Anyone ever use it? I saw it on Trucks on Spike TV. It looks like it is simple to use. It cost 4K USD, which might be a bit steep, but it seems like there would be less start up frustration as all the components and instructions are there. I thought it looked pretty cool, anyone heard of it or used it?

yes, it's crap. Not to mention overpriced. Basically there are a LOT of problems with that design and it can't make quality biodiesel. they have a huge marketing budget and a pyramid scheme sort of sales approach (ie newbies who have never made biodiesel become 'dealers' and dispense bad advice), so you hear about it a lot and Trucks was one of these examples. It's also not automated or anything despite some of their misleading advertising (one $15 Home Depot timer is all it's got).

here's a long thread about it:
http://www.forums.biodieselnow.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6791

Some folks offering better systems:

http://www.b100supply.com
http://www.utahbiodieselsupply.com
http://www.biodieselwarehouse.com

and http://www.biodieselgear.com (though he hand-builds these and they take a while- better components to some extent than FM, though he still uses plastic tanks which are dangerous for handling large amounts of flammables)

You pretty much need to learn a couple of basic plumbing skills to make biodiesel because things leak, people change their minds about how to set up a unit in their shop space, etc. Assembling a processor can take a couple of hours and very little know-how , so building one shouldn't be a big barrier to anyone (I"ve watched a group of people who didn't build their own system trying to fix a plastic tank leak with silicone caulk from the outside- just because they didn't build it originally and therefore know how plumbing worked)

here's a site with instructions on making biodiesel:

http://www.biodieselcommunity.org

Mark

Looks cool and they probably paid for that entire episode out of their advertizing budget but.... GirlMark is right about the plastic tanks, flamable liquids, and such. The tanks and stands are available from US Plastics for $400 USD, they build their own manifold from some fiber reinforced plastic, gate valves can be ordered from Northern Tool and so can the 1/2hp pump. The timers, outdoor aluminum box, wiring, 20a single pole switch, nylon reinforced tubing, PVC for the drain tube, fittings, and strainer cage at the end of it can all be bought at Home Depot or Lowes.

Another down side of the Fuelmeister is it doesn't have any provisions for heating the oil. Which is why I'm using a water heater.

Then there is the whole washing the fuel in the same tank you use as the reactor. I didn't like that too much.

BTW I added up all the componets that Freedom Fuel America has with their kit and came up with only $950+- $$$ for shipping various items if they were not in stock at the time. That included a full blown Titration kit and supplies for 100 tests. So I don't get where they get the $4000 price tag.

Barracuda