Need advice? Picked up a Buon Vino Super Jet Filter and tried it and failed....

[craig1bc]

Looking for some advice. I picked up the Buon Vino Super Jet Filter and I tried it to make filter maple syrup and it was a complete failure. I used filter aid 1/2 cup and 3 filters and ran it through the press 3 times and after the syrup has sat for a week I have alot of niter sand.

Anyone use this setup?

1. How many plates do you use?
2. How many filters did you use?
3. How much filter aid?
4. How many times did you run it through the press?

Any other advice you can give me.

Thanks,

Craig

[Pdiamond]

I have the maple guys jet filter press which seems to be identical. I had no problems filtering this year and this was my first time using a filter press. Did you filter your syrup at 190 degrees? I used 2/3 cup of DE for each 1.5 gallons and it ran good, i used 4 filter papers until the last batch when I used all the plates just to try them all out.

[Polaris1]

Like Pdiamond said did you filter at 190 degrees? I had the same press as you. I bought additional plates from Maple Guys to get to 7 plates I believe. I also ran my filtered syrup back to holding tank in the beginning until the syrup cleared up. Usually took maybe less than a min or so. I did 4-5 gal batches and used 1.5 cups of DE. Beginning of season I could run up to 13-14 gallons thru before having to change papers. Watch your pressure gauge. U'll be fine then gauge will spike an blow pump to press line off. Use caution as you know hot syrup.

[craig1bc]

Yes syrup was close to 190' did you run more than one time? I have alot of niter. It looks like I did not get much filtering done we are ready to go back to the cone filter.

[maple flats]

To use it properly you must do it correctly. First the syrup must be 190 or even better 200F. Next you must mix in the filter aid in the right amount. The first gallon needs 2/3 cup, every additional gal needs another 1/3 cup. Then, after mixing you start the filter. First step in running it is to coat the papers with filter aid. You do that by drawing the syrup from your mixing pot or tank, running it thru the filter and back to the same pot. Let it run until the syrup flow back to the tank sparkles (super clear). Then and only then you shut down, move your discharge hose to a clean collection pot and run the syrup thru the filter. If you have more to filter, mix in the filter aid, about 1/4 cup per gallon. Mix and run it thru, this time since the filter cake is already coating the papers you can run this and even more batches thru and into the collection pot, without sending it back to the mixing pot first. That extra step is only needed on the first batch to coat the papers.
If the filter gets filled up, you will need to change the papers and coat the new papers by running back into the mix tank. In time you will find just how much syrup you can filter on one change of the papers. That amount does change thru the season, early season you can filter more on a set of papers then in mid to late season you usually get more niter and you then get fewer gallons filtered on a set of papers. Every batch you run thru must be at or above 190, not just the first.

[Polaris1]

I ran it thru 1 pass after you get the papers and plates coated. I thought it worked very well. I canned some in glass jars and no sand or anything.

[Super Sapper]

I would guess that something is not put together correct. Too little filter aid and your pressure should spike before it is full of filter aid. Too much filter aid and it will take less syrup to fill it and need new papers. You shouldn't need to run it through more than once.

Another possibility could be in reheating for bottling. How do you reheat to bottle? If with a direct flame to your bottler you could be creating niter there.

[Polaris1]

What kind of filters are you using? The filters from Buon Vino? They have 3 different grade filters. I wouldn't dare to guess which 1's would work for maple syrup. They are a thicker harder filter than a normal press paper. I bought filters from Maple Guys. I'm not sure if they still sell them. Someone here said they backed off on sales.

[Pdiamond]

The Maple Guys are still selling the filter papers. They are $16.00 for a pkg of 42 filter papers.

[Pdiamond]

This was my first year with a filter press and I wonder why I didn't get one sooner. It has tabs on it so you can line up the plates and filter papers as you put it together. I filtered 16.25 gallons this year, and it is the clearest syrup I have ever bottled. I won't go back to the flat filters except when it comes off the evaporator into my holding tank.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

I have the Maple Guys press and 7 plates. I have researched the Buon vino press to see the differences and a few things popped up.

Ive had my Maple Guys press for 3-4 years now and have filtered over 150 gallons of syrup with it. It works flawlessly.

