Date:         Wed, 8 Sep 2004 21:38:53 -0600
Reply-To:     Parker Beeson <parker@COREADDICTS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Parker Beeson <parker@COREADDICTS.COM>
Subject:      Rube Goldberg in-line water filter success!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

First of all thanks to those that emailed me with links for water
filter ideas. Being the typical impatient US citizen I am I HAD to have
a solution TODAY! :-)

So I went to the local Ace Hardware and bought an under sink filter for
$35 (link here):

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?
productId=1275776&cp=1254880.1255003.1260951&parentPage=family

Deciding that I might as well make a day of it I opted for a lot of new
3/8" tubing and replaced the whole lot of it (glad I did, yuck!), which
I might add is painfully difficult to do by yourself. Thankfully some
sturdy dental floss attached to the old hose came to the rescue and I
was able to self thread all the new hosing back where it should be.

After several hours of learning the ins and outs of my new Westy's
water system I turned on the new system only to have water spray out of
both attachment points of the new filter... of course. The Rube
Goldberg in me took over and thanks to copious amounts of silicon
sealant the system now works leak free... for now. The water pump seems
a little more strained naturally, but I'm hoping it will wait at least
a week or two before burning out. Flow is good, water is sweet!

Anyway, a .5 micron filter that takes care of cyst, crypto, giardia,
sediment, chlorine, asbestos(!!) bla bla etc etc. Works for me and the
13+ gallons of drinking water are going to be oh so refreshing after a
long, hot day of hiking heaps of vert and coring thermals on my
paraglider.

http://www.coreaddicts.com/westyfilter.jpg

Happy to answer questions if anyone wants. Total cost was about $90
including the new hosing and two burly filters. Not too shabby really.

Parker
'89 Westfalia "Name Pending"