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Thread: Vacuum Filtering

  1. #51
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    1,022

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    Very nicely done video. Short, precise, step by step, well done. Just make sure to rinse the shower out real well sticky is yicky!!!!!! Yeah I have a hard time makin syrup. Can't stand to be sticky. You should've seen me when the kids were young.
    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 gal. syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
    2025 - No tapping for me

  2. #52
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Location
    Michigan
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    102

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    Bringing this thread back to the forefront.

    I'm thinking about making my own vacuum filter for next year. We are producing more syrup now than our cone filter method can handle. Still loosing a lot of syrup inn our filters. And I'd like a simpler method of filtering...

    My question for those who have made their own vacuum filters: Do you have any challenges with the vacuum pulling the nitre through the filters? Does your vacuum filter eliminate most of the nitre?
    2021 - First year: 4 taps; Tapped too late; 4.5 gallons of sap
    2022 - 11 taps; 20 gallons of sap
    2023 - 23 taps. 3 gallons of syrup; founded TruNorth Maple Co.
    2024 - 26 (+10) taps; 4.5 gallons of syrup; added RO filter
    2025 - 40 taps; Added 3/16 mainline line; Natural Vacuum; 6.5 gallons of syrup.

  3. #53
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Greenwood, Me
    Posts
    985

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    I am still unsuccessful at filtering on my CDL 9" vac filter with the DE in the hot syrup. The syrup simply will not pass thru the filters. I have added up to 2 cups of DE/gallon and still do not have any success.
    2025 - 48 taps, all but 8 on gravity tubing
    2024 - New Maine resident, 12X16 sugar shack under construction
    2019 - New 12X12 boiling pavilion
    2018 - New Mason 2X3 Hobby XL and homemade RO

  4. #54
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Walpole, NH
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    1,466

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    Quote Originally Posted by eustis22 View Post
    I am still unsuccessful at filtering on my CDL 9" vac filter with the DE in the hot syrup. The syrup simply will not pass thru the filters. I have added up to 2 cups of DE/gallon and still do not have any success.
    Try doubling your DE in your next batch of syrup and see what happens. I find on mine that more DE is better than less.
    Sugaring for 45+ years
    New Sugarhouse 14'x32'
    New to Me Algier 2'x8' wood fired evaporator
    2022 added a used RB25 RO Bucket
    250 mostly Sugar Maples, 15% Soft Maples. Currently,(110on 3/16" and 125 on Shurflo 4008 vacuum, 15 gravity), (16,000 before being disabled)
    1947 Farmall H and Wagon with gathering tank
    2012 Kubota with forks to move wood around

  5. #55
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Canaan NH
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    381

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    Has anyone tried adding vacuum to the traditional Leader canning unit? Seems to me you could just add some gasketing around the top of the lid, flip it upside down, add some holes and clamp a bottom-less SS bucket to the top, or one with holes drilled in the bottom.
    Boulder Trail Sugaring
    150 Taps on Vacuum
    Homemade 20"x40" Hybrid Pan - 15 gph
    Homemade Steamaway - 10 gph
    Waterguys single-post RO

  6. #56
    Join Date
    Feb 2019
    Location
    Murrysville, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    565

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    Nope - i gave up on vacuum filtering (too much clogging) and bought a press. Then this year I experimented with a cheap stainless inline filter to make a DIY filter press and was more than pleased.

    Video overview: https://youtu.be/TZPiSihC5_Y

    And apparently RO bucket makes something similar.
    D. Roseum
    www.roseummaple.com | https://youtube.com/@roseummaplesyrup
    ~136 taps on 3/16 custom temp controlled vacuum; shurflo vacuum #2; custom nat gas evap with auto-drawoff and tank level gas shut-off controller; homemade RO #1; homemade RO #2; SL SS filter press
    ~30 gallons / year

  7. #57
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Boscawen, NH
    Posts
    27

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    Making one of these vacuum filters work is easy. Replace the original top gasket with a length of silicone tubing (1/4” or smaller) and only use one orlon filter and one pre filter. No need to pre-wet them. I batch my syrup to be able to use one of my Guzzler vacuum pumps when it’s freezing out and connect it using the same quick disconnects I use one of my my mainlines. I can generally get 5-10 gallons through one pre filter depending on how dirty the syrup is using 2 cups of DE in the first gallon and a half cup per gallon thereafter. Should only take about 3 min per full upper ring of syrup to go through the filter. The guzzler can pull up to 18” of vacuum within the filter tank, way more than a shop vac. And no worries about steam taking out a shop vac or regular vacuum pump.
    Last edited by BigJon; 04-17-2025 at 04:31 PM.

    Ice Mountain Maple
    Boscawen, NH
    2020- 190 taps on 3/16
    2023- about 350 taps on 5/16
    2.5x8 Smoky Lake Silverplate/preheater/concentric exhaust
    Multiple Makita/Dolmar/Stihl saws
    Kioti DK40HSE
    www.icemountainmaple.com

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