From one of my posts over at greasecar.com
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I'm getting the hang of this!!!!!!!!!!!
So far this has been a great adventure and I feel that I need to write up some of my experiences.
To clarify things - I don't have my Greasecar Kit yet - But I am trying to get a little ahead of the game regarding collecting and pre-filtering WVO.
I've been more of a reader than a poster - feeling that up till now I did not have much to share. Thanks go out to cgoodwin, justgreasenofries, phil, indagrease, and many others for their wonderful posts.
Collecting WVO - I got lucky!!!! My local pizza shop uses 100% Soybean oil - changed about every 5 days - and puts the WVO into the cubies for me. Great for transportation - no dumpster diving - and I promised to mention the pizza shop on the car, and in the news, once the car is converted. I get between 15 - 20 gallons per week - clean - no grungies - I get to leave those behind. Currently the 87 MB 300SDL uses about 20 gallons every two weeks - so we're getting ahead of the game.
Pre-filtering - Day 1 - What a joke!!!!!! OK, So I empty the cubies into a 5 gallon container the has a valve spigot on it. Set this container up on my workbench. Below it on the floor is another 5 gallon container with a big funnel stuck in the top. I then used spring clips to hold multiple layers of cheesecloth in the funnel and started the 'Drizzle" process. Let's just say the this took ALOT of time and I was able to filter 20 gallons in 4 days. It's not as bad as it sounds - basically one batch per evening.
Back to the Internet - There's got to be a better way - And there was.
Pre-filtering - Round 2 - Can you say 20 gallons in 20 minutes!!!!!!!!
This time I used the following setup. This requires (3) 5 gallon pails, window screen, cheesecloth, 2x4's, and some modifications. First - Cut the entire bottom out of one of the pails(this will be the top pail). Then take the second pail and drill a 3" hole in the bottom center. Now - here comes the tricky part - shaping the bottom into a gentle cone. Here's what I did.... (I've got a photo if needed) I ran a large bolt with a washer on it through the narrow opening of a funnel, with the washer on the inside of the funnel and the treads sticking out. I then inserted the funnel into the second pail - large part of funnel on the inside of the pail - narrow portion sticking out the bottom. Now invert this combination and hang everything, using extra nuts, ty-raps, wire, etc.. from a location like a doorframe. The pail is inverted, and the funnel is holding it in place. From the wire handle of the pail - which is now hanging towards the floor, hang a bucket of water. This will create a constant downforce to the inverted pail. Now - fire up a propane torch and HEAT the bottom of the inverted pail. Over time - the bottom of the inverted pail will start to take shape.........
What I used for a pre-filter media is as follows. Between the pail with no bottom and the cone shaped pail - I sandwich 3 layes of window screen, each layer rotated about 30 degrees, then a double layer of cheesecloth, and the the last layer of window screen. What I do is take the pail with no bottom, turn it upside down, lay on the 3 layers of screen, then the cheesecloth and last layer of screen - THEN press on the cone shape pail. One big filter funnel........... I set these on top of another (3rd) pail supported by 2x4's. Pour in the WVO - watch it run through the filter into the bottom pail - and then take the bottom pail over the the settling tank. Quick and simple.
I am using the elevated 55 gallon plastic drum with 2 'Through Hull' connections and valves for my settling tank. I have 5 more barrels ready and waiting for bulk storage. And I to must get this process ready to relocate into the basement for winter - Did I mention I am in Central New York!!!! I think winter starts next weekend =8^)
As of last night I have my first full 55 gallon drum which will now settle for at least a week.
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Some photos are available at
www.qsl.net/wa2fdu/wvo
Stephen