DIY Gravity Filter for Isopropyl Alcohol Using Ceramic Filter Candles

[@skraf883]

Wouldn't you get better flow if you drilled holes from the bottom to the top container, installed a pipe to above the fill level of the top container to allow for pressure equalization between the containers?

[@photodontist8640]

I hadn't thought of that. It's not a bad idea. I just open them up every day or two to relieve the negative pressure.

[@KrazedSin88]

Very impressive. If I start using this amount of IPA this is absolutely the way to go about it.

[@GG-od2tr]

By far the better method to date of filtration. Thank you.

[@robguyatt9602]

I really think filtering is just not necessary. Gravity is all that is needed. Definitely no curing of disolved resin in the alcohol. I've beed doing this for a couple of years. And 200 micron filter is so course. I don't think any uncured resin is anyhwere near that large a partical size. Do you realise that 200 microns is FOUR 0.05mm layers. Edit: I am sure you just mispoke when saying 200 microns. A quick google found they are more like 0.5 microns. I expect there are other sizes too. Perhaps yours are 0.2 microns. :)

[@hyperionhelios190]

Great idea. Seems like the candles are a little cost restrictive for hobbyist printer people. We probably don't use as much cleaning solution either so perhaps just cure and syphon is best for us.

[@photodontist8640]

Distilling is cheaper than four candles. Though if you have time on your side just buy one candle.

[@basharathussain5565]

Excellent brother I was thinking the same to filter my corn moon shine

[@thegamethemovie9605]

Could have had the top bottle dumping into one of those Gatorade coolers, then you could just push the spout to get the clean alchohol into bottles.

[@photodontist8640]

I have avoided any solution with a spout at the bottom. The reason is that high strength alcohol will eat through rubber seals over time. It may very well eat its way through the moving parts of the spigot. I just find a big funnel and dump it out into a 1 gallon bottle.

[@thomasbenderii8797]

I like your approach to cleaning your IPA. How much resin contaminated IPA have you processed through the filters so far? How long do the filters last b4 they are so clogged up that you need to replace them?

[@photodontist8640]

Hard to say. Only two batches so far.

[@carlanderson5068]

@@photodontist8640 How about now, being a year later.

[@photodontist8640]

@@carlanderson5068 I got leakage of the gaskets and clogging to the filters. Sub sedimenting and then distilling is nowy preferred method

[@carlanderson5068]

@@photodontist8640 Thanks, this update helps. I was hopeful about this but was wondering if the clogging might be an issue based upon my experience with water washable resin, where it forms a kind of gel. I've also recently found out my UV leds (5mm and some other very tiny ones) don't actually appear to be outputting UV light, which is a problem since I got them for curing the inside of hollow prints and noticed they weren't working, at all.

[@ajquick]

I bought 4 of the candle filters and did the same setup. I'm curious, how long would it take to do a few gallons? It seems like it took a while before the IPA started to make its way through the filters. I'm guessing it's gonna take a day for a gallon or two?

[@photodontist8640]

Ymmv. Depends on the candles and it depends how saturated your alcohol was before starting

[@georgedonald9826]

Is the bucket being food grade actually inportant or is it just the ones you happen to have?

[@NeinDao]

i have heard that this clogs the filters a lot. what is your experience?

[@gc7644]

You could just add a spigot to the bottom bucket so you don't even have to open it to siphon.

[@tmacpluto]

So now that it's been 2 months how has this system worked out for you?

[@photodontist8640]

Just fine. Don't use it too much. If you go through a lot of alcohol, a distiller would be the faster way to go.

[@tmacpluto]

@@photodontist8640 I'm thinking that I am just going to have IPA in it at all times so that I can rotate my IPA frequently so that it doesn't get super dirty.

[@adrianmuliterno2885]

Has anyone been able to verify that it really works? It is the only video that claims to leave isopropyl alcohol completely transparent. Ceramic filters are really expensive if this process doesn't really work. Thank you

[@photodontist8640]

It's got a slight color twinge to it after a few loads. I let the filters run dry for a while, I don't know if that's the reason. Distillation produces the cleanest results but that comes with a whole different set of issues and risks.

[@davelandrytube]

Do you let the used ipa sit in the sun before filtering? Or straight from the cleaning tub to the filter?

[@photodontist8640]

I let it sit for 3 to 4 weeks in the sun prior to filtering. Tbh, that alone is clear enough for most first wash solutions.

[@blueckaym]

Kudos on the syphoning (with pump, not with mouth :))! It's so much better than decanting! I would love to see a DIY centrifuge for better separation of IPA & resin. It doesn't seem hard to do, you just need to securely attach the bottles to the centrifuge in a way that they're free to move up depending on the spin speed (ie vertical when not spinning and higher when spinning faster), so that the "down" of the bottle still points directly to the bottom of the bottle. And ideally gradually stopping it so that it doesn't shake and mix the resin back. Then you should be able to syphon the clearer IPA from the top.

[@firSound]

I agree, UV light from the side while spinning should help the particles coagulate and cure on sides and bottom.

[@EN-qo5yh]

Are you still using this technique? How much “life” do you get out of the individual candles?

[@photodontist8640]

I'm afraid I am going to have to discontinue this jig. It developed a leak and now the dirty sludge is leaking into the bottom. I'll consider rebuilding it with a single dome filter in the future to reduce potential leakage points.

[@EN-qo5yh]

@@photodontist8640 I couldn't get it to work w/out leaking myself

[@dldimick92683]

Have you tested the gravity of the alcohol versus new? I am curious because when I see other methods tested the specific gravity remained the same. So while the IPA looked better (clearer) the lack of gravity change makes me believe that all that their filtering did was remove the pigments and not the resin or other embedded stuff. I REALLY hope this way works!

[@photodontist8640]

I measured once at 93 percent after, but I didn't measure before. sorry. cleans my prints, anyway.