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Thread: first boil for the season filtering issue

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    eastern ct
    Posts
    30

    Default first boil for the season filtering issue

    100 gallons of sap put through RO gave me 40 gallons of concentrate to evaporate down to four gallons to finish off filtering along the way several times at transfers and then again into the bottler ,four cone prefilters dampened andinto wool finish cone ,again, dampened ,3/4 went fine ,one prefilter to the next till just the wool filter remained .and would not give up the last two quarts .what a pain . is it just me !!!!! we ended up with a gallon and a half or so ..no sap yesterday

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    My guess is that it cooled down to much to filter well for you. It has to be hot to get thru those pre filters and wool filters.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

    Default

    Back when I did gravity filtering I found it fastest if I didn't filter before the final filtering. I don't know if that might contribute to the issue.
    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.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Louisville, Kentucky
    Posts
    215

    Default

    In my opinion, the most effective way to filter small volumes of syrup for your own use is by decanting. Let the syrup sit for a week or longer if the temperature allows. You should be able to use almost all of your syrup this way. The 5 gallon food grade buckets from the big box stores work well for this. You should still prefilter before decanting. Good luck!
    Dave Barker
    2014 30 taps, steam tray pans
    2015 ~100 taps, in conjunction with University of Louisville
    2x5 Smoky Lake hybrid pan
    2022 150 taps

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Speyside, Ontario
    Posts
    270

    Default

    I agree that letting it settle for a week is the best/easiest way for the small producer to filter.

    Also, when using cone filters, use the "center punched up" method to enable full use of the filter material.
    2015 - 8 buckets, 332L sap, 8.5L syrup - Barrel evaporator, 2 steam pans
    2016 - 8 buckets, 432L sap
    2017 - 10 bags, 470L sap, 9L syrup
    2018 - 20 bags, 1050L sap, 17.6L syrup
    2019 - 20 bags, 970L sap, 22.2L syrup
    2020 - 17 bags, 813L sap, 17L syrup

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Southern Ohio
    Posts
    1,349

    Default

    Never in any world will I ever use cone final filters again. My experience is bad. Try smaller batches and like someone said it's cooling too fast. The whole cone needs to be inside a container and covered. I went to flat filters 12 years ago. I found a wire basket to hang inside a large stock pot and my wife sews up custom fitting filters that hold about a gallon each. I have had no problems filtering since. Some years it seems syrup filters slower then others and in those years I do smaller batches, number one rule in gravity filtering is "Keep IT Hot".
    Attached Images Attached Images
    125-150 taps
    Smokey Lakes Full pint Hybrid pan
    Modified half pint arch
    Air over fire
    All 3/16 tubing
    Southern Ohio

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    eastern ct
    Posts
    30

    Default

    thanks for all the feedback
    2022,,140 dropline tap n,bucket ,,25 treehangers
    2021,,125 " " 25 tree hanger spile n pale
    2020,,R.O. triple filtering system
    2019,,85 dropline tap n bucket 55 gallon barrel stove,
    2'x3' evap with dbl on top pre-warming pans.
    2018,,60 tap n bucket dropline,propane burner
    2017,, 35 home made spile n jug ,propane burner

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