Radix
Member
I wanted to share a quick outline of my filtration setup. The total cost including 1 round of filters was $47. I think its a better configuration and less expensive than kits sold by the likes of Midwest. I also like this solution over the plate filters which offer less precise filtration.
2x $5.00 A-829D; SP-198 MIP to female pipe bushing 3/4 to 3/8. This is a metal fitting and everything else is plastic. If you can find it I would suggest a plastic fitting as its always better to mate like materials if possible and likely less expensive. Part can be purchased from most big box home improvement stores.
2x $3.16 PL-3026 Watts Quick Connect 3/8 in. x 3/8 in. Plastic Slip x MPT Adapter or $2.96 A-193 Watts 1/4 in. x 3/8 in. Brass Hose Barb x MIP Adapter. I recommend the Watts quick connects over barbs, it simplifies disassembly for cleaning and they have no problem with the very low levels of pressure used in the filtration process. Part can be purchased from most big box home improvement stores.
2x $1.32 Filter (1x 5 Micron for coarse filtering, 1x 1 Micron for finishing). These 1 time use filters can be purchased from many sources but the best value is to buy them in packs of 50 from this seller. If you email them they will split a 50 pack 25 5 micron and 25 1 micron for you. You can skip the finishing filter to save a little money and the results are still great. If you want a finer finishing filter you can also use a .5 micron filter.
2x $5.50 Ball/pin lock liquid post adapter just pickup at your local homebrew supply
1x $17 10 clear reinforced filter housing. Its important to get a clear housing to see the level of beer in it (housing should be run full) and that the housing has a pressure release valve on top to bleed the co2 out so the beer fully fills the housing. Most kits from homebrew stores do not sell as nice a housing or one with an integrated release valve. I purchased this two pack from the same supplier as the filters and have been very impressed with the quality, far nicer then the Midwest kit. They also sell the housings in the singles. I like the two pack as it enables me to do both stages of filtering in the same pass. You might consider adding a filter housing wrench to your order for $2.50 to get a better seal.
Assembly seems self-explanatory but I can provide instructions. If there is interest I can also provide instructions on how to do the actual filtering.
Here is a photo of an assembled housing
Here is a photo of running both the 5 micron and 1 micron filters in a single pass at only about 4 PSI
Its been a great improvement to my setup. I now just skip secondary fermentation and my beer has a much higher clarity then before. At $2.64 a batch for filters is a clear win and honestly the 1 micron its optional. The 5 micron filter from the first stage comes out looking like it was clearly used where the 1 micron filters come out looking nearly new. I think I will try .5 micron filters in the future.
Anyone else filtering? If so what is your setup? Suggestions?
2x $5.00 A-829D; SP-198 MIP to female pipe bushing 3/4 to 3/8. This is a metal fitting and everything else is plastic. If you can find it I would suggest a plastic fitting as its always better to mate like materials if possible and likely less expensive. Part can be purchased from most big box home improvement stores.
2x $3.16 PL-3026 Watts Quick Connect 3/8 in. x 3/8 in. Plastic Slip x MPT Adapter or $2.96 A-193 Watts 1/4 in. x 3/8 in. Brass Hose Barb x MIP Adapter. I recommend the Watts quick connects over barbs, it simplifies disassembly for cleaning and they have no problem with the very low levels of pressure used in the filtration process. Part can be purchased from most big box home improvement stores.
2x $1.32 Filter (1x 5 Micron for coarse filtering, 1x 1 Micron for finishing). These 1 time use filters can be purchased from many sources but the best value is to buy them in packs of 50 from this seller. If you email them they will split a 50 pack 25 5 micron and 25 1 micron for you. You can skip the finishing filter to save a little money and the results are still great. If you want a finer finishing filter you can also use a .5 micron filter.
2x $5.50 Ball/pin lock liquid post adapter just pickup at your local homebrew supply
1x $17 10 clear reinforced filter housing. Its important to get a clear housing to see the level of beer in it (housing should be run full) and that the housing has a pressure release valve on top to bleed the co2 out so the beer fully fills the housing. Most kits from homebrew stores do not sell as nice a housing or one with an integrated release valve. I purchased this two pack from the same supplier as the filters and have been very impressed with the quality, far nicer then the Midwest kit. They also sell the housings in the singles. I like the two pack as it enables me to do both stages of filtering in the same pass. You might consider adding a filter housing wrench to your order for $2.50 to get a better seal.
Assembly seems self-explanatory but I can provide instructions. If there is interest I can also provide instructions on how to do the actual filtering.
Here is a photo of an assembled housing
Here is a photo of running both the 5 micron and 1 micron filters in a single pass at only about 4 PSI
Its been a great improvement to my setup. I now just skip secondary fermentation and my beer has a much higher clarity then before. At $2.64 a batch for filters is a clear win and honestly the 1 micron its optional. The 5 micron filter from the first stage comes out looking like it was clearly used where the 1 micron filters come out looking nearly new. I think I will try .5 micron filters in the future.
Anyone else filtering? If so what is your setup? Suggestions?