Author Topic: DIY Water Filter (Read 1717 times)

shin · « **on:** August 25, 2015, 11:20:24 PM »

Awhile back here I was asking folks for advice on water filters. Some folks recommended the Berkey to me, and I found out about Aquacera because of them too.

Well you buy a big Berkey stainless steel water filter, and the container can run you around $250 which makes a fellow hesitate.

I read up a bit and some folks made their own water filter container, you could fit in a Berkey, Aquacera, whatever you wanted, just drill the hole in the bottom of a plastic bucket, and put it on top of another plastic bucket.

That's nice and inexpensive. But.. I wanted something a little better looking than a plastic bucket.

So while I'm just starting on renovating my new home, I took a break and this is what I did:

Two stainless steel stock pots, 20 quarts each, $11.99 each.
One stainless steel spigot, $11.99.

And a little drilling with the right drill bits.

And you do need the right drill bits, ordinary ones won't do. You need cobalt step drill bits to drill through stainless steel, I was getting now where for awhile until I found those. Then it all went by in a moment and I had my water dispenser.

For a materials cost of $36 bucks for the container. Tools cost -- the step drill bits set $16.99, and some ordinary ones I mistakenly bought for $3 that I'll use elsewhere -- I already had the power drill. Water filter -- $22, for a ceramic Aquacera.

I like the results pretty fine! Deo gratias!

PG · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2015, 10:10:49 PM »

Bravo. Good job. I have been wanting a drip filter system(we have a different type), and that is worth spending the little extra for metal vs plastic.

shin · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2015, 05:49:48 AM »

I'm quite pleased with it!

jen51 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2015, 10:45:24 AM »

Very neat! My husband did something very similar a couple months ago, except he did it with 2 5-gallon food grade buckets. He used a coal filter. Stainless steel is ideal though, I agree. Between the 2 of us we drink 1 or 2 gallons of water a day out of it and it holds up wonderfully.

shin · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2015, 01:01:54 PM »

Only downside so far is with the top pot sitting deep in the bottom pot, you have to use some strength to yank it out and separate the two.

This would be different if I had it sitting on the pot cover, which would make it taller and more spacious, but not fit under a countertop, which is OK in the long run as I plan to build a stand for it.

So I am going to take the handle off the pot cover and have the top sit on it and so be more easily removed.

I hadn't thought of making my own filter like that with coal. This despite my keeping an aquarium!

I have thought of adding a U/V sterilization light to it. Might try that someday if I find one that can be easily attached with just another hole or two bored in the side.

Brian R · « **Reply #5 on:** October 20, 2015, 12:36:27 AM »

What are you trying to filter out? This setup will not take out many heavy metals including fluoride, which is a neurotoxin (worse than lead or arsenic) with damaging effects at tap water dosages. It will also not take out many pharmaceutical drugs that do not get taken out at water treatment plants.

Your best bet is distillation, which is the same as rainwater, which is used as drinking water in most countries on Earth.