Like I said, the guy's a little bit wacky, but he is out there doing the work, making the effort. I admire that.
No one solution really completely addresses the water processing problems found in today's world. As far as I can tell, a combination of mechanical/chemical filtration, boiling and distillation is what's needed.
The mechanical/chemical filtration, your Sawyer device being an excellent one, takes care of most of the biological issues, but NOT down to the virus levels. And there are some chemicals that carbon filters, or combination carbon/bentonite filters will not remove. These are short-term solutions that need to be replaced from time to time. For camping, that really isn't a problem.
Boiling will kill the virus, when other methods fail.
Distillation will remove salts. I don't think the above filters will do that. And it can be done in conjunction with the boiling. Kind of a "two-fer-one" deal.
As for the fuel expenditure, if I really need to use water found along the way, then I'll use fuel found along the way to boil the water. No need to carry fuel from home, or it's weight in water.
His use of the condenser coil vertically makes sense, lay it on it's side and water collects in the coils on the down side. Cooling the coil like he does makes sense to me, the coil is where the majority of the surface area is that needs cooling. That's why its coiled in the first place.
Exactly how his "improved" version really helps, I'm not so sure. If it in fact does, I kind of doubt that its enough of a difference to make it worth the effort. He did say in the comments section of YouTube something about the extra parts in the improved version keeping the condenser coils cleaner. (?) Maybe some added protection from a boil over? (Don't know.)
I can see where people who don't have a lot of saltwater around might not want to bother with a still. But for those of us who are practically surrounded by the stuff, it makes good sense. Not sure if there is any place in Florida where you are more than 35 to 40 miles from saltwater.
And if anyone should wonder, yes, you CAN "over-purify" water. So a "perfect" system isn't really something you want. I think I'll make an "imperfect" version of the one this guy build. Probably very close to the one in his first video.
And come to think of it, I do believe I read of a still made using a lard can was the hero of at least one little episode in the reading I've done on the Gladesmen Culture. In Glen Simmons' book, I think. And it was for producing drinkable water from the brackish stuff, too.
Mike S.
Spring Hill, FL
