Clear Leader filter press

[VTnewguy]

Now that this press has been out there for a few years, what is everone's take on it? Is it worth the extra money over a aluminum press? Does leader make a specific cart for it?

[johnallin]

Fourth year with mine and no issues at all. Never had a metal plate press, so I can't compare, but it's nice to see what's going on Inside the press. You know exactly how much cake you're building when you start up and how much syrup remains to be pumped out when you're done. The pneumatic diaphragm pump is also a thing of beauty.

[Haynes Forest Products]

I have never seen one in operation and have wondered about how it looks during filling. When I do an autopsy on my filter chambers cake build up we know it starts at the filter paper surface and builds up until the two surfaces become one. When filtering smaller amounts without much DE I end up with what is best describes as a Ravioli with no ingredients inside. How long during the filtering process before the inside cakes over stopping the ability to see syrup swirling around.

I was wondering where a guy could get some food grade Portland cement to mix in with my DE. I was hoping to start building the foundation to a new addition to the shack and wanted to recycle my filter cakes into little bricks. You know to save the environment.

JUST KIDDING FOLKS I WOULDN'T DO IT

[VTnewguy]

Fourth year with mine and no issues at all. Never had a metal plate press, so I can't compare, but it's nice to see what's going on Inside the press. You know exactly how much cake you're building when you start up and how much syrup remains to be pumped out when you're done. The pneumatic diaphragm pump is also a thing of beauty.

What did you end up mounting it on? Thank you for your insight.

[johnallin]

What did you end up mounting it on? Thank you for your insight.

I bought a commercial metal cart so I could roll it around from the bottler and pump area to the door for cleaning. Pretty simple and with a bottom tray the to hold papers and other "stuff". As I recall the cart is rated at 1200 lbs and ran about $200. The same or very close to this link:
https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/m...handle-18-x-32

[Snowmad]

No more cracking plastic? I heard from a non Leader dealer they knew a guy that cracked 6 plates this year. Wondering how long the pipe is he's using to tighten it down??

[VTnewguy]

A brand new Leader 5 bank is at the house waiting for next spring! Can't wait! No more washing orlon and prefilters!

[maple flats]

I suggest you use it a time or two as you pack more retail containers to get familiar with it. Once you get used to using it, you will never want to go back to your old method of filtering.

[ToadHill]

We’ve had the clear press with the diaphragm pump for a few years now. Previously we had cast iron and aluminum. We will never go back. Can’t honestly think of a good reason the other presses or pumps are better. Have not had an issue with the odd size filters. The plates are lighter and easier to work with when hot. The diaphragm pump is simple and provides more control and you can’t beat being able to see what’s going on inside the plates.

[VTnewguy]

I suggest you use it a time or two as you pack more retail containers to get familiar with it. Once you get used to using it, you will never want to go back to your old method of filtering.

Thank you, we have never packed in glass because of the filter process we used. Can't wait to try some different bottles.