Ideas/suggestions filter press priming bucket

[Russell Lampron]

I don't mean to hijack this post, but I always was told that if you re-heat over 192 degrees that you run the risk of introducing more niter....? I run my filter between 180 - 190.

That statement is partly true. If you "reheat" syrup over 192* it will precipitate more nitre. When syrup is cooling down from above 192* it doesn't. When you filter syrup you want it to be at 200* or higher so that it will sterilize the container that you're putting it into.

[Russell Lampron]

Can any one share an efficient way to prime a filter press with DE? I take about 3 gallons of syrup and add my DE then put the suction hose in the bucket. This method for me usually ends up being a hot mess with a loss of product. Does anyone have a remedy that works for them? Thanks

I used a 5 gallon DeLaval milk pail. When the press was charged I carefully moved the hoses. I used disposable nitrile gloves and threw them away after handling the sticky hoses. There was a little mess but not much syrup was lost.

[Russell Lampron]

Some of you guys are using way too much DE to charge and then filter your syrup. You should be using between 1 and 3 cups to charge a 7" press depending on the size of the press. When the press is charged you should then be using 1/5 to 1/2 cup of DE per gallon of syrup depending on how dirty it is. If you're unsure using a little more is better than using a little less.

I used a 10" press this season and used 9 cups to charge it. The manufacturer recommended 7 1/2 cups and because of the draw off situation that I was working with 9 cups worked better for me than 7 1/2 cups.