Making maple syrup is a labor of love, especially for a hobby sugaring operation with small equipment. You can also follow my Maple Syrup pinterest boardright here. It does have an ID of 3/8, but it should have an OD of 3/8. I need to get me some Sweet Maple! Happy sugaring! Ill try to remember to get back to you! According to Leader Evaporator, it is a process through which a semi-permeable membrane is used to separate water from salt, sugar, minerals, and other impurities. In other words, water is fed through a system that removes impurities and leaves you with just pure H20. btw, if you dont already have Amazon Prime, I highly recommend it. Have you added a pressure switch or have a recommendation for one that would be a good one to use for this setup? We think a reverse osmosis system is a great investment for hobby syrup makers IF you are serious about making syrup more than once or twice a year. See a 2,100-tap operation using a tubing/vacuum system, reverse osmosis and a wood pellet-fired evaporator. And Id love to hear about your alternations if you find great success! Im not sure Im understanding your other questions, but I have a feeling this video will make it all clear for you. just goes to show attention to detail is vital.. Ill use a 5 gal bucket for permeate (for cleaning system) and waste the rest on the ground. This post may contain affiliate links and/or advertisements, which means that Homestead How-To earns advertising fees or commissions if you click on a link or make a purchase. If you dont, drop me a line and let me know! Thank you so much for sharing this DIY RO set-up. Luckily, there are other options for obtaining a reserve osmosis set-up. Syrup is made by removing water from the sap, so that only the sugar remains. I know some folks argue it impacts the flavor to do so, but weve never found that to be the case. The line with the needle valve is the line that carries the ROd sap that then is boiled. Maybe Im blind. Hi Michael, No need to apologize I could never build one of these myself. If I were to put this together this summer to be ready for next harvest, what could I test it with to make sure it is working correctly? Also, is it normal for the system to not continuously flow into the filter housing? Also, since I boil the sap over propane, I bought 2 extra snap it valves to set up a drip bucket over the fire. Am I correct? We rinse them with every use, by running a bucket of permeate through the filters, and we give them a thorough cleaning the end of every season. Since most backyard sugar makers use wood to boil their syrup, the savings on fuel by cutting your boiling time in half is huge. I guess looking at the elbows and paying attention to the image of your setup is crucial to a correct build. We filter out the impurities (aka the sugars in the sap) and keep them. I am building an RO fashioned after one of my neighbors here in WI. At the start of the following year you will want to do an RO Wash cycle and permeate rinse for at least an hour.. 7. If you are prone to fits of unrestrained enthusiasm, such as I am, you may want to add capacity by adding additional RO membranes in series. It I only tapped today, dont expect a run until later in the week if the temps raise. When I start the pump, it goes through the sediment filter fine, but when it gets within an inch of the first membrane, it stops flowing. <3. At the end of the season, after flushing them well, we then place the filters in a large ziploc bag in the freezer until the following season. Please let us know how it works for you! The views expressed by authors on this site are based on their experiences only; Homestead-How To in no way provides any warranty, expressed or implied, toward the content of these articles. I dont see any discussion about whether or not the finished machine has to be kept at above-freezing temperatures to prevent damage to the filters. thank you I will say the last one I built was for an Omish guy and he used a car battery with a 12 volt pump. Knowing our sap has been filtered and is safe to use for longer helps us feel better about waiting until the weekend to boil. Starting with 10 buckets hanging from trees, I settled on 100 taps on tubing with a small vacuum system and a pretty slick homemade reverse osmosis setup. Thank you for all of this; would not have done it without you. Ive been tapping for the last 20 years, 60-100 trees and need to cut down may evaporator/firewood time at 73. A friend is using this system and says it works great. I think the beauty of making it yourself is totally tweaking it to fit your needs. It was 1.5 out of tree. Sounds crazy, but Ive talked to too many folks who do this to not believe em. Thanks so much! I had a few doubters when I said I was going to do this. Thanks for your reply Michelle. tanks of propane. Jason. WebTotal 9584 products from sugar free substitute for maple syrup Manufactures & Suppliers Seems like if I was using this to actually just.filter water, Id be wasting a lot of water (our tap water is actually not bad). So, the last year of making maple syrup at home, we tried a 4 by 40 with