Vacuum Filter Vacuum Source

I have a 12” CDL Vacuum filter that I have used for 5-6 years. I really like it but my shop vacuum is starting to give out. I was wondering what others with vacuum filters of any brand or homemade are using for their vacuum source? I’m just trying to get ideas before replacing my shop vac. The one I currently use is a 6.5HP Rigid brand from Home Depot.

I have had positive experiences with Ridgid customer service. Called their warranty department and gave them my info for the Lifetime Service Agreement. They had me run some diagnostics on the failing shop vac. Partially disassembled the motor and sent them some photos to show the failed switch.

They sent me a brand new shop vac free of charge, and had me cut the cord to the old one to destroy it.

CDl told me to plumb it in to my Vacuum lines been going well for 4 years

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Originally Posted by western mainer

CDl told me to plumb it in to my Vacuum lines been going well for 4 years

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That must mean your vacuum pump is in your sugar house?

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Originally Posted by SapTsunami

I have had positive experiences with Ridgid customer service. Called their warranty department and gave them my info for the Lifetime Service Agreement. They had me run some diagnostics on the failing shop vac. Partially disassembled the motor and sent them some photos to show the failed switch.

They sent me a brand new shop vac free of charge, and had me cut the cord to the old one to destroy it.

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Sounds like you had a great experience of great customer service.

No I have lines going by the sugar house and just tapped in to it.

I filter with a homemade vacuum filter/bottler and I love it. My vacuum source is a vacuum pump sold by Harbor Freight (Pittsburgh Forge?). They can pull a much higher vacuum than a shop vac (barely above 0 psi gauge pressure). I don’t pump directly on the filter but instead use an old de Laval bucket milker bucket as my ballast tank. I highly recommend the Harbor Freight pumps and the prices are right. There are two sizes and I have one of each (the slightly smaller is my backup but I’ve not needed it yet). Hope this helps someone.

Conococheague

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Originally Posted by Conococheague

I filter with a homemade vacuum filter/bottler and I love it. My vacuum source is a vacuum pump sold by Harbor Freight (Pittsburgh Forge?). They can pull a much higher vacuum than a shop vac (barely above 0 psi gauge pressure). I don’t pump directly on the filter but instead use an old de Laval bucket milker bucket as my ballast tank. I highly recommend the Harbor Freight pumps and the prices are right. There are two sizes and I have one of each (the slightly smaller is my backup but I’ve not needed it yet). Hope this helps someone.

Conococheague

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Thank you. I was wondering if one of them would work. Does that setup maintain enough vacuum to get the batch of syrup filtered fairly fast?

BAP, what limits me is the size of the reservoir below the filter. I don’t think the pressure in my ballast gets to 5 psi before I’m sucking air through the filter (I.e. the batch is done and ready to bottle) and when I isolate the filter from the ballast and open the valve connecting the pump to ballast it’s probably less than a minute before the ballast pressure is again near zero and ready to go again. I hope this makes sense but what I’m trying to say is I think the pump speed on these would be adequate for a much larger vacuum press than mine.

Conococheague