Making your own water filter.
I was thinking that a helpful how-to post that can save you some much needed cash would be good for today. With that in mind I’ll try to help you build a functioning water filter. Directions as follows.
You can make your own “Big Berkey” type water filter for about one third the cost and a little bit of time on your part. The materials you will need for this project are two food grade buckets of two to five gallon size with lids, a “Black Berkey” filter, three brass or stainless one and one quarter inch 3/16ths bolts with nuts and two washers each, three rubber washers of the same size and either a cpvc threaded boiler drain or a flip-up spigot like those found on large coffee pots and some water coolers.
The first thing you want to do is scrub your buckets and lids meticulously clean and then wipe them with some bleach water and let air dry. Then put the lid on one bucket and sit the other bucket on top of the lid. It should nestle inside the rim of the lid nicely, then drill three holes the size of your bolts in a triangle pattern about 2in. in from the edge for small or three for large buckets. Then slide a rubber washer and a metal washer on your bolt then put them down through the top bucket and bottom lid. While the buckets are still in this position drill a hole 1/8th inch less than the thread size on your filter element, usually this will be 11/16ths, but double check that to be sure. Now lift the lid and bucket and lid off together and put a washer and nut on each bolt and tighten pulling the two snugly together. Now you want to drill a hole for your spigot near the bottom of the lower bucket, 1/16 smaller than the threads if using a cpvc boiler drain then screw the drain in keeping it as square in the hole as possible. If using the flip lever spigot make the hole the exact size needed and install spigot making sure you have one rubber washer on the inside and one on the outside. Now put the lid back on your bottom bucket and then screw your filter down through the hole you previously drilled in the center and you are now ready to put your new water filter in to service.Follow the instructions for cleaning the ceramic filter and be sure and pre-filter any “dirty” water and this system will do many, many gallons of water for you and your family.
Good luck and as always, if I may be of any assistance you need only ask. Everyone have a nice day, Gary.
Date: July 18, 2010
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