Filter Press or Sirofilter?

[jason grossman]

we have had a sirofilter for years. i would never go back to a plate press again. we can easily do a barrel or two before changing felts(which takes about 3min). if you want to go faster get two canisters and just swap them out. takes about 15seconds and you are going again

[johnallin]

Jason,
I'm getting a 12" sirofilter from Jim Cermak. Been using felt cone filters for 7 years and wanted to get away from the mess and improve my syrup. Always used 4-5 orlon pre-filters on top of the felt and peeled them off as they got plugged...what a pain. We made nice clear syrup and have always used glass, but it's about to get even clearer.

From what I've seen and read - it's the right choice- and thanks for your input, it help me choose the siro.

[maple flats]

If you have a filter press, just learn to properly use it, don't even consider buying something else. When you know how a filter press will give you super results and you will not blow papers.
Yes, run mor filter aid for the first syrup thru a new set of papers, then you can use less until the hollow plates become full. At 11-12 gal you will not fill the plates on a 3 bank. Then for any repeat use the same production day, just do as Dr. Tim says, start slowly, with the bypass opened and as the syrup starts to get warm out the discharge from the filter (not the bypass) slowly oclose the bypass. Keep an eye on the pressure, for mine I use 40 PSI max, as the plates get hot again you can close the bypass more, but slowly. The warm up might take a couple of minutes from first flow out of clean syrup until full flow.
However, if you are sold on a siro filter, send me the junker you have, I'll scrap it for you!