Newb filter questions.

Ok I am new to home brew. I JUST as in 30 minutes ago just got through my first brew of test e.
I went with syringe filters for my filtering. I figured it looked so simple that I couldn't mess it up. Well as anyone who has tried to filter 80mls through syringe filters knows, that shit was for the birds! I used one of those chalk guns and loaded 20ccs at a time then just slowly squeezed the handle, and what seemed like over 3 hours later I was done.

I have a second hormone to brew for this upcoming cycle. (DHB, a favorite of mine)

I am already looking to switch over to vacuum filtering. I like the idea of setting it up, pumping, then going to sleep and waking up to filtered product.

My favorite source for lab supplies is out of the stericup complete setups. I found another source and it looks like it is either the same brand or very similar. Basically it's a 150cc single use setup. I am going for the 0.22 um, PVDF filters. Please correct me if I am off on any of this.

My main question is do I need to find a specific hand pump for these disposable filters? I know some of these autofil's say to use with their special cradle/stand. Those autofil's are a different brand but being that this is my first time buying vacuum filters I am at a loss. I don't want to have to buy a special stand or cradle if I can avoid it. I have seen pictures online of guys hooking up brake bleeder hand pumps to these filters, is there a specific adapter that I need to buy to make a brake bleeder pump work? When I look a pictures of lab supply hand pumps the tube is just bare but I learned a long time ago that pictures on the internet are not to be trusted.

If you have crossed this bridge before what would you do? Lab supply hand pump for 40 bucks or brake bleeder hand pump from harbor freight?
Second part will that be all I need to filter if I go with these stericup complete disposable filters setups? I have seen paper filters for sale but I assume those are for the re-useable vacuum filters setups.

Keep in mind I am home brewing for myself and not a business venture. So I don't mind if the filtering takes a while I just don't want to have to sit there for hours slowly squeezing a handle if it can be avoided.

Please advise.

PVDF .22 micron filter is a good choice.
Just order or buy a regular brakebleeder, that's all you need. Bottle top setup will filter your gear faster than it takes for you to put on your jammies

I haven't tried the autofil-filters myself, but I read that if your careful with the pressure the plastic media bottle won't crack. Usually the plastic bottles crack.

If you're only brewing for yourself just buy already sterilized equipment. (like those disposable bottle top filters)
You're talking about the buchner setups, it's not worth the hassle, trust me on this.
You'll have to sterilize everything yourself. Even the filter-paper.
I like the fact that you try to keep it simple and not overcomplicate things like most people do.

I don't use a hand pump, I use vacuum pump, so much easier and faster, filtered like in 30 mins or less, here is where I got it on amazon, 36 dollars.

I have to be honest. I thought vacuum pump, sounds good but a brake bleeder is right around the corner and should be less money. After pricing the CHEAPEST brake bleeder I think the cost difference is the cost of shipping, and this was at that national chain of hardware stores known for extremely cheap tools. It rhymes with barber sleight.

Thanks for the heads up, I am going to price shipping and will most likely be going with the vacuum pump.

can you post some amazon links please to the products? Filter, vacuum pump, brake bleader....thanks.

I use this pump from amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F85W81N/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and i use milipore .45 filters , i get them from gpzmedlab but they run out fast, even on amazon, here are two pictures

thanks man, very helpful. I need to find these in the UK now.

arent 0.22 better for filtration though?

PSI you use for filtration?

the vacuum pump is 3-4 psi , and it works wonders.

0.45 micron filters are GTG. It used to be the standard until it was discovered that Brevundimonas diminuta got through the filter. So the standard became 0.2-0.22 micron. Get PVDF-filter.
Get a brakebleeder.

thx said:

0.45 micron filters are GTG. It used to be the standard until it was discovered that Brevundimonas diminuta got through the filter. So the standard became 0.2-0.22 micron. Get PVDF-filter.
Get a brakebleeder.

Click to expand...

Bro I know this post is old but I put a smile on my face to read it because you might be the second person I've ever seen that set a .45um filter is just fine which I 110% agree with.


I also agree with PVDF filters. However they have to be hydrophobic or do you use hydrophilic?

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

Much better filters

Macho313 said:

Bro I know this post is old but I put a smile on my face to read it because you might be the second person I've ever seen that set a .45um filter is just fine which I 110% agree with.


I also agree with PVDF filters. However they have to be hydrophobic or do you use hydrophilic?

Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Second resurrection of old post!!!



These filters ^^^
They suprisingly work VERY nice. For those of you fellas that are using the millipores and nalgenes. These bottletop filters work WAY better. I suggest anyone to use them. They are so much easier to deal with. you will need a vacuum pump and 15mm/hg is easy to achieve with these things. Which equals FAST filtering!!!! They also do quite a bit of volume but not nearly enough to call yourself a UGL or anything. Anyway, you will need a media bottle (glass) but at least there will be no worries of cracking etc like those all in one bottle tops.
Just my 2 cents fellas.

For anyone that clicks on this thread, I am obviously the OP and figured I would share my experience almost a year down the road.

I went with nalgene nylon 0.22 um complete filters. I didn't want nylon but that is what they had. I ended up with the $20 brake bleeder. Worked fine for my two brews where the concentrations were 150 and 250 along with some EO to keep it thin. Turns out I am definitely not fully compatible with EO. So I ended up running a 300 mg concentration test e brew without EO, fuck how long I had to hand pump almost as bad as the syringe filter. I ordered the recommended electric pump. It's great it totally makes it where I can set up my filter in the back room and shut the door so my cat doesn't fucking decided it's noise is a direct challenge to it's dominance. Only I realized the receiving vessel aka the bottle that that catches the filtered product were getting hair line fractures in them. Not big cracks just enough to let in air and slow down the filtering then when it's done the cracks allow the oil to slowly seep out.

I have ordered glass media bottles to use as receiving vessels for my filtration. This also allows me to choose from a wider array of filters because I only need the filter not the entire one go set ups.

Now I am all for idiot proofing anything I am involved with especially something that results in me injecting something into myself but with how everything played out I am okay with the risk of self sterilizing my media bottles to filter into.

Just figured I would chime in for anyone who will read this and use it's contents to help figure out what to do.

Resurrecting this post instead of making a new one: The main concern seems to be not wanting to crack the plastic media bottles. I have glass as well. The problem with a lot of pumps is they don't have a variable control which I would prefer. You can find them yes. It would also help titrate how fast you can filter, or how careful you are.

What is considered "too strong" a pump? Would something like this be appropriate as well?

Amazon.com

This one has variable control and reasonably priced

Amazon.com

Hey I am in touch with a brewer with VASTLY more experience than myself. I use the little black "swift" vacuum pump and it gets the job done. The guy I am in touch with has sent videos showing a pump similar to your first link, the second link was dead by the time I got here. I will message him and ask your questions.

I will say the video he showed me the pump reminded me of the pump I rented from the auto parts store to pull a vacuum on my cars AC system so I could properly fill it and have it work in AZ summer heat. I think at their core the auto parts pump and our pumps for vacuum filtering are the same. Heck a hand brake bleeder works with a vacuum filter so why not an AC system vacuum pump?

Shit I just re looked at the link, it is a refidgerator pump.