Abstract: A thin and narrow sheet, having an inlet edge and an outlet edge, is formed on one surface, e.g., the top, with a continuous land that is parallel to the inlet edge. The inlet side of the land is coplanar with the inlet edge of the sheet or, alternatively, disposed slightly inwardly relative thereto. Inwardly behind the land the same surface of the sheet is formed with a plurality of channels defined between adjacent pairs of finger lands each of which extends between the outlet edge of the sheet and the inside of the continuous land. On its opposite side the sheet is formed with a like plurality of transverse lands that form fluid passages extending across the full width of the sheet from the inlet to the outlet edges thereof. The bottom surface lands register with the finger lands of the top surface of the sheet. A congruent stack of the sheets is compressively loaded through the lands to define a rigid filter column.