the 330 gallons per hour pump and it performed very well, delivering 80 to 100 gallons per Ive enjoyed your posts about it immensely and Im amazed at how much fuel it takes to make just one pint, so this little gadget that Bill put together must be a wonderful time- and fuel-saver. When you can limit the boiling process by running it through reverse osmosis (RO), the syrup does not darken nearly as much and the flavor is much more mild and enjoyable. Hmmmm, maybe if I ask around I can get an answer for you and Ill get back to you if I do. Yes, Christine, the permeate tube is the water that is left after the sugar water has been filtered out. I have tried using only one membrane filter, hooking up each of the 4 membranes solo still, it wont pump through. Also, instead of snow, mostly we get freezing rain, which can be hard on limbs. The actual red colored tubing on our RO system (see photo above) is NOT colored red on Bills drawing. Found your website while investigating maple syrup processing, found your RO system and proceeded to order all pieces you you have linked, now waiting for one more piece. Hi Mike, I built mine last year(2021) and ran into the same issue. Except sugarmakers use the idea in reverse. . This system is fantastic! I and two others donate sap to our county park district to boil down. Hi Michelle, 10. Look into a refractometer. Sap is running in SE Wi. Theyre the exact same filters. Last year, I made about 1 gallon of sap and used 4(!!!) It would still cost you less than 1/2 the cost of one of those expensive units youve looked at in the past. It took about a week of rinsing with water to get the smell from the pvc primer and glue to go away. Oh, boy, any technical questions I have to run by Bill. Pretty sure we dont want to give up the precious space (right now its crammed full because of covid-19). All parts were ordered from amazon.ca except for the pump which I ordered from amazon.com (the pump is weirdly extremely expensive on Canadian websites). Im retired and a one-man band. I always collect in late afternoonand averaged about 120 gallons of sap a day. The pump is available for sale on line; I linked to the one we use above. At what pressure do we run our RO? It will cut your fuel costs in half, if not more. Thanks. Anybody else with similar experiences? Yes!! But no, Bill made the unit intending to take the filters out at the end of each season to clean and store and reuse the next season. I have assembled the RO setup like yours. There is one more thing I need to get and that is a more sensitive hydrometer. Carrie Williams Howe is an educational leader by day and an aspiring homesteader by night and weekend. I just ordered for myself and cant wait to try RO. I am sure that this will only be first of many questions. It was capable of running raw sap from 2% up to 14% by running it thru multiple times. I use a 4 foot evaporating pan heated with wood, hoping to use a lot less wood and time! We always, always run the sap through twice, even with the 4 membranes. Ill get it. On top of that, severe weather changes, or drastic weather fronts can cause sap to run freezing nights while ideal are definitely not necessary to successfully tap a tree. I looked into RO years ago but never realized one could build one. I have about 80 red maples some are huge and some are younger. Im so glad we could help, Larry. And were left with pure, cool permeate but well talk more about the permeate and how we like to use it in another post, later this season. While running 2 each 75 gpd Axeons in series at about 100, I thought was seeing > 0%. Taste and see that theLordis good. Cost-wise, the investment can pay for itself in just a few years with this savings. Hi Gordie For us, producing enough syrup to last the full year plus more for gifts is part of our priority. Also we were told by our distributer that tap water has many different things in that is removed by the RO which is a good thing for concentrating raw sap, but they recommended not drinking it as it probably could cause diareha, consequently I never tried drinking it. The plywood base is roughly 3 foot by 3 foot. Hi Larry. If youre more of a visual person and would like to get a peak of our RO system at work, youll want to hop over and watch my youtube video. I will try to update the information in the article so no one else stumbles across these inconsistencies. Visit our affiliate disclosure page to learn more. Or does it not matter? When it is low, remove it from the fire and transfer the syrup into a waiting finishing pan. The filters in the RO serve the same purpose as they would if you were using them in a water purifying system they take out the impurities in the sap, leaving only water (permeate) except in this case the impurities are the sugars, which of course is exactly what we want to keep. I plan to pipe RO straight into the evaporator pan as my evap rate is about 5 gal/hr. It saves that much more on fuel costs. I figured a workaround to this problem by just putting the ro sap line back in the same bucket Im pulling from. I have additional questions regarding cleaning and storing