Filter press shopping

[tgormley358]

After pursuing a new or used vacuum filter setup as an upgrade to flat filtering, I’m now also considering a small filter press. I have my eyes on a used but almost new Wes Fab 7” short bank with a cart and gear pump, for $1,050. What about the Daryl Sheets 5” press which has had good reviews here? Not many posts about it any more, but I thought it was a good fit for a smaller producer like me with only 150 taps. I’m
Speaking with Daryl later today, as he says he still makes them. Gotta see if the price is more attractive.

[DRoseum]

I absolutley love the smokylake stainless filterpress with the hand diaphragm pump. Stainless > than aluminum. Hand diaphragm pump > than gear pump (less lost syrup)

[minehart gap]

Daryl Sheets makes a pretty nice 5" filter press. I just upgraded mine with the electric diaphragm pump from CDL and bought the felt reusable "papers". I have not run everything together yet but ready to.

[tgormley358]

I absolutley love the smokylake stainless filterpress with the hand diaphragm pump. Stainless > than aluminum. Hand diaphragm pump > than gear pump (less lost syrup)

D. - do you mind saying what it cost you? The SS press? I had a quote from Smokey Lake of around $1,500. But I think that was with a gear pump. It’s a little pricey for my budget, but it does sound like a great unit.

[tgormley358]

Matt, I spoke with Daryl on Friday. He gave me a quote fir the press with hand pump. Is that what you had before upgrading? Did you choose this unit instead of a 7” short bank like Wes Fab’s? Anything I should know about before buying Daryl’s?

[DRoseum]

D. - do you mind saying what it cost you? The SS press? I had a quote from Smokey Lake of around $1,500. But I think that was with a gear pump. It’s a little pricey for my budget, but it does sound like a great unit.

$1100. Going to 7 inch vs 5 and all stainless vs. Aluminum for about $300 more was the driver for me.

[FL Maple]

I have a full bank Leader 7 1/2” press with clear plates and diaphragm pump. There are stainless steel mesh plates between the frames. I had a D&G 7” aluminum press previously with brass gear pump. I highly recommend the Leader and would not go back to a gear pump or metal plates.

[bmbmkr]

SmokyLake had a 15% off coupon about this time last year, I got a 4 plate (8 filter) SS press for the same price as the 3 plate, $1200 with the hand pump. I plan on buying their expansion kit in a few years. I make about 7-10 gallons a boil and the hand pump wasn't that bad at all. I used flat and cone filters the first few years. I'd have paid 2x the $$$ years ago had I only known how great a filter press is. I'll add an air pump one a these days. I used our associations Leader clear press with the air pump a few years ago, it was NICE!! But I'm glad I didn't have to pay for it.

[minehart gap]

Matt, I spoke with Daryl on Friday. He gave me a quote fir the press with hand pump. Is that what you had before upgrading? Did you choose this unit instead of a 7” short bank like Wes Fab’s? Anything I should know about before buying Daryl’s?

My press actually came from the guy that Daryl got his business from. My press is 40 some years old but Daryl makes the same press with a few upgrades from the version that I have. I run about 6 to 8 gallon of syrup through it at a time. The hotter the better. I draw off in a 15 gallon draw off container, when about 3 gallon is drawn off, I put 3 cups of DE in and mix then run the syrup through the press back into the drawoff container for about 3 minutes then into whatever storage container that I want. Then, every time I draw off, I run it through the press right away.

Make sure to buy filter papers from Daryl, CDL sells them but they don't fit as well as the papers that Daryl has.

I think it's a solid filter press. Not splashy or clear or shiny stainless, just a good filter press. I plan to use mine until I out grow it then pass it on to a starting sugarmaker for a good deal just to get him going. That is how I got mine.