What do you filter into and how do you cap?

[GearTripper]

for those that filter... what are you filtering into and how do you cap it off? does everyone have a crimper or are you using some other method. do you filter a whole batch or shot by shot basis?

[Stonecold54]

Re: What do you filter into and how do you cap?

Originally posted by GearTripper
for those that filter... what are you filtering into and how do you cap it off? does everyone have a crimper or are you using some other method. do you filter a whole batch or shot by shot basis?

I just filter into another sealed sterile vial. simple enough.

[GearTripper]

how do you filter through the stopper?

[Stonecold54]

Originally posted by GearTripper
how do you filter through the stopper?

attacha 20 gauge needle to the filter and push it through the stopper.

[GearTripper]

okie dokie.

[spidey]

FILTERING INSTRUCTIONS:

First a word on "sterile" vials: I have found that most research companies that offer sterile vials sterilize their vials by soaking in BA followed by heating to 270 deg F. This is good enough for most bacteria but some that form spores (staph) may be able to withstand that treatment. The only reliable methods for sterilizing vials 100% are either gamma irradiation or autoclaving. I am currently looking for companies that use either of these methods to sterilize vials but haven't found any yet. I plan to test how hot I can heat vials without melting the rubber stoppers at some point but in the meantime, I recommend heating your empty vials to 300 deg for at least 30 minutes as an added safety measure. If someone uses higher temps without melting the stopper, please let me know.

OK, now for the filtering instructions:

1) draw up oil to be filtered in a large syringe. The needle used here doesn't have to be sterile.

2) Replace the needle with a 0.2 micron sterile filter (it should say "sterile" on the wrapper). The filter goes fits on the end of the syringe and a needle (I use an 18 ga) goes on the other end of the filter. This needle DOES need to be sterile.

3) Swab the stopper of the sterile vial you are filtering into with alcohol; insert an extra (sterile) needle in the stopper to relieve pressure.

4) Insert the filter needle through the stopper and proceed to filter.

5) When filtering more solution than will fit in one syringe, you can just unscrew the filter from the syringe, leaving the filter and needle still inserted in the stopper. Put the original needle on (the one you have already used to pull up the first syringe full) and pull up another syringe full.

6) Again, take off the needle and screw the syringe barrel back on to the filter still sticking in the vial stopper and proceed to filter.

I have filtered as much as 200mL through a single filter but then, my initial oil solutions had no visible precipitate in them at all to begin with. When filtering brews made from cow pellets, it would be a good idea to prefilter the mixture with a 0.45 micron or even a 0.8 micron filter to get out dust and large particulates that will stop up the fine 0.2 micron filter quickly.

To insure you are getting all of your precious gear out of the filter, save out 3 mL pure oil and run that through the filter at the end to flush it out. In other words, mix your gear, BA, BB in with your oil minus 3 mL. Filter the mixture first and then filter the oil you saved out. The end volume will still be what you calculated but you have flushed all the gear out of the filter. If you are prefiltering, save out 6 mL and flush each filter with 3 mL.

Be sure not to touch any of the needles being used with your fingers and remember to swab the stopper with alcohol before penetrating it with a needle.

[Stonecold54]

Yeah I find that even though a filter seems to be slowing after 50-100 mls of filtering I think it is more my hand getting tired of the constant pressure. LOL

[Liftheavy]

when you are filtering: Go to home Depot and buy a caulking gun then find a friend that has some welding skills and have them fabricate a litle stand/Tripod for the caulking gun use a set screw on the side of the gun to make height adjustments for different vials and set it and forget it. then you can filter the gear with ease and all it takes is one or two cliks and about twenty bucks well worth the investment

[spidey]

Originally posted by Liftheavy
when you are filtering: Go to home Depot and buy a caulking gun then find a friend that has some welding skills and have them fabricate a litle stand/Tripod for the caulking gun use a set screw on the side of the gun to make height adjustments for different vials and set it and forget it. then you can filter the gear with ease and all it takes is one or two cliks and about twenty bucks well worth the investment

That is a really good idea. :)