Possible replacement top for Essencia carbon cartridge

[Anavrin]

Hi Guys

I've been trying to remove the spider from the top of my carbon filter, mine had loads of glue and took quite a while as I was trying not to damage it, it got me thinking if there was an alternative top in case I broke the original, then I had a eureka moment!

The top looked to be the same size (ignoring the hole in the middle) as an 8 cup Bodum cafetier filter, some pics






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This ones off my cafetier but you can buy replacements off eBay for a few quid, they're stainless and the correct size, just need to make a bigger centre hole without wrecking one.

[Almanac]

Actually, you can leave off the top spider altogether once you've got it out. It only serves to keep the carbon in if the cartridge is dry and being moved about where the carbon could fall out. In ordinary use the carbon is sealed in by the sealing ring

I just know someone is going to try to jump all over me about this

AM

[Anavrin]

I agree you don't really need the top, it was the first time I refilled one so have no previous experience, the only benifet I can see is the top will help prevent "channeling" where the liquid makes a channel through the carbon, reducing the performance of the filter.

[John51]

Different sized carbon filters for the 'new and improved' Essencia filter coming to a HBS near you.

Seriously, you guys making the Essencia, yes I know you'll be reading this, how about you start doing right by your customers instead of trying to squeeze out every penny? You're leaving yourself wide open to an Essencia clone that lets the customer change the carbon easily and has a manufacturers carbon refill pack. Don't be expecting much in the way of customer loyalty when that happens as you've shown precious little loyalty to us.

[Almanac]

The Maguire brothers ain't goin to like this but here's a BIG FAT +1 from me.

AM

[Almanac]

....the only benifet I can see is the top will help prevent "channeling" where the liquid makes a channel through the carbon, reducing the performance of the filter.

I've never had that prob possibly because I pre-soak my refilled cartridge by filling up the cartridge to the rim with warm water and keep topping it up until saturated and leave it to soak for 24 hours before allowing to drip-drain for an hour before refitting to the filter body.

AM

[Anavrin]

I should have took a picture at the time but I remember to size of the carbon granuals I replaced looked much larger than the new 0.4-0.85 carbon I filled it with, so im hopeing it will now be even better than before, maybe slower but thats the price you pay for purity.

[Almanac]

Gert Strand's book on using activated carbon recommends 0.4-0.85 size as most appropriate for use with ethanol. That's what I refill my Essencia with too

AM