Need a solid particle filter for liquids

[David Rose]

Hi,

I just bought a large (for our business) ultrasonic gun cleaner. What a job it does! Of course, most of the guns we get in to be cleaned are heavily laden with years of everything from WD-40 varnish to weed seeds and plain old dirt. One gun will discolor the solvent. I suspect that the solution will carry so much trash as to lose effectiveness fairly soon. The solution runs about $55 a gallon, which makes about 4 tanks of solution. It is a water soluable compound. Most of the contamination appears to be large enough to be visible to the naked eye.

I am considering doing two things.

One of them is to drain the tank with its built in bottom drain through some sort of filter into a container, then pour it back into the main tank. If it doesn't need cleaning too often, this would be cheap and easy. The tank holds 5 1/2 gallons.

The other idea is to use a pump to recirculate the fluid through a filter. This will come later either way, unless someone has a really brilliant idea.

But I need a filter. I'm sure there are tons of commercial filters out there to do the job. The company that makes my machine (Crest) builds a system for $1500. That is not an option at this point and cost.

I've thought of building a tube out of something clear to filter through then using something like cloth or coffee filters or maybe even paint filters stacked to remove the larger particles. Or maybe you guys know of a commercial filter that would be OK for the job.

I tend to find a lot of "thinkers" on our site with a lot of diverse knowledge, so I thought I would bounce it off your noggin's first. Any ideas?

Oh, and useful criteria would be: clear to see contamination and flow, easily openable container to change filters, and something that wouldn't be stopped up too readily.

Thanks,

David

[Don Baer]

What about an automotive fuel filter. There cheap, and can be had most anywhere and you can get them in clear housing.

[Bruce Page]

David, assuming the cleaning solution is non-volatile, how about some kind of fish pond filter?
Just a thought.

[Steve Clardy]

I'm thinking a water pump for outside birdbaths,etc., and a large fuel filter for a fuel injected ford. Frame mount filter is fairly good sized.

[David Rose]

The way these contraptions work is interesting. The ultrasonic sound produces microscopic bubbles which are filled with a vaccum. The cleaning action comes from implosion of these bubbles. The rate of speed is very high which creates turbulence and great impact. Also, the internal temp of the collapse is somewhere from 5,000 to 25,000 degrees. So, they warn against using volatile solvents! On the 4th of this month, it makes you want to build a cheap ultrasonic device, fill it with flamables, and stand waaaaay back before hitting the detonator... I mean switch.

David

[David Rose]

Steve,

Would it really have to be a Ford filter? I'm kind of a Chevy man myself...

David

I'm thinking a water pump for outside birdbaths,etc., and a large fuel filter for a fuel injected ford. Frame mount filter is fairly good sized.

[Lee DeRaud]

Whatever you decide for the filter, your best bet for the pump is probably to cannibalize a small (20-gallon) automotive parts washer. Harbor Freight has them starting at about $100.

[Steve Clardy]

Steve,

Would it really have to be a Ford filter? I'm kind of a Chevy man myself...

David

Naw. Anything that has a big filter, usually fuel injected.
I just have Ford embedded in me permanetly, so out comes the word Ford

[Bob Aliano]

How fine are the particles you want to filter? You aren't likely to get the solution clear with an automotive grade filter but you will get the big stuff out. To do better you need a filter rated in microns, typically the kind in better water purifier systems. You need to know what materials are compatible with your cleaning solution. I edited my reply to include a fuel filter supplier with a filter that gets down reasonably fine at 3 microns: http://www.ramcoperformance.com/turbofyner.htm

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

I have always found "Cheese Cloth" to be very good at removing particulates from liquids. Can be found at most fabric stores.

Bruce

PS: Cheap, too!

[David Rose]

Bob, I was kind of figuring that. The company doesn't even show a spec sheet on the cleaner they sell for guns. I don't have the chemical yet, as the previous owner was using Simple Green, which was my initial trial. The "real thing" is on order, so I don't even know what it smells like let alone what it might contain. And I don't know if the company will tell much that is not required by law.

