How to tell if you broke your filter?

[vdubers]

Hi i had my first try at homebrewing today using a .45um whatman filter. However it seemed to really struggle going through the filter at first but after about 1 ml it was a piece of cake and went through really fast id say only around a min for 5ml of test e at 250mg per mil. This just had me worried that i may have broken the filter at the very begining. Is there any sure fire way to tell if its broken by looking at it?
Thanks

 

[MANWHORE]

Maybe you are talking about the time
it takes, to fill up the filter area?

Once the area is filled, then
it will start to flow..
I purge with air BTW

As long as the filter isn't expired/flawed
or the gear very hot, I don't think it's
easy to break one...

I push those suckas very hard sometimes.

Now the bigger ones with the
pumps?... maybe

 

[JC3]

Flow rate is the best way. It makes no sense for it to be hard at first and then easy. As it filters the gear it should be harder and harder to push through, not easier. I would refilter and use a .22 as they catch more contaminants. Another thing to think about is hydraulic pressure. The smaller the syringe, the higher pressure you create with the same hand pressure. Try filtering with a slightly larger syringe to help reduce pressure on the membrane.

 

[vdubers]

Maybe you are talking about the time
it takes, to fill up the filter area?

Once the area is filled, then
it will start to flow..
I purge with air BTW

As long as the filter isn't expired/flawed
or the gear very hot, I don't think it's
easy to break one...

I push those suckas very hard sometimes.

Now the bigger ones with the
pumps?... maybe

Ah cheers i didnt push excessively hard about the same as when injecting i guess. At first it was just dripping when i pushed and then started flowing so i was worried that i broke the membrane since it suddenly started flowing so easily! Guess it could have just been the filter filling up though that would make sense. Thanks

 

[vdubers]

Flow rate is the best way. It makes no sense for it to be hard at first and then easy. As it filters the gear it should be harder and harder to push through, not easier. I would refilter and use a .22 as they catch more contaminants. Another thing to think about is hydraulic pressure. The smaller the syringe, the higher pressure you create with the same hand pressure. Try filtering with a slightly larger syringe to help reduce pressure on the membrane.

I was hoping as manwhore guessed it might have just been the filter filling up? It was just dripping for a bit when pushing then suddenly started flowing. I cant say i found it getting any harder but i did only do 40ml! Should it have still got noticeably harder? That said it didn't get any easier either other than initially. is .22 really necessary? I wish i knew as i had those options but purchased .45 as that was the one the guide i was using mentioned .
Cheers