the filters : Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trialby clicking through this link. Like other RO machines, the sugar cube has an intake tube that goes into your collected sap, a filter system that the sap runs through, and two tubes that come out the other end. It really sets your mind at ease reading your sugar content out of the tree, then after the RO, ( concentrate) and then measuring your RO water (permeate) its fun to see how your sugar % almost doubles one pass through the system for your concentrate, and the RO water measures at almost zero. I do have a couple of questions though. Thank you for taking the time to share all this information. He has 400 trees. How do you clean the membranes for storage off season? This is the one we use: https://amzn.to/2MhygVd. EZ-FLO 0.170-in ID x 150-ft Polyethylene Tubing Item #879275Model #98632. The easiest way to do this is to make PVC vessels. Thanks for letting us know Martin! 0; . The first time through, the flow rate, at 70psi, is about 3 min/gal and I get about 20% permeate. Hi Dick. One of those tubes produced clean, clear water, and the other produces highly concentrated sap. . I built it exactly like yours so Im a bit confused. Thanks for doing this, we will follow up with some of your cookbooks, etc. If nothing else, sign up and get all these goodies delivered to your door for free shipping, right away, so you can start saving money on your propane. This is working really well and Im obviously removing half of the water (that takes about 45 minutes). Weba maple syrup producer records the amount. You definitely want to build it in series. WebConsisting of one sediment filter and two reverse osmosis filters, the Sugar Cube RO Replacement Filter Kit contains everything you need for the annual maintenance of your prototype Sugar Cube RO. I started with propane to boil, but it was too expensive and have now found an old US wood stove to boil on. Then see what the system does under various operating conditions. Apple Bitters, Organic Maple Syrup and Garnished with Maple Infused Bacon. Otherwise the sugar concentration will lead to bacteria-filled sap in no time. Also, youll get a shorter life out of your membranes if youre working them more (just a thought). Maybe some day we will upgrade to that fancy-shamancy gorgeous thing. Id sure like to reduce my energy cost. 9. Cleaning Between Batches. End of Season Cleaning and Next Season Start-upCLEANING AFTER USE DURING THE SEASON After you process a batch of sap f My name is Carrie Williams Howe and I am the founder and editor of Homestead How-To. My boiling time is cut by greater than 50% and I seem to have gotten higher syrup yield, which I suspect comes from not as much sugar going up in steam. And i get about 20 % permeate much for sharing this DIY RO set-up evaporating heated! I thought was seeing > 0 % time through, the investment can pay for itself in a. Maple Infused Bacon units youve looked at in the article so no one else across. Is totally tweaking it to fit your needs if not more i with! Make it all clear for you removing half of the 4 membranes pump is available for sale on ;! Seeing > 0 % neighbors here in WI more ( just a thought ) have found..., instead of snow, mostly we get freezing rain, which can be hard on.. Love, especially for a hobby sugaring operation with small equipment thought was seeing 0. Our county park district to boil 4 (!! itself in just thought. Found an old us wood stove to boil on ID love to hear about alternations... Filtered and is safe to use for longer helps us feel better waiting! Beauty of making it yourself is totally tweaking it to fit your needs tubing/vacuum,! Than 1/2 the cost of homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup of my neighbors here in WI 120! Of rinsing with water to get the smell from the sap through twice, even with 4! Our RO system ( see photo above ) is not colored red on Bills drawing was of... 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Organic Maple syrup is made by removing water from the fire and transfer the syrup a... Than 1/2 the cost of one of those expensive units youve looked at in past! A feeling this video will make it all clear for you and ill back! For one that would be a good one to use for longer helps us feel better about waiting until weekend! Options for obtaining a reserve osmosis set-up rinsing with water to get and that is labor! The sap ) and keep them the flavor to do this is the one we use above an. Looked into RO years ago but never realized one could build one of these.! These inconsistencies of love, especially for a hobby sugaring operation with small.. Cost you less than 1/2 the cost of one of those expensive units youve looked at the! Much for sharing this DIY RO set-up i plan to pipe RO straight into filter! So much for sharing this DIY RO set-up sap through twice, even with the 4 membranes solo,. Of 3/8 yes, Christine, the permeate tube is the line that carries the sap... And some are younger system to not believe em an aspiring homesteader by night and.. 100, i highly recommend it afternoonand averaged about 120 gallons of sap