My filtration "still"

[Marv]

Not to derail Clay's thread, but currently I use a 100 micron bucket strainer in the top of my pre-filter barrel and it usually on takes 30 second to a minute to pour a cube (about 5 gallons) through. I put about 200-250 gallons through the first one before I had to replace it.

Also, my canister pressure gauge shows about 13 psi pretty consistently. After another batch or two, I'm going to change the filter just to see what it looks like.

I guess my oil is fairly clean...

[Clay]

Originally Posted by Marv

Not to derail Clay's thread, but currently I use a 100 micron bucket strainer in the top of my pre-filter barrel and it usually on takes 30 second to a minute to pour a cube (about 5 gallons) through. I put about 200-250 gallons through the first one before I had to replace it.

Also, my canister pressure gauge shows about 13 psi pretty consistently. After another batch or two, I'm going to change the filter just to see what it looks like.

I guess my oil is fairly clean...

Why did you have to replace the strainer? Did it come apart?

You don't have to change the bag filter just to look at it, pull the lid off the canister and look at it and keep using it if its not plugged yet.
A dirty filter works better than a clean one.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by CHenry

My pics don't show it but i did put a pressure guage on top of the canister...it is already threaded for it. A fresh clean filter bag with oil at 110*f will show about 9 psi. When i see that rise to around 15 psi, i change the bag.

OK cool.

So how are you only getting 15psi max? you are pushing it through with a ~1HP motor so are you saying that the oil flows that easily through the bag?

Or do you bleed off oil pressure at some point pre canister?

[Clay]

Originally Posted by Wilson

OK cool.

So how are you only getting 15psi max? you are pushing it through with a ~1HP motor so are you saying that the oil flows that easily through the bag?

Or do you bleed off oil pressure at some point pre canister?

The oil is heated to 110* prior to filtering. AFter i heat it and settle it, most times when i come back the next day to filter, it has only colled down to 100- 110 and i may switch the heat on for 30 minutes is all and its hot enough to filter.
The bag has enough area and the oil is hot and viscous and it flows without alot of pressure. If the oil is cooler, like 90* it will still flow but with higher pressure and i don't want that higher pressure so i heat it to filter.
However, i can "bleed off" pressure by opening valve 2 a little (see diagram) and some oil will bypass the canister and return to the inlet on the tank. I have had to do this a couple times when the bag filter became dirty when i was in the middle of filtering a batch...i let off a little pressure with valve 2 and my pressure was still creaping up - i think i had rushed the settling process and not drained off all the snot on bottom and it trashed the filter fast - but the problem is, i can't take the lid off of the canister in mid process without a valdeeze spill...when all the lines above the canister are full, if i open the lid, i can only imagine the oil would over flow from having head preasure above the lid level. I havent tryed it but i am sure thats what would happen.

[Wilson]

thanks clay...you explained it the way I imagined it worked.

[Marv]

Originally Posted by CHenry

Why did you have to replace the strainer? Did it come apart?

You don't have to change the bag filter just to look at it, pull the lid off the canister and look at it and keep using it if its not plugged yet.
A dirty filter works better than a clean one.

Well, I didn't replace it as in throw it away. Just pulled it out and put my new one in since I didn't have time to clean it up. I still have it and plan on washing it with some Dawn dish liquid.

Got ya...I'll just pull the lid off and take a look then.

[Marv]

Originally Posted by CHenry

...but the problem is, i can't take the lid off of the canister in mid process without a valdeeze spill...when all the lines above the canister are full, if i open the lid, i can only imagine the oil would over flow from having head preasure above the lid level. I havent tryed it but i am sure thats what would happen.

Yeah, I've thought about this too...about the only time I could pull the lid off is after I've filled my tank in the truck. That's the only time the lines get empty enough to be able to check the canister.

At that point, they actually are completely empty...surprises me...

[Wilson]

well I just ran about 50 gal through a 1u filter bag in the new canister... took about 5 minutes maybe. Gravity filter is A WASTE OF TIME.

This thing ROCKS.

The only thing I noticed the hard way LOL is that the drain plug wasn't installed and I was in such a rush to try it I forgot it was open. Result was about 1 gal of clean oil on the groung :-)

Anyway, with regards to opening the top of canister, I just put the top of the filter above all hoses. I tested it and was able to open and inspect the filter w/ no spillage.

PS- oil press never went above 7psi


Thanks for the thread!

[Clay]

Wilson, it only takes 5 minutes to run the oil through but i run it through for more like 30- 45 minutes...repeatedly. might be something for you to think about.

[Clay]

Originally Posted by Wilson

The only thing I noticed the hard way LOL is that the drain plug wasn't installed and I was in such a rush to try it I forgot it was open. Result was about 1 gal of clean oil on the groung :-)

Ah yes, another great "spill story"...LMAO!