DIY manpack Water Filter- anybody tried ?

[shocker]

I have made water filters on occasion and Im thinking that I may try to make a small, carry size one:

Going on what I have done before, Im thinking scaling down. Like maybe a length of 28mm plastic plumbing pipe, like 6-8" with 28-15mm step downs either end with pushfit hose-barbs (I may have to make those myself) to some silicone or vinyl tube. A large syringe as a pull-pump and some recycled mylar drink containers. Its cheaper to buy a drink and use the pack again than to buy the containers on a small scale. Go figure, as my US family say.

For the internals some porcelain beads,some activated charcoal in a bag from the aquarium suppliers, or in stocking material and some carbon felt/filter media as a final stage. Some fine poly mesh either end of the 28mm section to hold it all in place.

Im thinking of scrounging what I can and screwfix/builders merchant for what I cant, the aquarium suppliers if Im over that way or ebay for the rest.

It may not in the end come out cheaper than buying one. However, after my recent experience of buying a filter for the kitchen tap and finding out that there was NO charcoal in it at all but black gravel instead, I would at least know what was in it. And I could change and adapt if it didnt work out the first time round.

Has anyone been here before ? Does anyone have any input on this ? I would be grateful to hear any constructive comments...other than "you are an idiot" and "shut up shocker, you tight fisted git" and so on.

[Brambles]

This chap came up with a good homemade filter.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=HK&hl= ... 8VQk4isaOM

MATERIALS NEEDED

2 sections of 20 mm pipe about 10 cm long
1 20 mm pipe joint
1 20 mm pipe reducer
Activated Charcoal Pellets
Synthetic filter floss (wadding)
2 perforated plastic discs that fit inside the pipe joint.

[sethorly]

Just be sure you know what such a filter won't do. A mini-sawyer filter stops pretty much every living thing from getting through, but doesn't stop viruses or chemicals/heavy metals etc. A homemade filter with charcoal could take out at least some chemicals/heavy metals, but won't stop viruses or very small living things eg. bacteria getting through. So with a homemade filter you'd still probably need to boil the water first.

[shocker]

Thank you both, this is the kind of dialogue that I was looking for. Somewhere I have some files on a type of activated porcelain rings that address some of the deficiencies of charcoal...somewhere,,,

There must be some kind of fine membrane available that goes down to a sub micron size, maybe gore-tex would be start ? On previous filters I have used multi-pass, long dwell time UV to address Seth's points, there must be a filter medium that addresses this.

[Brambles]

The Sawyer Point Zero Two removes viruses.

From their website.

https://sawyer.com/sawyer-u/faqs/

Sawyer PointZEROTWO™ Purifier
If viruses are an issue, we offer the PointZeroTWO™ Purifier (0.02 micron absolute pores), the first and thus far only portable purification device to physically remove viruses which it does at a >5.5 log (99.9997%) rate, exceeding EPA and NSF recommendations. Due to the significantly higher level of filtration, PointZEROTWO’s flow rate is considerably slower than the PointONE™ filters.

In the grand scheme of things, Sawyer products are the most efficient and value for money for biological purification. I'm not sure the technology is out there to make your own.
You could make your own Reverse Osmosis unit, but again I'm not sure how much the technology would cost and whether it would be worth the faff.

You need a secondary filter type for chemical and heavy metal removal. The commonest is Activated Charcoal or Ion Exchange. You also have to be a bit careful on what your purification method may do to the acidity of the water.

[shocker]

Thank you both. I have looked at RO and you are right, its not worth making a one off. I wonder what Sawyer use as filter media ?

[jansman]

Thank you both. I have looked at RO and you are right, its not worth making a one off. I wonder what Sawyer use as filter media ?

Its top end stuff,as I believe Sawyers are a direct spin off from kidney dialysis machines

[BlinkingCory]

I've made one, but purely as an experiment.
I did it because I have all the materials to hand, as I breed/sell fish.
Top of filter in fine mesh bag I used course gravel, then bag of fine gravel, then bag of sand, then bag of activated charcoal, then charcoal impregnated sponge.
Oh yeah, before the first bag, I used a bit of sponge.
I simply put them in a 2L pop bottle with the bottom cut off and hung it upside down as I put cacked up water in the top, and it filtered into a cup.
It worked 100% with regard to removing particulate, other than that I couldn't say.
It's common knowledge (and commonly used) in the fishy world, to use charcoal to remove chems and meds from aquarium water. It does work but of course this is usually over a period of time, as the water is continuously being cycled through the filter/charcoal.

I'd trust it 100% to filter water before boiling, but for nothing else.

Incidentally, I've drank aquarium water straight through a sawyer mini.

If anyone wants to buy activated charcoal and the like, I'd strongly recommend doing so online, aquatic high street shops are notorious for their huge markups in prices for everything.

Sort of off topic, but when camping, I use a small piece of aquarium sponge over mouth of water flask or container to remove gunk, from running water,before boiling or passing through the sawyer. I've never understood the logic of using a bandana and suchlike. Sponge is easier to clean and dry, but heyho.

[sethorly]

Sort of off topic, but when camping, I use a small piece of aquarium sponge over mouth of water flask or container to remove gunk, from running water,before boiling or passing through the sawyer. I've never understood the logic of using a bandana and suchlike. Sponge is easier to clean and dry, but heyho.

Nice. Thanks.

[Deeps]

I've made one, but purely as an experiment.
I did it because I have all the materials to hand, as I breed/sell fish.
Top of filter in fine mesh bag I used course gravel, then bag of fine gravel, then bag of sand, then bag of activated charcoal, then charcoal impregnated sponge.
Oh yeah, before the first bag, I used a bit of sponge.
I simply put them in a 2L pop bottle with the bottom cut off and hung it upside down as I put cacked up water in the top, and it filtered into a cup.
It worked 100% with regard to removing particulate, other than that I couldn't say.
It's common knowledge (and commonly used) in the fishy world, to use charcoal to remove chems and meds from aquarium water. It does work but of course this is usually over a period of time, as the water is continuously being cycled through the filter/charcoal.

I'd trust it 100% to filter water before boiling, but for nothing else.

Incidentally, I've drank aquarium water straight through a sawyer mini.

If anyone wants to buy activated charcoal and the like, I'd strongly recommend doing so online, aquatic high street shops are notorious for their huge markups in prices for everything.

Sort of off topic, but when camping, I use a small piece of aquarium sponge over mouth of water flask or container to remove gunk, from running water,before boiling or passing through the sawyer. I've never understood the logic of using a bandana and suchlike. Sponge is easier to clean and dry, but heyho.

Some good stuff there mate. Out of curiosity, what's 'activated' charcoal compared to normal charcoal ?