Filtering Syrup - Very Slow to No Flow through Filter

[PerryW]

I've been using the 2' x 3' flat filters with a single paper prefilter in a 12" x 24" stainless canner with a filter rack inside for 25 years and I have never wet the filter or prefilter. Once and while (especially at the beginning and ends of the season), I will have trouble passing syrup through, so I just dipper the standing syrup out, and change out the filter & prefilter. Also, I change the prefilter on each take-off and change the main filter after about 4-5 gallons of syrup.

Keeping everything hot is the best way to insure filtering. (the syrup pours out of the draw-off directly into the canner and put the cover on after the drawoff to keep the heat in.

[Ravenseye]

I'll chime in here because I've experienced the same issue.

I pull my sap and before I boil, I run it through a cheesecloth lined strainer to get rid of the bugs, etc.

After I finish my boil and the hydrometer tells me that I have syrup, I pour it through 2 or 3 pre-filters that sit on a heavy wool filter. The filters sit above a stainless steel pot that is heated to 185 degrees. As the syrup runs through, the first filter begins to get clogged and when things come to a stop, I pull that top filter and let the syrup keep running. Usually, I have to do that one more time before it all gets filtered out. The syrup is perfectly clear when I'm done and I bottle it right up. I've never had a niter problem doing it this way.

[sr73087]

So I tried wetting the filter and filtering into a warmed pot and had no luck. Every time I would do this it would not filter much at all (maybe a tablespoon or alittle more) and then it would trickle very very slowly for a minute and then stop. I ended up dumping the syrup in the filter back into the pan and trying to filter again. I did this several times because it would not filter. Finally I said ok, I'll try and use a prefilter and then run it through the single filter after I get all of the big stuff out with the prefilter. It runs right through the prefilter and catches a bunch of sand (I guess this was niter?). Then I tried to run it though the filter again and it wouldn't go. Finally I tried running it through a prefilter again, it wouldn't go and even cheesecloth, it wouldn't go. I obviously did something wrong here. I am thinking I reheated too many times at too high a temp and kept creating more and more niter but am not 100% sure if this is the problem. Below is a picture of what I ended up with.

Syrup.jpg

[Sugarmaker]

Filtering small batches of maple syrup is a problem for sure.
I think Ravenseye has it right on the mark.
tell us how much syrup you are trying to strain?
I agree that cheese cloth is not going to work to get the sugarsand out.
How long did the jars set when you took the picture? I have never seen any thing like that. if you are reheating small batches a lot then you may be making candy!
If you just making this for home use i might suggest just using the cloth filters and forget the felt. A little sugar sand on your pancakes is not going to hurt you. And the small batches may filter a lot better for you.
Back to the beginning:
Make syrup to correct density.
Strain syrup immediately while boiling. Check for clarity. Should be crystal clear.
Reheat strained syrup to 180 F and bottle while hot.

Not the flat sheets may be the same material but the cone shaped filters may work better for you?? Easier to pin to a container. Check LEADER or other dealers.
Regards,
Chris

[sr73087]

I was filtering around a gallon of syrup, likely just under a gallon actually. I had it to the correct density (used a hydrometer) and tried to filter it the first time and it just wouldn't go and basically kept having the same issue and had to keep reapplying heat to keep the syrup hot to try and refilter. Basically a vicious cycle. I think I let it get too hot too many times and created a ton a sugar sand? It may not have helped that I let that batch sit for 2 days in the pan, not sure if this really matters but I had a sugar film on top of the syrup before adding heat, which dissolved it. That picture was maybe 10 mins after I bottled it knowing it was off but wanted to keep it to maybe learn something from the experience. I have always filtered right off the evaporator and used the felt filter. It usually didn't filter too quickly but I have never had a batch like this.

So I am thinking about maybe using this? And filtering it into a lightly heated pot. Then bring it back up to around 180 (not over for nitre issues) and bottling.

http://www.mapleguys.com/product/1QTSTAND.html

[CampHamp]

I'd put it all back in a pot, add some sap and do your final density check JUST BEFORE final filter and bottling... Looks like you have a jar of taffy!

[Sundown]

Looking at the jar in the picture it looks like you are making sugar. Maybe you need to check your hydrometer.

[Science!!]

I went all out and got a giant Büchner funnel
It's porcelain with a flat surface to hold filter paper flat
Then you hook it up to a container and hook your vacuum pump to it

Ultra clear
mine filters 4 L of thick syrup in about 2 min

Problem solved!!

Check eBay for the funnel and a 4 L Vacuum flask

[Science!!]

If you don't have a vacuum pump you can buy a handpowered version that does the trick very well
You don't even need a fancy vacuum erlynmeyer flask

Just any solid container, a drill, some gaskets and a bit of tinkering


After you try this you'll never do it another way

No switching filter paper
No sap cooling down
The thick layer of sediment that forms increases the filter papers filtering capacity
Use whatman lab grade filter paper for optimal results
Coffee filters work fine too ( unbleached)

Super fast and easy

Happy to answer any questions


Google
vacuum filtration
Büchner funnel
Etc...

[Sapcat]

Can you outline the process you use to filter your syrup with a vacuum pump? What equipment is needed and what are the steps. Thanks.