Filter press shopping

[Mille705]

Good afternoon everyone.
I have decided to start shopping for a short bank filter press. I have priced a CDL, Westfab and a Smokey Lake. Any one have thoughts or opinions on which one we should get? I have never used one before.

[VTnewguy]

I don't think you could go wrong with any of those. I would make sure to get a air diaphragm pump instead of a gear pump. We have a Leader press and it works great.

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Wesfab makes a good press at probably less cost than CDL but not 100% sure on that. I am sure CDL makes a good press too. We like our 7” Wesfab press. We have a gear pump, but if we got it new it would been with an air pump. We’ll replace it some day. Air pump is the way to go.
Smoky Lake makes nice stuff but their filter presses are stainless. Sounds good but must be pretty heavy. Some mixed reviews on their website but that happens to everyone.

[MISugarDaddy]

One thing for sure, once you get a filter press, whether it has a gear pump or an air pump, you will wonder why you waited so long to get one. We have a Wesfab gear pump model and it works great. If you go with an air pump, remember that you have to have add setting up a compressor in your filtering process. Not a big deal, but just one more thing you will need to get setup before you are ready to go.
Gary

[maple flats]

I have a Lapierre, started with a 3 bank, added 2 more a few years later. As said above, any brand is good, but opt for air diaphragm rather than gear pump. Mine was gear pump, brass, then regs changed making brass a no no. At that point I needed a pump anyways, the gears were worn. I had 2 options, SS gear or air diaphragm, I went with the air powered diaphragm and it is a whole lot better and far better control. My first year on it, I had a small 2HP pancake compressor right in the sugarhouse, it was loud. That summer I ran an air line underground to my shop (about 85' away). Now the compressor runs in the shop and it's much quieter in the sugarhouse. I can even hear myself think and I don't think very loud at all!
In the sugarhouse, on the air line I have a ball valve, a pressure reducer and a pressure gauge. The compressor runs at up to 135 psi, I regulate it down as much as I need and have full control of the pump speed.

[johnallin]

Clear Press from Leader gets my vote..I have a 5 bank but seldom, if ever, use more than 3.
I find that being able to see cake build-up and what's going on in the press to be an advantage.
What ever you do, don't listen to Fred...he's just jealous that Leader beat CDL to the punch. <big grin>

I run it on a Rolair JC20 oil-less compressor https://www.rolair.com/products/air-compressors/hand-carry/jc20.
It's comparatively quiet at <70db when running.

I have a Wilden P1/SSPPP/FSS/FS/SFS/0070 Stainless diaphragm pump that's rated Food Grade by the manufacturer. The end code 0070 designates that rating.
All may be overkill, but good "stuff" seldom wears out and I can feel good knowing I'm not introducing anything nasty into our syrup.

[thomashansen871]

I am not sure if you have purchased one as of yet, but I purchased on from Badgerland Mapleworks. it is a division of Smoky Lake Maple. the only difference between theirs and SLM is the aluminum plates instead of stainless. but it was around $900ish for a 7", with silicone hoses, quick disconnects, and DE, all delivered.

this will be my first season with it, but after smashing my head into a wall because of tons of issues with gravity filtering, i am sure this will be well worth the money.

[mudr]

I picked up a press last year. I told myself it was a christmas present to myself after having some extra cash from a side job. Looking back on it, man does it make life easier.

I got the short bank hand press from Smoky Lake. I will add a diaphragm pump later if production ever warrants it. I was going to get the Badgerland press mentioned above at first. Yes, sister company to SL. It's all the same unit except the Badgerland has aluminum plates (like every other unit) whereas the Smoky press is stainless.

After looking into it, the badgerland press did not include hoses, cam locks, papers, or DE. All of which I needed to buy separately but came included with the Smoky Lake unit. After doing thr math, the stainless plates only cost me like $50 more. So I got the Smoky Lake unit and have been pleased. I cannot comment on the other units you spoke of.

[Shaun]

Some of the presses I have seen have thicker plates than others. D&G comes to mind, I would think you can filter a fair amount more if the plates hold more DE.

[Sugarmaker]

I really like the Siro 12 inch canister system. I have a gear pump but one of these and a air pump would be my recommendation!
Regards,
Chris

[7810hunting]

Can a gear pump filter be changed over to a air ?

[Sugarmaker]

I believe that is very do able. Several folks have moved from gear pumps to air diaphragm pumps.
Regards,
Chris

[DrTimPerkins]

Can a gear pump filter be changed over to a air ?

Sure...just pull out your wallet. You'll need a compressor, air line filter, and a diaphragm pump capable of running the press.

[tonka]

Look at the new cdl catalog. They offer air or electric diaphragm pump. I called the dealer a few weeks ago pricing just the electric dia. pump and asked them about it and they say said they have had a few demos out the past few years and they have had no issue with it yet and with electric you just plug it in instead of having the investment of stuff Dr. Tim listed off.

[ecp]

Does anyone have experience with the electric diaphragm pumps? They would be more cost effective in the long run and It would be quieter than air (which is what we have right now) my only real concern would be the speed. Filtering is a pinch point we cant really afford to loose capacity on right now, but if I could trade that tick tick tick sound of the air diaphragm pump for a quiet eletic motor I would be happy.