The wine press and the Maple guys press use different pumps. The viscosity of syrup is definitely different than wine. The Buon Vino press uses different filter papers, the maple guys papers are definietly different.

You must filter hot at 190 degrees and I generally will do 8 gallons of syrup at a time and use 2 cups of DE. that may be too much or not enough, but it works for me.

-Scott

[craig1bc]

Well a new season is upon us very soon. My wife wants to go back to the old wool cone filter and prefilters. I wanting to get more details on how to do this right since I have one more shot before we bail on it.

My press has 3 plates and then 1 end plate and the clamp. how many plates/ filters do you recommend that I use to get this right?

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Someone near Derby, NY please help this man! Craig- check some online videos on how to use a press or better yet see if someone near you can help either by showing you how they operate theirs or coming to your place. Do not give up on the filter press!!

[maple flats]

Craig1bc, the number of plates you need depends on how much syrup you are running and how much sugar sand it contains. My best advice is to use all of the plates until you get it working right, after that you can try to reduce the number of plates to see if fewer work well enough. I noticed you got your filter papers from Vino, is that correct? If yes, ask them which if any are intended for hot maple syrup. If not, order your papers from The Maple Guys. Next is the question of filter aid, is it the right type for maple syrup? You may need to buy FA from a maple supply store. The wrong FA can cause problems.
Once you have the right FA and papers, next comes the filtering. Make sure you have the plates arranged properly, The first fixed plate is a waffle plate and it has the inlet/outlet fittings on the back side. Then a paper, then a hollow plate,paper,hollow etc until you have assembled all of the plates, as you do it, make sure the in and out holes are all towards the bottom. Then put the end plate on, filter paper first, and tighten the stack of plates.
With your syrup at 190 or more F, mix 2/3 cup for the first gallon of syrup, and add 1/3 cup more for each additional gallon of syrup. Stir it well, until well blended. Then run the pump, pulling the syrup from the mixing pot, going thru the filter press and send it right back to the mixing pot. Watch the discharge, run until it sparkles. Then you are ready to send the filtered syrup to your bottling set up. Be careful in the bottler not to over heat the syrup, if you have a flame under it or an electric heating element (like an electric stove burner) you can make more sugar sand just heating the syrup back up. Then bottle it, as each bottle is filled, cap it and lay it on it's side or upside down for a minute or more. Then stand it up and let it cool, add a label and enjoy!
While using a filter press will give you perfectly clear syrup, you must do everything correctly for that to be the end result. Once you master it you will be glad you got a filter press.
After you have run a batch, if the pressure built too high and the hollow plates were not full to capacity, it means you need more FA (or DE ). If the pressure built up and you had to shut down, and the hollow plates were full to capacity, you may have done too large a batch for the number of plates, or you maybe used more DE than necessary. Experimentation will answer that. Once you've followed these instructions, let us know how it worked, if you still have issues, something was not done correctly or I suppose there might be a flaw in the plates, but I doubt that.
If you still have questions, ask more questions. When you do give specifics on what you did.
Going baqck to flat or cone filters is not the correct way to resolve this. One more thing, Look at Proctor you tube videos, they have one on filter presses, it will be a larger one, but regardless of the size the procedure is the same for all.

[Polaris1]

You need to tell us a little more as to what the problem is your having. Everything Maple Flats said is how you run the press. I had 1 first year an filtered 92 gals of syrup. Biggest problem I had was I would try to run more thru and it would blow the outlet hose of the press. What a mess!! I had the Buon press but ordered 4 more plates from Maple Guy's and added longer rods so I could process more syrup at a time. I also used the Maple Guy's filters with DE.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

https://youtu.be/yxxc_roxSO0

Here is a video he made on how to use it.

I use 7 plates on mine and it works great. I use about 2 cups of DE and it will do 8-9 gallons at a time. Thats how big I do my batches, so maybe the system would do more but those are the size of my reheat pan and my bottler.

If you are only using the stock model from Buon Vino, I have a feeling you are not using the right filter papers. Chris at Maple guys is still selling the Filter Presses and the proper papers.

https://mapleguys.wordpress.com/

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Here are the filter papers for sale on Ebay from them:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Filters-for-Maple-Jet-Filter-Press-for-Maple-Syrup-42-pack/324414914147?hash=item4b88a2be63:g:rVMAAOSwJfRfyQS a

[craig1bc]

thanks for the tips!