I think water purifying filters would be way overkill for my purpose and probably would block quickly. How big are "visible particles"? I may need to remove more than I think, but for right now, I am thinking of just getting out the big chunks.

As you can see, I have no idea of which I speak. But I am thinking if it would make it through a carburetor or injector I might be OK. If I can set up something like this economically, I could at least give it a try.

I've written Crest, but their primary interest in biomedical, so I think their energies will be in way higher tech directions than I can afford.

David

How fine are the particles you want to filter? You aren't likely to get the solution clear with an automotive grade filter but you will get the big stuff out. To do better you need a filter rated in microns, typically the kind in better water purifier systems. You need to know what materials are compatible with your cleaning solution.

[David Rose]

Bruce, I have a piece of a bolt of that stuff. That was one of my thoughts. I just need to shop around for some sort of container that is clear and can be easily opened and connected to the lines. Clear tubing maybe 2 to 4" in diameter that would accept caps?

David

I have always found "Cheese Cloth" to be very good at removing particulates from liquids. Can be found at most fabric stores.

Bruce

PS: Cheap, too!

[Steve Gray]

David;
Buy a universal remote oil filter adapter and a low pressure electric fuel pump and I think you would be in business for a small cash outlay.
JCwhitney's web site has either a single or dual remote oil filter setup made by Transdapt for $49.00 to $59.00. I would probably buy a Carter brand pump (about $35.00) and some 3/8 fuel line and rig up a loop system to the side of your tank. Try to draw from as low as possible on the tank to get all the "trash" that you can. If you use a Wix or Napa Gold filter, you will get filtration down to about 5 microns. I believe the Transdapt setup uses a standard "Ford" oil filter. The fluid will NOT turn clear again, but you will be amazed at the amount of foreign material an oil filter will hold and still let fluid flow through. Just make sure you do not use a "bypass" style filter (Fram). The only drawback with this idea is probably that the pump runs on 12 volt dc. If you could come up with a pump out of a parts washer (110 volt) you could just plug it in and forget it.
Hope this helps
Steve

[David Rose]

The "f" word is forgiven.

I remember your pickyup truck from the BBQ at Terry's. ... with all that niiice walnut in the back... It is still on my lumber rack and thinking about turning itself into something just as soon as the cherry chest is done. I like walnut!

David

Naw. Anything that has a big filter, usually fuel injected.
I just have Ford embedded in me permanetly, so out comes the word Ford

[David Rose]

Cool, Steve! Thanks!

I had not thought about a fuel pump. That should be slow enough to not interfere with the cleaning... maybe. The prices sound in line with what I am thinking too. I have a 12V DC converter around here somewhere that is not being used. The tank has an outlet at the low end of the tank for draining, so I think that will do the job. I can just dump it in back anywhere. There is a cover for the tank, but noise is louder with it, so I probably won't run it with the cover on.

David

David;
Buy a universal remote oil filter adapter and a low pressure electric fuel pump and I think you would be in business for a small cash outlay.
JCwhitney's web site has either a single or dual remote oil filter setup made by Transdapt for $49.00 to $59.00. I would probably buy a Carter brand pump (about $35.00) and some 3/8 fuel line and rig up a loop system to the side of your tank. Try to draw from as low as possible on the tank to get all the "trash" that you can. If you use a Wix or Napa Gold filter, you will get filtration down to about 5 microns. I believe the Transdapt setup uses a standard "Ford" oil filter. The fluid will NOT turn clear again, but you will be amazed at the amount of foreign material an oil filter will hold and still let fluid flow through. Just make sure you do not use a "bypass" style filter (Fram). The only drawback with this idea is probably that the pump runs on 12 volt dc. If you could come up with a pump out of a parts washer (110 volt) you could just plug it in and forget it.
Hope this helps
Steve