[tonka]

What size is your air diaphragm pump 1" or 1/2"? The electric pump is 1/2". I would assume the electric diaphragm would be like a shurflow pump used by smaller sap collecting or on an atv sprayer. The down side of new product, theres very little non biased reviews on whatever it is.

[DocsMapleSyrup]

I have the Smoky Lake SS filter press with air diaphragm which I like. It is heavy, heavy. I like the concept of clear plates; however, I am small enough that my press does stay hot once it's up to temp for a long time between filtering on longer boiling days.

[ecp]

What size is your air diaphragm pump 1" or 1/2"? The electric pump is 1/2". I would assume the electric diaphragm would be like a shurflow pump used by smaller sap collecting or on an atv sprayer. The down side of new product, theres very little non biased reviews on whatever it is. it is 1/2 inch right now. We usually run a higher PSI to get better flow out of it because it is a bit of a pinch point. I was hoping to get some reviews of the electric pump in terms of flow and reliability because the air pumps are loud and annoying. Most people revert to saying well you need a bigger press, but the westfab we use is reliable, and it would be nice to not have to shell out the money they are asking for a 15 inch press.

[johnallin]

Some pics of my Clear Press and air diaphragm pump. It came with 5 plates but seldom use more than 3.
Biggest advantage of the clear press is being able to see what's going on inside.

22019 22018 22020

[nymapleguy607]

Purchased a Dominion and Grimm 5 frame press this year with the electric diaphragm pump. I havent used it yet but looking forward to using it.

[tgormley358]

After pursuing a new or used vacuum filter setup as an upgrade to flat filtering, I’m now also considering a small filter press. I have my eyes on a used but almost new Wes Fab 7” short bank with a cart and gear pump, for $1,050. What about the Daryl Sheets 5” press which has had good reviews here? Not many posts about it any more, but I thought it was a good fit for a smaller producer like me with only 150 taps. I’m
Speaking with Daryl later today, as he says he still makes them. Gotta see if the price is more attractive.

[DRoseum]

I absolutley love the smokylake stainless filterpress with the hand diaphragm pump. Stainless > than aluminum. Hand diaphragm pump > than gear pump (less lost syrup)

[minehart gap]

Daryl Sheets makes a pretty nice 5" filter press. I just upgraded mine with the electric diaphragm pump from CDL and bought the felt reusable "papers". I have not run everything together yet but ready to.

[tgormley358]

I absolutley love the smokylake stainless filterpress with the hand diaphragm pump. Stainless > than aluminum. Hand diaphragm pump > than gear pump (less lost syrup)

D. - do you mind saying what it cost you? The SS press? I had a quote from Smokey Lake of around $1,500. But I think that was with a gear pump. It’s a little pricey for my budget, but it does sound like a great unit.

[tgormley358]

Matt, I spoke with Daryl on Friday. He gave me a quote fir the press with hand pump. Is that what you had before upgrading? Did you choose this unit instead of a 7” short bank like Wes Fab’s? Anything I should know about before buying Daryl’s?

[DRoseum]

D. - do you mind saying what it cost you? The SS press? I had a quote from Smokey Lake of around $1,500. But I think that was with a gear pump. It’s a little pricey for my budget, but it does sound like a great unit.

$1100. Going to 7 inch vs 5 and all stainless vs. Aluminum for about $300 more was the driver for me.

[FL Maple]

I have a full bank Leader 7 1/2” press with clear plates and diaphragm pump. There are stainless steel mesh plates between the frames. I had a D&G 7” aluminum press previously with brass gear pump. I highly recommend the Leader and would not go back to a gear pump or metal plates.

[bmbmkr]

SmokyLake had a 15% off coupon about this time last year, I got a 4 plate (8 filter) SS press for the same price as the 3 plate, $1200 with the hand pump. I plan on buying their expansion kit in a few years. I make about 7-10 gallons a boil and the hand pump wasn't that bad at all. I used flat and cone filters the first few years. I'd have paid 2x the $$$ years ago had I only known how great a filter press is. I'll add an air pump one a these days. I used our associations Leader clear press with the air pump a few years ago, it was NICE!! But I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it.

[minehart gap]

Matt, I spoke with Daryl on Friday. He gave me a quote fir the press with hand pump. Is that what you had before upgrading? Did you choose this unit instead of a 7” short bank like Wes Fab’s? Anything I should know about before buying Daryl’s?

My press actually came from the guy that Daryl got his business from. My press is 40 some years old but Daryl makes the same press with a few upgrades from the version that I have. I run about 6 to 8 gallon of syrup through it at a time. The hotter the better. I draw off in a 15 gallon draw off container, when about 3 gallon is drawn off, I put 3 cups of DE in and mix then run the syrup through the press back into the drawoff container for about 3 minutes then into whatever storage container that I want. Then, every time I draw off, I run it through the press right away.

Make sure to buy filter papers from Daryl, CDL sells them but they don't fit as well as the papers that Daryl has.

I think it's a solid filter press. Not splashy or clear or shiny stainless, just a good filter press. I plan to use mine until I out grow it then pass it on to a starting sugarmaker for a good deal just to get him going. That is how I got mine.