Filter press first experience.

[Bricklayer]

Used my wesfab short stack for the first time tonight.
It worked. But I think I added to much DE. Or charged the press initially with too much DE

I had about 7 gallons of syrup. Roughly around 212 temperature , Basically right off the evaporator.
I added 9 cups of DE to about 3 gallons and prechargrd the press untill it was nice and hot and syrup was comming out beautifully clear.
I added the remaining 4 gallons and added 3 cups of DE to that and let it run through press. The pressure started to slowly climb and hit 60 psi. So I shut it down.
I had no idea what I should do at this point. And didn’t want my syrup to get cold. So I took the last 2 plates off and emptied them and put new papers in and closed the press back up again. It worked fine after this.

#1 - I’m pretty sure I didn’t need that much DE for 7 gallons of syrup ( I was worried if I didn’t add enough it wouldn’t filter properly.
#2 - I totally forgot about the bypass. Didn’t use it at all. Is it normal to use it? Or just in an emergency. ?

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

We have the same press. Try 4-5 cups of DE. We can get around 10 gallons thru before pressure starts to build. And yes- the bypass valve can be opened if pressures get too high.

[Russell Lampron]

I had a short stack Wes Fab and 9 cups was the max capacity. I used 3 cups to precharge it and mixed the other 6 in with my syrup. On smaller amounts of syrup 1 cup per 2 gallons after the initial charge worked good unless there was a lot of nitre, then I added more but didn't exceed the 9 cups total.

[JoeJ]

If you go back to the Bottling and Filtering forum, Page 31 Date 3-27-15 "How much Diatomaceous Earth" I posted a formula that I developed for the proper amount of DE. Figure out how much DE volume your hollow plates hold, charge your first syrup with 20% of that amount, then add about 1/2 cup of DE to each additional gallon of syrup you filter. If you add to much DE, it will pack the hollow plates and stop filtering.

Joe

[Bricklayer]

I’ll be using it again Friday. So I’m gonna definitely not use as much DE this time. I was always under the understanding that plates had to be full of DE to filter properly.
So if I only had say 3 gallons to filter it would be ok to charge it with 3 cups DE . Then say 1 cup with the rest of syrup. Plates would be half full more or less.

[JoeJ]

The plates do not have to be full to filter. You want to start with the pre-charge to coat the papers with DE and then continuously ad DE to form new layers of DE for filtering.

I would suggest finding out exactly how much DE it will take to fill the hollow plates so that you will know how many cups of DE it will take to meet the 20% pre-charge.

Joe

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

As Joe stated the plates do not have to be full. You will get more filtering capacity (niter removal for a lack of better description) but as Russ noted there is a max. capacity where everything clogs. It sounds like you may batch filter similar to what we do. We do 5-10 gallons at a time depending on the grade difference and how fast we're making syrup. We mix in 4 cups of DE, maybe 5 whether it's 5 gallons or 10 gallons and it has worked for us.

[maple flats]

I start on a new set of papers in early and mid season (7" 5 bank) using 1.5 cups in 2-3 gal of syrup at just over 200F. I filter back into the mixing tank until the syrup out of the filter discharge sparkles. Then it gets sent to either my bottler or to a barrel. Then on each additional batch of about 6 gal, I mix in about 1 cup and filter it. I repeat until the barrel is full.
You do not want the plates full, that is when the press needs to get a new set of papers.
Later in the season I use more DE.

[DrTimPerkins]

Filter presses work better if hot. When starting to filter in a press, use the bypass valve to slowly introduce syrup into the press, with the bypass going back to the drawoff tank or finishing pan. Continue opening the bypass until the press is fully hot and the syrup is running clear, then switch over to the drum. If the press cools down, use the bypass to heat it up again slowly.

Good video on maple syrup filtering at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNqvFRBbK9A&list=PLZP4fDl-nB98B3TQ4YofaQQkRi-tC0ut9&index=2&t=12s

[Bricklayer]

My second time using the press yesterday went way better. Was able to put about 25 gallons through it.
I was drawing off about a gallon everY 25 minutes. So I waited untill I had 5 or so gallons to start the press. My canner will hold 10 gallons. So I probley could of waited. But wanted to start bottling.
I put 3-4 cups in the initial charge. Then 1/2 cup per gallon after that. Worked great.
At 1 point I forgot to add DE to a 2 gallon batch. But it still came out crystal clear.
I’m assuming since at this point I would of had 8 cups of de inside the press already that not adding fresh DE to 2 gallons is ok. ?

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

You don’t need to keep adding DE. As Russ stated, 9 cups is the max so I would stay under that. Sounds like the 3-4 cup initial charge worked good so stick with that. Getting 25 gallons through the short stack press is pretty good.

[Bricklayer]

I was surprised how hot it stayed after the original batch was put through. 25-30 minutes in between batches was enough to keep the press hot all day. Couldn’t even put my hand on it half an hour after a batch went through.
To clean it up I took hot sap from the flu pan and ran it through back into a pail then dumped it back in flue pan. Hot water through pump till it was clear. And done.
Thanks for all the help guys.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Sounds like you got it figured it out now. That is our preferred way to clean out the press as well but doesn't always happen if we're not boiling when we filter and bottle. Break it down, clean the plates and put in new papers and ready to roll again. Throwing a blanket over it will help hold the heat in as well if you're time between batches becomes longer.