It just occurred to me..

Nic Ramirez · Dec 24, 2003

I was just sitting here thinking about a ceramic water filter in a survival situation.

I'm thinking that it would be possible to take the filter apart in a pinch and use the ceramic to sharpen your blade.

Afterwards, I would think that you could simply reassemble the filter and use as normal.

What do you guys think?

ohen cepel · Dec 24, 2003

I would think there are much better options.

Guess it would work. However, a downfall of the ceramic filters is the fact that if cracked they are worthless. Handling it out of the case runs a risk of breaking it. Also, you may reall increase your iron intake by putting metal fillings into your filter.

If you don't need anymore water and really needed a sharp knife then I would do it.

Just my 2 cents.

longbow50 · Dec 24, 2003

Good thought, but like was said, you run the chance of ruining your filter and if you'll be needing water again, that's not a risk I'd be willing to take. If you want a relatively inexpensive ceramic sharpener, Gatco puts one out that's small, weighs next to nothing and does a good job of sharpening a blade.

Thomas Linton · Dec 25, 2003

Wrong kind of ceramic, at least in one I have -- so soft it is worn away by a stiff brush. After all, it is intended as a filter - porous.

oliverplomion · Dec 26, 2003

well...if you have the place to bring a ceramic filter,you have the place to bring a DMT butterfly sharpener with you!

Sundsvall · Dec 26, 2003

Got to say that if the ceramic is soft enough to be cleaned with a 3M scotchbrite pad, it is not hard enough to sharpen your hardened steel knife.

Nic Ramirez · Dec 26, 2003

I assume that it would have to be thoroughly dried prior.. It might work

I feel that in REAL survival situations we can make less than ideal things work satisfactory.

longbow50 · Dec 26, 2003

Absolutely, however if you ruin your water filter you could face illness or death from drinking contaminated water and doing without the wet stuff isn't even an option. A knife can be sharpened on a rock or any number of other surfaces.

Sundsvall · Dec 27, 2003

I've got a katadyn ceramic filter that I have cleaned a few times. I seriously doubt that it would remove much steel from my knives, wet or dry.

I would have either a Swamp Rat Camp Tramp, 18" HI Ang Khola, Strider AR or my swiss army knife. Have to say that any one of these knives will decimate my ceramic filter element with little or no effect on the steel.

I think you should not try this unless you have no other option and clean drinking water is not an issue.

etp777 · Dec 29, 2003

Just look around, I've often picked up a stone just off the ground(esp. around lakes/streams) that did a nice job of putting a very passable edge on a knife when I didn't have a sharpener around. One good reaosn to know how to sharpen freehand, rathre than just with something like a Lansky or Sharpmaker system