Homemade well screen ?

[bcarwell]

Can somebody point me to plans for or tell me how to build a homemade filter for the suction hose of a pump for a sprinkler system ? Note that I am not talking about a strainer you see on the suction hose side of a trash pump. I apparently need a finer filter for my "big gun" (and expensive) irrigation sprinkler head (running about 60-70 psi, 60 GPM) and my hi pressure Northern Tools pump. Although I'm presently using well water, the plastic tank I'm drawing out of has a little funk floating in it, and eventually I'll be filling the tank from river water (and also using the normal strainer). Commercial "well screen" is too expensive at seven bucks or so a foot. I think the screen mesh is supposed to be around 0.035 inches. I think you can kludge one together with a four foot or so length of 3" pvc with holes or slits in it wrapped with the screen and then enclosed in a four foot length of 4" pvc capped at both ends with an input nozzle at one end and an output nozzled at the other end connected to the inside of the 3 inch piece. But I don't know any details or other ways to do it. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Bob

 

[Egon]

Put in a cistern alongside the river.

That may help clean up the water.

 

[J_J]

After cutting slits or holes in the smaller PVC pipe, wrap the smaller PVC pipe several times and secure with hose clamps. Insert in the large tube.

 

[BHD]

there is a company that is selling a air tool with a slotting blade, (can get thought nearly any type of machinist supply), (note: for informational purpose only, not a recommendation or endorsement of the site or product)
Drill A Water Well In Your Backyard!

I have read of some people using a hack saw, to cut slots in PVC pipe to make a screen system,

this site has some info on figureing GMP on the number of slots one would need and so on,
http://www.welldrilling.com/Slotted-Screen.htm

another method, like used on well points is to drill holes in a pipe and wrap with Stainless steel screen, of the mesh you desire,

 

[2manyrocks]

How small or large are the slots supposed to be? One method of making drain pipe out of solid pipe is to cut slots perpendicular to the pipe with a miter saw.

 

[tommu56]

try a 2" well point

At the fire house we use a floating dock strainer that floats 2-3" below the surface and off the mung (that is the technical term) on the bottom.