Clogged pre-filter on a CDL vacuum filter

[Sugarmaker]

Folks,
Looking forward to the original poster getting quality syrup filtered at some point in the near future. Hoping his change of DE corrects most of the problems.
Regards,
Chris

[johnallin]

I don’t understand how you can build a decent “cake” of DE with only one pass across the paper. A filter press requires a minute or more recirculating until the syrup is clear, then you switch to your bottler. Possibly the paper is doing more work than what it does in a press?

[BAP]

I don’t understand how you can build a decent “cake” of DE with only one pass across the paper. A filter press requires a minute or more recirculating until the syrup is clear, then you switch to your bottler. Possibly the paper is doing more work than what it does in a press?

You are not using paper, you are using the same washable filters that a flat filter uses.

[maple flats]

2 passes or even 3 might be needed, but once a filter cake is established, one pass should do it if using DE intended for maple production.

[johnallin]

2 passes or even 3 might be needed, but once a filter cake is established, one pass should do it if using DE intended for maple production.

That’s my question..how do you establish a filter cake with only one pass?

[Pdiamond]

I have watched the CDL video, the Roth Sugar Bush video and another producers video and there was no DE used in the syrup before it was filtered. They just used the pre-filter and orlon filter.

[BAP]

I have watched the CDL video, the Roth Sugar Bush video and another producers video and there was no DE used in the syrup before it was filtered. They just used the pre-filter and orlon filter.

I have not seen those videos, but I bet they are only showing putting 1 batch of syrup through. The first batch will go through ok without DE, but the nitre slime build up will basically plug up the filter making the next batch hard or even impossible to go through. Same thing will happen to a filter press if you forget to put DE in the syrup. When I started using mine last year for the first time I experimented quite a bit to figure out how best to use it.

[jdircksen]

I have watched the CDL video, the Roth Sugar Bush video and another producers video and there was no DE used in the syrup before it was filtered. They just used the pre-filter and orlon filter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91034cvALwo
At about 4:35 into this video, he says you can use DE but you do not have to.

[Super Sapper]

Some thoughts, more of the proper DE is better than less. When running a press you need to clean it when it is full of DE and not plugged with niter if you are adding the right amount.

It is possible that the original DE was so fine that it is plugging up the maple DE.

I would use the Maple DE with fresh syrup to see how it performs.

[jdircksen]

Folks,
Looking forward to the original poster getting quality syrup filtered at some point in the near future. Hoping his change of DE corrects most of the problems.
Regards,
Chris

Give me a couple more days. We got a good freeze and today it's thawing. I will report back in a couple days after I use maple DE.