History 3 plates and yes I am using the maply guys filters. And yes I did buy the filter aid from the maple store.I am only doing 1-3 gallons at a time. I will follow the advice of the DE amount when I try it this year. I followed the directions of someone on here how much DE to use last year. I am going to add 2 plates this year to the press.

[craig1bc]

look at the crap in the bottom of the bottle. I see this in all bottles that I filtered.

[Polaris1]

Do you let the press run for a little bit filtering back into the heated syrup tank? It'll be cloudy then it'll clear up. Then you can go to the canner or what ever you're using to bottle. Did you see any paper that were blown thru?

[DrTimPerkins]

Do you let the press run for a little bit filtering back into the heated syrup tank? It'll be cloudy then it'll clear up.

Correct. Let the syrup recirculate for a while until clear....then into the bottle.

You might check out these videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN1gaTNjADo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUYtobgcvZE&t=1s

[craig1bc]

papes all looked good. I filtered the syrup from one tank to another and did it twice.

[craig1bc]

Yes that video is a great start. He has 6 filters I think I am only using 4. I am out of town and will check when I get back home next week.

[SmellsLikeSyrupNH]

Dave, with these presses there is no hollow plates. They are all just solid plastic plates that have tabs on the top to help align them. Its definitely geared to the smaller producer. Everything else you said I agree with completely after using my Jet Press for a few years.

-Scott




Craig1bc, the number of plates you need depends on how much syrup you are running and how much sugar sand it contains. My best advice is to use all of the plates until you get it working right, after that you can try to reduce the number of plates to see if fewer work well enough. I noticed you got your filter papers from Vino, is that correct? If yes, ask them which if any are intended for hot maple syrup. If not, order your papers from The Maple Guys. Next is the question of filter aid, is it the right type for maple syrup? You may need to buy FA from a maple supply store. The wrong FA can cause problems.
Once you have the right FA and papers, next comes the filtering. Make sure you have the plates arranged properly, The first fixed plate is a waffle plate and it has the inlet/outlet fittings on the back side. Then a paper, then a hollow plate,paper,hollow etc until you have assembled all of the plates, as you do it, make sure the in and out holes are all towards the bottom. Then put the end plate on, filter paper first, and tighten the stack of plates.
With your syrup at 190 or more F, mix 2/3 cup for the first gallon of syrup, and add 1/3 cup more for each additional gallon of syrup. Stir it well, until well blended. Then run the pump, pulling the syrup from the mixing pot, going thru the filter press and send it right back to the mixing pot. Watch the discharge, run until it sparkles. Then you are ready to send the filtered syrup to your bottling set up. Be careful in the bottler not to over heat the syrup, if you have a flame under it or an electric heating element (like an electric stove burner) you can make more sugar sand just heating the syrup back up. Then bottle it, as each bottle is filled, cap it and lay it on it's side or upside down for a minute or more. Then stand it up and let it cool, add a label and enjoy!
While using a filter press will give you perfectly clear syrup, you must do everything correctly for that to be the end result. Once you master it you will be glad you got a filter press.
After you have run a batch, if the pressure built too high and the hollow plates were not full to capacity, it means you need more FA (or DE ). If the pressure built up and you had to shut down, and the hollow plates were full to capacity, you may have done too large a batch for the number of plates, or you maybe used more DE than necessary. Experimentation will answer that. Once you've followed these instructions, let us know how it worked, if you still have issues, something was not done correctly or I suppose there might be a flaw in the plates, but I doubt that.
If you still have questions, ask more questions. When you do give specifics on what you did.
Going baqck to flat or cone filters is not the correct way to resolve this. One more thing, Look at Proctor you tube videos, they have one on filter presses, it will be a larger one, but regardless of the size the procedure is the same for all.

[maple flats]

Sorry, I did notice that when I watched the video by Chris (The maple guys).
What ever space there is that's being filled up with DE and niter, will be what determines how much DE you can use. Try following Chris's instructions, he pioneered those presses for maple use.