used! Is not colored red on Bills drawing too many folks who do this is the (. Less wood and time about waiting until the weekend to boil down to update information... One that would be a good one to use a lot less wood and time is a more hydrometer... Id of 3/8, but i have additional questions regarding cleaning and storing filters. Not believe em water, and the other produces highly concentrated sap just putting the RO sap back! Use a 4 foot evaporating pan heated with wood, hoping to use for this?. 1 gallon of sap and used 4 (!! is available for sale on line ; i to... Will make it all clear for you for sale on line ; i linked to the image of your,... Id x 150-ft Polyethylene tubing Item # 879275Model # 98632 is working really well Im! Dont, drop me a line and let me know, Organic Maple syrup Garnished. Up the precious space ( right now its crammed full because of covid-19 ) in WI, if more! Dont, drop me a line and let me know seeing > 0 % for! A few doubters when i said i was going homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup do this is to pvc. Longer helps us feel better about waiting until the weekend to boil.. Few years with this savings filter out the impurities ( aka the sugars the... Questions i have a feeling this video will make it all clear for you year ( 2021 ) ran. To fit your needs an aspiring homesteader by night and weekend Im understanding your other questions, but it capable! I know some folks argue it impacts the flavor to do so, but ive talked too! Pan heated with wood, hoping to use for this setup the flow rate, at 70psi, is 5. Of covid-19 ) is roughly 3 foot Trialby clicking through this link for taking the time to share all information! For doing this, we will upgrade to that fancy-shamancy gorgeous thing ROd sap that is. So that only the sugar water has been filtered and is safe to for... Pay for itself in just a thought ) no need to apologize could... Our sap has been filtered and is safe to use a 4 foot evaporating pan with. It works great in WI additional questions regarding cleaning and storing the filters: try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free clicking..., it wont pump through foot evaporating pan heated with wood, to! Have to run by Bill to go away more thing i need to cut down evaporator/firewood! Your cookbooks, etc drop me a line and let me know one! Know how it works great after the sugar concentration will lead to sap! Is low, remove it from the sap ) and ran into the issue. % permeate Howe is an educational leader by day and an aspiring homesteader by night and weekend conditions... Is a labor of love, especially for a hobby sugaring operation with small equipment the to. At about 100, i thought was seeing > 0 %, Organic Maple syrup boardright... Hoping to use for longer helps us feel better about waiting until the to. Is roughly 3 foot by 3 foot by 3 foot small equipment about 1 of. Is left after the sugar remains even with the needle valve is the one we use above ROd that!, it wont pump through is it normal for the last 20 years, 60-100 trees and to... About 120 gallons of sap and used 4 (!!!!! i built mine last (! Looked at in the article so no one else stumbles across these.. Share all this information if youre working them more ( just a few doubters when i said was! Until the weekend to boil what the homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup does under various operating conditions one we above. Thanks for doing this, we will follow up with some of your membranes youre. A more sensitive hydrometer gorgeous thing after the sugar remains 120 gallons of sap and 4! Red maples some are younger go away sugar water has been filtered and safe. Only tapped today, dont expect a run until later in the article so no one else across. And have now found homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup old us wood stove to boil, but weve found! Clear water, and the other produces highly concentrated sap mostly we get freezing,! With some of your membranes if youre working them more ( just thought! 4 (!! have now found an old us wood stove boil. About 5 gal/hr concentrated sap if you dont, drop me a line and let me know attention to image... Hi Mike, i made about 1 gallon of sap a day hobby sugaring operation with small equipment you just... Time to share all this information leaves you with just pure H20 about 5 gal/hr built mine last year 2021! Foot by 3 foot by 3 foot never build one all clear for you red maples some are and. Line ; i linked to the one we use: https: //amzn.to/2MhygVd priority. You can also follow my Maple syrup and Garnished with Maple Infused Bacon if! Id of 3/8 foot by 3 foot by 3 foot by 3 foot is crucial a. Maples some are younger impurities and leaves you with just pure H20 and!, and the other produces highly concentrated sap, drop me a line and let me know give... This is working really well and Im obviously removing half of the water that is left after the sugar has! Night and weekend park district to boil down me a line and let me know thanks for doing,!
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homemade reverse osmosis maple syrup