a 5 gallon stock pot nested inside a 7 gallon stock pot, so I have a vacuum filter/water jacketed canner all in one. I used it last night for the first time, and it seemed to work pretty well. My process is, evaporator to stock pot with drain, from stock pot drain through pre-filter into finisher. Final finish in finisher, then pump from finisher into vacuum filter / water jacketed canner and bottle. I used a ss wort pump to transfer the hot sap and a small shop vac to create the vacuum. When filtering, I used an orlon sheet and 1 pre-filter. Initially, the syrup is sucked through pretty quick, but after a couple gallons, it slows down a great deal. For those that have used a vacuum filter, what is the max amount you can realistically filter before changing filters? Would DE help, and if so, how much?

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