gravity filter

This really is an easy MYOG project. I made one using a JacksRBetter pack cover and a Sawyer inline filter. There was a parts list that i used posted on another site. This can also be done with a silnylon stuff sack. I originally used a katadyn hiker filter element but it clogged too quickly. I added a siltstopper inline to stop that from happening with the Sawyer.

I think that I posted that on here as well. I'll take a look for a link

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=31461&skip_to_post=266377#266377

Here is the link for the filter before I added the Sawyer filter and siltstopper. There is also a link to the parts list.

Here is one thread.

And Here is another.

Heath,
That link requires a login.
I tried to search on heathpitts and "gravity filter" but got no hits.

Can you provide a date and a few key words?

I'm particularly interested in you silt filter. Brief description?

Thanks.

The post was titled "Gravity filter with JRB pack cover". I'm not sure why that link requires a login. Date was 4/14/2010

The siltstopper is an MSR product. It's made for use in really sandy water. It has a replaceable filter material inside and I also added some carbon for taste inside the siltstopper. The Sawyer doesn't include carbon. So far this has worked well with the same or better filter rate of the katadyn hiker element

hmmmm. interesting. I don't see alot directions on how to do it. The filter I seen was a homemade bag of some kind with a filter in the center of it and a clamp on a tube. It was great we could go to the tap when we needed it and filter our bottles. I don't see this any where. I wonder if a sawyer filter inline would be enough?

Looks like I can no longer access that post on hammock forums. Arrowhead Equipment used to sell an item called aqua simple I think but I don't see it on their site anymore. Here is one similar using a Seychelles filter on gofastandlight

http://www.gofastandlight.com/Gravity-Power-Water-Filter-and-Purification-Basecamp-Bag/productinfo/W-S-GRAVBAG/

I ordered all the pieces from U.S. Plastics. I'll try to find my order and post the parts list here

Item # Qty Qty U/M Item Price Disc % Disc Price Extended Price Item Description
62169 2 Each $0.90   $0.90 $1.80 Female Adapter Nylon Fitting 1/4" x 1/4"
62174 2 Each $0.65   $0.65 $1.30 Male Adapter Nylon Fitting 1/4" x 1/4"
59200 2 Each $0.51   $0.51 $1.02 Tubing Clamp accepts tubing up to 1/2 inch O.D. Acetal.

I also used some rubber bumper washers that I purchased at Home Depot

I like the gofastandlight setup. That is what I am looking for . 27 bucks is better then the Kat base filter for 70.00.

Heath,
Thanks for the follow up info.
I'm on it.
Great setup.

Any time! If you are going to build your own and you want me to post more pics of the current setup then I will be glad to do so.

I really like the idea of adding activated charcoal to the pre-filter!

Clean, clear, good tasting water every time.

It seems to work well. I did have to add a small piece of screen over the top of the carbon. I just wanted to make sure that no smaller pieces would become stuck in the tube.

I have my eye on the Frontier Pro, but on the shop page, the gravity rig tutorial video incorporates Micropur tabs as part of the system. The product text says nothing about requiring tablets as a fail-safe, and inasmuch as I've used other people's filters, no one's ever doubled-up the filter with tabs. Is there something different about the Frontier Pro that makes doubling up with tabs prudent, or is the tutorial guy just overly cautious?

I believe that the filter pore size on the frontier pro is larger than the Sawyer or Katadyn. That would be the reason for the tablets first

Yes, Pieter, the pore size on the Frontier Pro is 2.0 microns. This will filter out the protozoa spores, but not bacteria or certainly viruses. The Sawyer filter has a pore size of 0.1 micron, which will take care of everything but viruses. So, you need to add pills or Aqua Mira when using the Frontier Pro. The big advantage of the FP over just using pills is that you don't have to wait up to 4 hours before drinking (bacteria and viruses are neutralized in maybe 20 minutes; the filter takes care of the protozoa). The other advantage of the FP is its charcoal element. This removes the chlorine taste of the pills or Aqua Mira. The Sawyer doesn't have a charcoal element, so your pill-treated water (if you're using them to kill viruses) will still have the chlorine taste.

There are various ways to add a charcoal element. You can make your own and run it theough a small dropper bottle attahced to your hose somehow, buy charcoal at fish supply store. Or you can use these filter things that farmers use, i've seen them before on a setup, they fit right in your hose for the gravity setup, are pretty light too. Hopefuully someone will remember. I think a sawyer + a charcoal is the best way to go without a doubt, but you have to myog it, thats what im going to eventually do. Cuben water collection bag + hose + charcaol + sawyer.

I added the charcoal to the MSR siltstopper that I have in-line. It seems to work well so far.

http://www.rungreen.com/John-Deere-Lawn-Tractor-Fuel-Filter-Many-Lawn-and-Gator-Models_p_2312.html

Those look like they would work well. Any ideas on the element that is in the filter already? Could be a low cost replacement to the siltstopper if the pore size is small enough

Sorry, there was a thread on Hammockforums that had the details, i cannot remember. Do some googling, i will later. peace

BTW how long does the siltstopper thingy last before you have to replace it, i really like it. at less than 2 oz, its appealing.

Gary and Heath, thanks for the clarification. I guess I could have read the fine print!

However, this is interesting to me, given that I've been out with a lot of people who use and seem to love filters like the Katydyn, and I wasn't aware that they don't stop absolutely everything. I wonder if all the users are aware of this as well.

For me personally, if I have to carry tablets and employ them with the filter as well, that's a real knock against the system. Not because of weight per se, but because of a lack of simplicity. More and more, I'm finding that the fussier the system, the less likely I am to want to use it. Aquamira drops work fine, but I'm tired of playing junior chemist on the trail. Tablets take too long. I may still experiment with a filter system, but not if I have to double it up with something else.

I did just buy a Steripen, and I was kind of sold on the idea on a trip in July when another companion had one. But even it has its shortfalls.

Thankfully for me, most of the year I don't have to worry about treating my water. It's just those relatively few trips (i.e., up Whitney trail in summer with no snow) when I won't drink untreated water that it becomes a pain.

I feel like the sawyer is the best bet, becasue from the reviews it seems to have a long life, its backflushable as well, and takes care of everything except viruses. The purifier version also takes out viruses. So if you had this + a charcoal element, you would never need chemicals, it would be as easy as scoop and filter. I would even install some sort of prefilter, to increase the longevity of the sawyer-which is already one of the longest among all water filters for backpacking. And im just guessing here, but i bet the whole setup could be under 7-8oz if you did it right.

Is the MSR siltstopper charcoal based or not? It appears white the inside.

The siltstopper isn't carbon based. I just added the carbon to the void in the middle of the filter.

Heath, what type of carbon did you use–powdered or granulated? Where did you buy a small quantity? I have a siltstopper on the way, and I'd like to try your technique with my Sawyer setup.