A couple of things, #1 don't wait for it to cool to 185, the hotter the temp the easier it filters. However if you are heating it to filter, only go to about 190F. #2 A trick that often helps is to mix in about 1/2 cup of DE (or filter aid) to the hot syrup. If you use that method, find a local producer who uses a filter press and buy a few cups of DE. The DE comes in 40 or 50# bags and as small as you are it would just be too much. Do not buy it from an online store, food grade or not, it may not be an appropriate fineness for maple syrup. Using the DE method, add the 1/2 cup/gallon hot syrup, set up your heavy filter and have 1 thin pre-filter on top. Then pour the mixture into or onto the filter. The DE will form a filter cake on the pre-filter and that will then filter out the fine sugarsand (niter).
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.