I need to rig something, preferably for a 5-gal bucket, that will filter down to 10-15 microns. (I did say ultra-fine.)

The finest purpose-built 5-gal. bucket filters I can find on Amazon go down to 25 microns, which is apparently better than professional painters need, but too big for my purposes.

I found a bio-diesel supplier who will fabricate a 15 micron filter, but they’d charge me $150+ for it. Didn’t want to pay that much. Is it just that the fabric is that expensive when it gets super fine like that?

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

-Rob

We have a ceramic filter that renders water safe to drink. Is that what you want the filter for? If so, look them up on an emergency preparedness site.

A simple search for 15 micron bulk screen yielded plenty of results.
Try it.

Possibly a paint strainer bag or a brewing bag. Otherwise McMaster will have something.

What are you filtering? Wix had 10 micron spin on hydraulic fluid filters. Racor make the same for diesel fuel. All you’d have to do is source the plate the filter would screw onto and the plumbing.

Buy a Berkey filter and make the homemade Berkey set up?

Look at the Sawyer Mini. Sets up in 5 gal bucket and filters to 0.1 micron.

o5

Needing extra cash, Heisenberg?

I will second the Sawyer. They make a bucket system for them.

https://www.earthwateralliance...bly-and-maintenance/

Many non-profits and aid organizations have used these systems or similar setups with Sawyer.

The filter can be backwashed in less than a minute to clean out what the filter has stopped.

While I've never used them with a bucket I have used them in a few different configurations on backpacking trips. I like the regular model as it flows more water but have used the mini many times also.

Okay, so context will help here. Mrs.BurtonRW enjoys tumbling rocks. Tumbling rocks involves grit. Lots of grit. Down to 500 or better. Not sure about the QC on these grit suppliers, but ANSI says that's 13.9 microns.

Problem is twofold. 1) Our utility sink is below grade, and that slurry would bring the pump to a grinding halt rather quickly. 2) You shouldn't pour that crap into the sewers anyway.

We can dispose of the grit, but I was looking for an efficient way to separate the water and it seemed that a couple of 5 gal. buckets would do the trick if I could find the right filter setup.

Thanks for the leads, guys.

-Rob

Put a sediment trap on the sink

Here’s your answer… All you’ll have to do is to rig up a holder. Should be easy.

https://shop.prmfiltration.com.../products/bfpe10p2sx


This one is stated for filtering a mud slurry but it doesn’t say what size..

https://www.amazon.com/Ceramic...Slurry/dp/B0BV6Z4HXJ

We use some kind of fairly fine filter for the water tower, at work. They are a bit expensive/are also meant to resist a decent amount of pressure.

Are you trying to reuse the grit or just separate the grit from the water? How many gallons and how often?

I’m thinking dump it into a kiddie pool and let the water evaporate. If you aren’t trying to reuse the grit, put it on the lawn or water the shrubs with it.

quote:

an efficient way to separate the water

As another approach, maybe put the grit/water slurry outside in the sun in a flat tray and let evaporation do the heavy lifting?

The little rock tumbling our kids did showed that the grit will settle out on its own. Then pour off the water and the grit goes out in the trash. I don’t remember how long it took.

I do a lot of rock tumbling, I just wash the rocks in a colander, into a 5 gal pail. Every once in a while I pour the water off and dump the sludge in the garbage. Some people try to save their polishing grits, I'm not one of them.