Smoky Lake 7in short bank Help

[Nemo5]

Tonight was the first time I tried using my new press. I had a very difficult time trying to get the syrup through the press from the get go. My press is the hand pump model. I had to use a lot of force and every now and then it would blow back the suction line. Here is what I did.
I had 3 gallons of syrup.
I brought syrup up to 200 degrees.
I stirred in 5 cups of DE.
I know there at 2 kinds of DE but I don’t know what kind I have. I bought it from CDL. It’s in a white bag inside a cardboard box with no labeling on it.
Once the DE was stirred into the syrup I began pumping. I’m wondering if I used to much DE. I have a couple of pictures of my papers i will post. I would really appreciate some insight into what I’m doing wrong.
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[regor0]

Looks like you need more de to me. The plates should be completely full. Although, late season syrup can be hard to filter even with a press sometimes.


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[1arch]

I typically use 4 ups for ~13 gallons even for late season

[Sugarmaker]

I have to ask. Sorry I dont know what SL sells but a hand pump on a 7 inch press doesnt sound right. Most of the hand pumps are on 5 inch presses? Sounds like not enough pump for the press? Now if it is a 5 inch press. and a short bank to boot. Then there was just a thread about using too much DE in 5 inch presses. 4 cups was determined to fill a 5 inch press I think it was a full bank 5 inch???. This is just information I seen on here I am not saying this is the issue. But I dont use 5 cups of DE in my gear pump Siro press for 20 gallons of syrup. You could have other issues too? The first picture the cake looks pretty gooey! Most of my cake is a little more dry looking? I would probably try less DE.
Regards,
Chris

[Nemo5]

I have to ask. Sorry I dont know what SL sells but a hand pump on a 7 inch press doesnt sound right. Most of the hand pumps are on 5 inch presses? Sounds like not enough pump for the press? Now if it is a 5 inch press. and a short bank to boot. Then there was just a thread about using too much DE in 5 inch presses. 4 cups was determined to fill a 5 inch press I think it was a full bank 5 inch???. This is just information I seen on here I am not saying this is the issue. But I dont use 5 cups of DE in my gear pump Siro press for 20 gallons of syrup. You could have other issues too? The first picture the cake looks pretty gooey! Most of my cake is a little more dry looking? I would probably try less DE.
Regards,
Chris

It is a 7 inch short bank wit a hand pump and will hold 9 3/4 cups of de.
I found some instructions on line but there is something I don’t understand. Step 7 in the instructions say:

7 Add Diatomaceous Earth (DE): In this step we will build up a DE coating on the Filter Papers inside the press. Heat the unfiltered maple syrup to bottling temperature (190ºF), and mix in about 1/4 cup of DE for every gallon of maple syrup you want to filter. The amount of DE will vary based on the amount of dirt in your syrup.
Next, draw off about a 1/2 gallon of the hot syrup into a separate bowl. Mix in enough additional DE to create a slurry. (About 6 – 10 cups).
I’m going to filter 3 gallons at a time so I’m thinking I should add 1 cup of de into the 3 gallons and mix it. Do you think I really need to add 6-10 cups after that just for the 3 gallons. Seems like a lot since the press only holds 9 3/4.


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[n8hutch]

First off 3-4 cups of DE should be plenty for 3 gallons, I dont think that you can use too much DE other than exceeding what your press will hold for volume, how well did you mix in the DE? Did you stir it more than once? Hand pumping could be slow and allow the syrup to cool too much or the DE ro settle out before you got it all pumped through?

When I charge my press I circulate the syrup back to the pail I'm filtering out of until the press is good and warmed up and the syrup is clear. Did you do that? What was the density of your syrup, if it's over dense that's not going to help you. Are you certain of the syrups quality? If it was Ropey your likely not going to be able to filter it.

Hand pumping is going to be difficult if your syrup is not up to temperature and or the DE is not mixed in well.

[Urban Sugarmaker]

I have this exact press. Hand pump works fine for 10-15 gallons of syrup depending on niter and how much DE. If the window plates are full of DE and you add more, you will have a tough time. I always wet the filters before use. Make sure your press is set up to go waffle, window, waffle, window, etc. I messed that up once.

If the holes in the papers are not aligned you can have trouble too, but yours look okay based on pics. Definitely filter at around 200F and recirculate first before discharging into your canning pan.

[Nemo5]

First off 3-4 cups of DE should be plenty for 3 gallons, I dont think that you can use too much DE other than exceeding what your press will hold for volume, how well did you mix in the DE? Did you stir it more than once? Hand pumping could be slow and allow the syrup to cool too much or the DE ro settle out before you got it all pumped through?

When I charge my press I circulate the syrup back to the pail I'm filtering out of until the press is good and warmed up and the syrup is clear. Did you do that? What was the density of your syrup, if it's over dense that's not going to help you. Are you certain of the syrups quality? If it was Ropey your likely not going to be able to filter it.

Hand pumping is going to be difficult if your syrup is not up to temperature and or the DE is not mixed in well.

I stirred the de right after I added it to the pot. It was mixed in well but I did not stir it again after that.
I did circulate the syrup back to the pot for about 5 minutes and it looked very clear.the press temperature was about 180.
According to my Murphy cup I was at correct density.
It was early season syrup and did not appear ropey to me.
What I find strange is that it was very hard pumping right from the beginning.


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[Nemo5]

I gave the press another try tonight. I was very careful when I added the papers making sure they were where they were supposed to be. When I used it the first time I had 5/8 hoses but my 1/2 hoses arrived today so I used those. I used 1 1/2 cups of de in 2 gallons of 200 degree syrup. I stirred it in for a longer time this time. Everything went very well. I guess I must have had something screwed up the first time I used it. I can now hold my syrup up to the window and say very nice instead of oh well.


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[Urban Sugarmaker]

I gave the press another try tonight. I was very careful when I added the papers making sure they were where they were supposed to be. When I used it the first time I had 5/8 hoses but my 1/2 hoses arrived today so I used those. I used 1 1/2 cups of de in 2 gallons of 200 degree syrup. I stirred it in for a longer time this time. Everything went very well. I guess I must have had something screwed up the first time I used it. I can now hold my syrup up to the window and say very nice instead of oh well.


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Good to hear. I had an issue once where the papers were out of alignment. Can really mess up your day.

[sg5054]

I bought the same press this year also. We were using 3-4 cups for 10-15 gallons. It works like a charm. The DE cakes came out at about a 1/4 inch think when we finished. We premixed it well and recirculated it till it was all in. It was expensive? yes, but was it worth it? hell yes!
One thing I did add was a SS ball vale to the outlet port on the 1st plate. Keeps the syrup from spilling out when you take off the hose.