OK Tom, what is ...
 

Okay Tom, what is the "DE" you referred to when responding to Raanan's
question about filter connections.

I imagine that you are talking about connecting a throw away filter of some
kind to the suction end of the Flojet and immersing the filter into the wine
to be filtered.

I have heard good filters are expensive and cheap ones are messy. I use a
Flojet to transfer wine (200 litre - from-grapes) when racking.

An alternative to an expensive filter that may not be used very often sounds
interesting. I'm a boater and generally handy at building things. Would
you expand on construction of a suitable filter. Please...

Thanks, Roger

PS
The Flojet I have has quick-connect in/out connections. The pump comes with
various size hose-barb and garden hose connectors. Very handy as the
connector will turn in the seat, eliminating kinking of the hose and it does
not leak. Good pump.

OK Tom, what is ...
 

"Analogueman" > wrote in message
news:pj4Ib.92934$ss5.85691@clgrps13...
> Okay Tom, what is the "DE" you referred to when responding to Raanan's
> question about filter connections.

Diatomaceous Earth.

> I imagine that you are talking about connecting a throw away filter of
some
> kind to the suction end of the Flojet and immersing the filter into the
wine
> to be filtered.

No. The filter goes on the pressure side of the pump.

> I have heard good filters are expensive and cheap ones are messy. I use a
> Flojet to transfer wine (200 litre - from-grapes) when racking.

For racking from barrels, I'd suggest inert gas pressure racking or gravity
racking. I only use a pump when there's no alternative.

> An alternative to an expensive filter that may not be used very often
sounds
> interesting. I'm a boater and generally handy at building things. Would
> you expand on construction of a suitable filter. Please...

I pretty much outlined such a device in my previous post. What part did you
not understand?

Tom S

OK Tom, what is ...
 

A couple things I forgot to mention about doing DE filtration:

Start the filtration by pumping the wine back into the source tank. This is
necessary to precoat the DE septum to some depth. The first stuff through
the filter will still be cloudy until an adequate precoat builds up on the
septum (paper cartridge). When the wine runs clear from the discharge side
of the filter, divert it to an empty receiving vessel WITHOUT STOPPING THE
FLOW. Keep stirring the wine in the source tank to keep the DE in
suspension until you're almost finished. If for some reason you have to
interrupt the flow through the filter, the DE will fall off the septum and
you'll have to precoat again.

It takes a bit of practice to get the technique down and to estimate how
much DE to use, but once you get the hang of it it's pretty easy and you'll
save lots of $$ on filter cartridges.

BTW, I have used Eagle Picher "FN2" DE with great success. There are other
grades available, but this one polishes wine very nicely.

Lastly, don't even bother trying to filter a cloudy wine. That's an
exercise in futility/frustration. You need to start with wine that's
already pretty clear.

Good luck!
Tom S