Building a water filter?

psy-ops

psy-ops

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
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I have seen pictures in a few survival manuals of waterfilters.

They have three sticks with three levels of mesh. The first level is empty (just to filter out rough debris.) The second layer has sand and the last layer is charcoal.

Can this be effective? In my BOB, I actually carry lady's panty hose for this. They are hardly any weight, so it is not a huge investment in an ineffective tool.
 
I think you would be better off boiling your water. Hard to ensure the quality of the active charcoal and efficiency of the filters. Especially if you are using materials from the site to build your filter. The materials you use may be contaminated even before you pour water over the filter.
 
Sounds like it might get particles out, but it's not going to kill any bugs. You need about .2 microns to catch giardia and cryptosporidium and viruses go right on through. Good filters are adequate in North America, but you're battlling hepatitis and worse in the tropics and 3rd world. Boiling works and you still need to watch your procedure so you don't cross-contaminate.

The more particles you remove, the better chemicals work, as many bugs attach to crud in in the water, so your panyhose might be a good first step.

There's no free lunch! Chlorine dioxide used properly will kill most bugs--read waiting long enough. In a survival situation, boiling is the most reliable low-tech method. That's why my kits include some sort of container that can be used for boiling. Being up against a hard spot with a case of dysentary is a nasty way to die.
 
chrisaloia said:
I have seen pictures in a few survival manuals of waterfilters.

They have three sticks with three levels of mesh. The first level is empty (just to filter out rough debris.) The second layer has sand and the last layer is charcoal.

Can this be effective? In my BOB, I actually carry lady's panty hose for this. They are hardly any weight, so it is not a huge investment in an ineffective tool.
Click to expand...

It has always been my understanding that the first layer is grass.

And I agree with Scottman - filter, then boil.

Doc
 
Thanks All!

I knew I could get good solid info here.

My PSK is too small for anything near a cup to boil water...so would leather in a hole with hot rocks boil water?
 
Also, what is your PSK held in, why not take the contents and put them in a small pot, or small bake pan?
 
To me a PSK is a small comfortable bag that when I leave my house it is ALWAYS on me.

I do have others when I am backpacking but I don't consider those a true survival kit.
 
You can dig a hole in the ground, line it with a normal plastic bag, and maybe some flat stones. Pour the water in it (somehow), then put hot rocks there.The plastic bag will survive it. I found this info at http://bushcraft.se in the 3. video titled "quest for the stone".
 
As stated above, the more matter you can remove the better. A small filter can help a lot, especially with taste. Here are the instructions for a quick filter made from a beer/soda can, something that is all to easy to find.

1. cut off top
2. punch small holes in the bottom, think of a shower head
3. line botton with a folded piece of clean cloth (bandana, part of a sock, etc) or moss or grass.
4. add of mixture of charcoal (crushed to a fine powder) and grass or moss.
5. put a top layer of gravel (to slow the water)

Good way to move sentiment and/or extend the life of your modern filter.

You can make a bigger one out of a tennis ball can and have alternate layers of the forementioned for home emergencies, camp, etc.
 
You can always did an indian well too. Bail it two or three times and let it settle ~ natural filter. Little things like this is why I like the nalgene bottle and cup over a camelback. I dig with my stainless steel cup, bail, then boil, if need be.
 
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