Make your own refillable activated carbon filter

[Ike Mouser]

Never buy another charcoal/activated carbon filter for backpacking ever again. Never worry about leaks because this diy job uses no glue. Properties: removes chemical tastes from your water, improves water taste, easily field serviceable, self-cleaning(germs), not likey to freeze, removes foreign chemicals/contaminants, save money and time. With the purchase of bulk materials and the necessary parts you will be able to refill this system for years to come, saving you lots of dough you would have spent buying another filter. This system is meant to be used with chemical treatments like chlorine dioxide tablets or bleach. To prevent freezing, simply blow as much water out of the filter as you can when your done using it. This will also restore filter nearly back to its original weight before being used.

This filter wil also work in an inline cambelbak type system, You can easily suck water through it.

A note about results: Results will be directly dependent on the quality of your activated carbon, density inside the unit and exposure time.

See youtube description for links:

Weight: 2.3oz
Total cost Bulk purchase: $57-$67
Total cost Sample sizes: $$32-$40

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOhrlPjjkTw

Part 2;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSyLXavJA-o

(1.)Suitable activated carbon(I have not tried the 20×50 sizes, they may seep through 1 micron material I dunno. Check the size chart after clicking the description):
About $30-$40 bulk or $10(shipping included):

http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/granular_activated_charcoal_12x30mesh_coconut_acid_washed

http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/product/granular_activated_carbon_20x50mesh

http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/bone_char_8x24mesh

Calgon Activated Carbon information:
http://www.calgoncarbon.com/carbon_products/water.html
(google search calgon after deciding which you want)

samples:
http://www.buyactivatedcharcoal.com/product/SAM

(2.) 1 (or ½) Micron biodiesel filter material:
Ebay, bought bulk about $25 shipped
Bought small portion: about $10
(3.) Yorker caps from Usplastic:
#66112, #66113, #66114
$5 shipped
(4.) Coghlans contain-alls:
Online $10 shipped
Store $5
(5.) 5 Hour energy bottle:
$2
Or order the coghlans contain alls and thinner bottles off usplastic and try to come up with your own combo of thinner bottles.

[Joshua Stillwell]

Hey, great post btw. This is such a great idea. I was just googling this and then found it on BPL.

– First of all do you have new Youtube links? The ones posted are already dead.

– How do you actually use your filter, will those tips actually work with Camelbak hose?

– How did you put it together, are those just 2 bottles taped together?

Thanks!

[Roger Caffin]

Just be aware that this device has ZERO guarantees! It may well remove large floaties and some taste, but that is all! Bugs are likely to go straight through it.

Cheers

[Steven Paris]

Roger, I'm no scientist, but this should work like any carbon element for improving the taste of water and possibly removing things like trace metals, chemicals etc.

It is not intended as a filter itself; this is for using WITH a filter, bleach or Aqua Mira. I'm pretty sure Ike's previous thread shows this as an economical part of an over-all system.

[Josh J]

Roger he even says:

This system is meant to be used with chemical treatments like chlorine dioxide tablets or bleach.

so he’s saying treat for bugs then uses to improve taste.

[DAN-Y]

Some bugs add flavor :-)

 

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