There was a thread a few months ago about a DIY version of the $300 stand that spins as you clean your cartridge filters. There have been a few other posts prior about alternatives using old office chair bases, and other items. I had promised to note about my attempts, when the time to clean came. That was today.
My filters are over 3 ft tall, and bending over to spray was a back killer for me. So the scheme:
Get a 5 way furniture pvc tee. Available on Amazon. Done.
Get 3 5 ft pieces of pvc pipe. Cut two in half, and use as horizontal legs in the tee, to prevent tip overs. Done
Use the last section as the vertical. Done.
Get a 10" cheap lazy susan. Amazon (or Wal-Mart). Done.
I bought 1" pipe, as it seemed a bit sturdier than smaller diameter.
Using a 1 3/8 bit, drill a hole in the bottom center of a spare 5 gal bucket (used a leftover from my 3" tab days). Done.
Using the same bit, drill out the center of the lazy susan. Done.
- first minor flaw: The LS top/bottom was held together at the center, so I destroyed the connection. Now had 3 parts with big holes in them- bottom, ball bearing assembly, and the top.
Slip the bucket upside down over the upright post. Done.
Slip the now separate LS parts over the upright. Yes! it kept them all in alignment, and it spun freely. Whew!
Put the filter on the upright, to rest on the LS.
- Major flaw: The filter had an internal bracing piece of plastic that would not allow the filter to go down to sit on the LS.
- It did have a hole, but too small for the 1" pipe. At this time, unsure if 3/4" pipe would fit.
Cut down the vertical, so the filter would rest on the LS.
So, it did spin, and I proceeded to clean all 4 filters. I did have to hold the top of the filter so it wouldn't tip from the force of the water.
Major objective achieved - back pain saved, and easy to turn as I sprayed.
Secondary objective failed - had to hold the filter as I sprayed, so I still got pretty wet.
While I could make the filter spin with the force of the water, like the ads for the Cyclone show, there was no point to have it turning at 40,000 rpm.
Maybe next fall, I'll figure out a reduced diameter vertical, so I can thread the filter on to it.
But more likely, I'll just get a new whole lazy susan, put it on an inverted bucket, and be done with it all. I doubt there is really any way to avoid getting one self wet in the process.
My filters are over 3 ft tall, and bending over to spray was a back killer for me. So the scheme:
Get a 5 way furniture pvc tee. Available on Amazon. Done.
Get 3 5 ft pieces of pvc pipe. Cut two in half, and use as horizontal legs in the tee, to prevent tip overs. Done
Use the last section as the vertical. Done.
Get a 10" cheap lazy susan. Amazon (or Wal-Mart). Done.
I bought 1" pipe, as it seemed a bit sturdier than smaller diameter.
Using a 1 3/8 bit, drill a hole in the bottom center of a spare 5 gal bucket (used a leftover from my 3" tab days). Done.
Using the same bit, drill out the center of the lazy susan. Done.
- first minor flaw: The LS top/bottom was held together at the center, so I destroyed the connection. Now had 3 parts with big holes in them- bottom, ball bearing assembly, and the top.
Slip the bucket upside down over the upright post. Done.
Slip the now separate LS parts over the upright. Yes! it kept them all in alignment, and it spun freely. Whew!
Put the filter on the upright, to rest on the LS.
- Major flaw: The filter had an internal bracing piece of plastic that would not allow the filter to go down to sit on the LS.
- It did have a hole, but too small for the 1" pipe. At this time, unsure if 3/4" pipe would fit.
Cut down the vertical, so the filter would rest on the LS.
So, it did spin, and I proceeded to clean all 4 filters. I did have to hold the top of the filter so it wouldn't tip from the force of the water.
Major objective achieved - back pain saved, and easy to turn as I sprayed.
Secondary objective failed - had to hold the filter as I sprayed, so I still got pretty wet.
While I could make the filter spin with the force of the water, like the ads for the Cyclone show, there was no point to have it turning at 40,000 rpm.
Maybe next fall, I'll figure out a reduced diameter vertical, so I can thread the filter on to it.
But more likely, I'll just get a new whole lazy susan, put it on an inverted bucket, and be done with it all. I doubt there is really any way to avoid getting one self wet in the process.
