Hi guys,

I got the biodiesel bug when I saw 'This bus runs on BioDiesel' written on the side of a bus a few weeks ago (forget where this was). I went home and Google'd it up to find out what this magical BioDiesel was and I found this forum and discovered folks were making it themselves!

I then decided this was something I wanted to tinker with (I have an oil furnace) so I've decided I want to build a processor. I've read and read and decided on my design, but here is my question (I know, hurry up already) :-) :

Should I secure a WVO source before going through the effort and expense of building a processor, or take a 'Field of Dreams' approach? (Build it, and they will come!)

If I get my WVO source before I build, I'm worried about having a ton of oil building up while I'm building my processor. Frankly, I'm inclined to build it, and then start the quest for WVO.

On the other hand, I went to Autozone today to get a small bottle of the Heet stuff (Methanol) so I could make a Dr. Pepper batch. All sold out. They had 5 bottles each of everything else in stock, but out of the yellow Heet bottles. (Which tells me there are quite a few local biodieselers, as it is the middle of Springtime, and I cannot see Autozone typically selling out of gas-line antifreeze, this being the case) So, in this case, it would seem like I may have a hard time finding a steady source of WVO if many local folks are getting set up.

So.. thoughts? Am I overthinking this? Build it, and it will come..er.. flow? Ahhhhhh!

Happy Mother's Day folks..

tf.

For trial sized batches .. (1 liter) really to start you want new (virgin) oil. That takes a lot of the variables out till you can consistantly make a trial batch.

Then if you have the storage room start trying to secure WVO sources. Those are getting hard to come by and then work on building a processor. Without the oil sources a processor is a big paperweight. A processor doesnt take a long time to build, (just a long time to complete because you will always be tinkering with it to make improvements to suit your needs)

My 2 cents worth.

Trc

Might help if you state what part of the country you are from.
I can tell you around here you gotta hustle to get an oil source. Lots of people starting to jump on the wagon.
But. Do not let that stop you, just means you gotta put a little more effort into finding the WVO than say, 6 months ago.
Rick H...

While I take great strides to avoid the place, Walmart also sells the yellow "Heet" dry gas and this time of year will look to lower their inventory ... not much call for it in the summer month I guess. I used to make 0.5L batches using "Heet" ... really convenient when in a pinch for MeOH doing demos, ect.

I agree with RickH - I'd secure your waste oil sources first; make sure you run some test batches on it to ensure it is something you can and are willing to work with. Fast food chains like to use oil that is high in tallows and while no more difficult to process, my experience indicates tallow based oils do act differently when it comes to gel points and degree of conversion.

While you're looking for an oil source you might want to consider lining up your other supply lines for MeOH and NaOH (or other base). Not much reason to go beyond this point if you discover MeOH is going to cost $15-20/gallon unless there is a savings (diesel just hit $4.50 here in NC, MeOH is roughly 25% of processing costs).

Rickh -- Western Massachusetts (I think my profile reflects this, I dunno) Any ideas?

I don't have a 55 gallon storage drum to house a bunch of waste vegetable oil -- I guess I need to just go ask around and see what restaurant owners say. Ideally, I'd find a place that would pour their WVO back into the little 5-gal cubes and let me take those as-is.

Is that sort of practice common?

Thx again,

tf.

quote:

Ideally, I'd find a place that would pour their WVO back into the little 5-gal cubes and let me take those as-is.
Is that sort of practice common?

That's how I get my oil. It's the best way. The restaurants I collect from want me to have the oil because they like that I'm recycling it. I always have lunch there when I pick up oil, and leave a generous tip. Develop that sort of working relationship and you'll always have a supply. It's not exactly 'free' but nothing worthwhile is free anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by TylerMA:
Rickh -- Western Massachusetts (I think my profile reflects this, I dunno) Any ideas?

I don't have a 55 gallon storage drum to house a bunch of waste vegetable oil -- I guess I need to just go ask around and see what restaurant owners say. Ideally, I'd find a place that would pour their WVO back into the little 5-gal cubes and let me take those as-is.

Is that sort of practice common?

Thx again,

tf.

Some reuse the cubies and some don't. Just gotta be ready for the don'ts and have a barrel with a nice steel closing funnel and maybe even Locking.
I would hate to see you pass up a "Good" source because you can not do barrels. Theres another consideration though, loading 450# barrels of WVO. Gotta truck with a receiver hitch? Harbor freight 12 volt receiver hitch mounted lift platform. 200 bucks on sale.
Mine are; 2 use barrel, one uses the cubies.
Rick H...

Well, I can get barrels for $20 each so I'm not against leaving a barrel somewhere if it gives me a constant source. I would stop by periodically and pump off the top two-thirds.

The situation I don't want to be in is where I have an angry restaurant owner with a full 55gal drum at his restaurant (of mine) and I have nowhere to store the oil, nor can I process it as my processor isn't completed.

Also, I only have an oil furnace in my home -- Do not own any diesel vehicles yet, but could I 'stockpile' bio in 55 gal drums for the day that I do?

Thx

quote:

Well, I can get barrels for $20 each so I'm not against leaving a barrel somewhere if it gives me a constant source. I would stop by periodically and pump off the top two-thirds.

So will a lot of other folks, happily pumping of the top of 'your' barrel.

Yea, I'd need to fabricate something similar to what I saw in another thread. Had an ammo-box with a piece of hardware-cloth welded to the top of a drum. Seemed like a good idea.

Time to learn how to weld.

Just find some places that are willing to give you oil only when you need it... That's what I did.

If you have an oil source you need to look after them. If they can give you oil in cubies, that's great. Then you can spend that $20 and get a drum for storage.10 or so very full cubies go into a drum.
Finding an outlet for finished biodiesel isn't much of a problem. Know any farmers ? They all have tractors and many are diesel. A food-for-fuel arrangement is beneficial to both of you. Just a thought.

Excellent idea Legal.. Quite a few farmers here I could barter some fuel with if I have excess.

I will have to start asking around, thx again!

tf.

Those farmers are also a good source for poly barrels, if you've the need.

quote:

Originally posted by TylerMA:
Yea, I'd need to fabricate something similar to what I saw in another thread. Had an ammo-box with a piece of hardware-cloth welded to the top of a drum. Seemed like a good idea.

Time to learn how to weld.

You could go this route --- got to have a sucker the right size to get it out. My collection barrel always closes; no rain water gets inside it.

I'm a newbie here, too, and I'm doing a lot of reading/researching (especially on this board) before I make any moves.

I don't know if this is of any assistance, but I know that some places, like Montgomery County in Maryland, the county runs a free WVO exchange. It's pretty nifty.

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/dpwt/solidwaste/veggie-oil-exchange/

Maybe you could look for something like this around where you live?