CDL 9" Vacuum Flter Press?

[eustis22]

Anyone use one of these? I'm thinking of upgrading to it but have some questions about it that Bascoms doesn't have the answers to on its website

[ecolbeck]

I just picked up a used one and I'm excited to give it a try. What questions did you have about it?

[Rodmeister]

Ecolbeck,

I am also interested in acquiring a vacuum filter.
I am not sure what Eustis22 was interested in specifically, but can I pose a question to you?

Any idea why your seller was disposing of the unit?

[ecolbeck]

The seller stated that they were upgrading to a higher capacity filtering system.

[Rodmeister]

Thanks for the quick response. I will probably be purchasing one (if in stock)
Good luck with your unit.

Paul

[eustis22]

a) do they come with all the filters I would require? (Probably a better question for CDL/Bascom's)?

2) Am I supposed to dump food grade diatomeceous earth into my hot finished product before passing it thru the filters?

[ecolbeck]

a) I'm not sure if they come with filters but you would want to pick up some anyway to have on hand (especially pre-filters).

2) My understanding is that DE is completely optional. I plan to buy a small bag from my local supplier and give it a try.

[BAP]

I will be starting my 3rd year with my 12” CDL Vacuum filter? Huge upgrade from using a flat and cone filter. I believe mine came with few of the felt and prefilters. I use DE with mine. Works much better that way. I use the main filter with 3-4 pre filters on top. After running a batch of syrup threw, which for me is usually between 3-10 quarts, I let it sit 10-15 minutes, then undo the top ring and take the top prefilter off and dump out the filter cake into a clean pail. At the end of the boiling session, I take all the syrup out and put it in my canner. I put all the DE that I used that day in the top of the filter and pour hot sap over it to flush out any remaining syrup. What I get in the filter I put back in the evaporator the next time I boil. I have found that letting too much DE accumulate in the top of the filters makes it hard to get the syrup threw. Dumping the cake off after running 1 maybe 2 batches through it works the best for optimal speed. I really like the vacuum filter, has really sped up the filtering process over the flat filter I used before.

[LMP Maple]

Picked one up at the Bascom open house this year. The nine inch version. Excited to use it. It did come with the filters but not many. I picked up some extras. After watching some videos online adding the DE seemed to help a lot so I picked up a bag. There are some good videos online of guys using the CDL versions and many homemade ones. I wanted a 'small' bag of DE however the smallest one Bascom had was 50 pounds, way more than i will ever need. It was only 35 dollars or so not a big deal. I store what I need in a food grade plastic bucket with a gamma seal. If anyone needs some DE and is near Hudson NH message me and the rest is all yours!

[eustis22]

Thanks, guys..I will make sure toi pick up extra prefilters and filters. Then youtube the DE process.

[eustis22]

So I pulled the trigger on the press :)

Any ideas on the ratio of DE to hot syrup?

[LMP Maple]

I have watched some guys on You tube that are doing a 1/2 cup DE per Gallon in hot syrup. This is the number I was going to go with but this will be my first year with it so I am sure some guys with experience can chime in.

[Ross]

I have watched some guys on You tube that are doing a 1/2 cup DE per Gallon in hot syrup. This is the number I was going to go with but this will be my first year with it so I am sure some guys with experience can chime in.

That is the amount we are using with ours. The pre-filter clogs up really quick without DE.

[ecolbeck]

The bigger versions of this unit include a sightglass and vacuum gauge. I plan to add a sightglass but I'm wondering about the vacuum gauge. Can anybody who has one of the larger units comment on whether they find the vacuum gauge useful?

[BAP]

I run about a cup of DE per gallon of syrup. It’s not an exact measurement because I use a scoop, not a measuring cup. The vacuum gauge I really don’t use. I am powering the filter with a shop vacuum not a vacuum pump, so it doesn’t make very high vacuum 6-7”. If you were using a pump with some volume, then maybe a gauge would be needed.