Using 2.5pm mask filters to clear IPA?
I was wondering if anyone had considered using 2.5pm mask filters to clear the resin residue out of IPA. These filters are very cheap, now that the pandemic is over. I already saw a filter based on a face mask, but that one has a curvature to it, while the panels of the 2.5pm mask filters are flat.
Is this a viable idea?
RE: Using 2.5pm mask filters to clear IPA?
I have a feeling that the filters won't be cheaper than buying a 20l canister of IPA. 🙂
RE:
Where I live, €7 to €10 per 1 litre bottle is about the going rate for IPA. If you buy larger quantities than 1 litre, you have to pay a a fair bit extra for the specialised shipping and in most cases you have to register your intent. Also, most businesses won't sell that kind of quantities to consumers. If you can find someone who will, you'd spend about €200 for the 25 litre canister if you include shipping (25 litres is a more common size here)
The 2.5pm filters are €20 per box of 100, so assuming a use of 5 per filter setup, you'd spend about €1 for a filter. Add a cost of €3 for printing the mount once per 10 filters or so, and you'd get to around €1,30 per filter session. Given the 2,5 litre content of the CW1S bin, even if you take a 10% absorption rate, adding about €1,75 to the total, the filters, I think the filter will win by a long shot.
RE: Using 2.5pm mask filters to clear IPA?
OK, I had assumed that the IPA supply situation for you would be the same as for me (I'm living in Germany) - 10 liters go for 40 € here and I can buy the stuff on Amazon in any quantity I like. Your situation is obviously totally different, and the recycling plan makes a lot of sense in that case. 🙂
RE: Using 2.5pm mask filters to clear IPA?
Ok, maybe i need to look into getting it in Germany, but the last time I checked, all EU members states have ADR regulations. AFAIK over 1l, these rules start demanding certain precautions. If ADR precautions apply, this means a lot of extra precautions and this also means that transport is expensive. If you're getting it transported to you that cheap, chances are that the seller is breaking the rules. Also, no declaration of usage intent? Seems weird. Here in the Netherlands I see that everywhere for containers of 5L and up.
RE: Using 2.5pm mask filters to clear IPA?
Such regulations exist in Germany as well, but not for IPA. Actually, I recently bought this exact product from Amazon, and there's a million more of these products when you search for "Isopropanol" on amazon.de: https://www.amazon.de/Liter-Reinigungsalkohol-Isopropanol-2-Propanol-Isopropylalkohol/dp/B08VGCP1T8/
RE:
Yes, you're right. For Germans the world is different. You have a wider array of things you can buy and for lower prices as well! But as soon as it crosses the border, companies will start saying no, which is exactly what is the case with the product you linked. No shipping outside of Germany. Even freight forwarders like LogoiX won't touch this stuff. (and using LogoiX would add to the cost)
So I guess I'm stuck to Dutch suppliers.
Also, even with the cost of IPA being ~€4,50/L, you would benefit from using a filter to extend the life of the IPA a bit. The filter only costs €1.10 a session for a four spoke design. I'm working on one. The Prusa filters are really expensive in comparison, at €8,49 a pop. The only remaining question for me is what the effect of activated carbon is on the IPA. I am also considering vacuum cleaner bags as an alternative. But at around €2 - €3 that would be more expensive.
RE: Using 2.5pm mask filters to clear IPA?
As I said - this makes sense given your circumstances. 🙂