Biopowered - vegetable oil and biodiesel forum

General => Chatter => Topic started by: therecklessengineer on March 27, 2015, 04:29:54 PM

Title: I'm done.
Post by: therecklessengineer on March 27, 2015, 04:29:54 PM
It's been coming for a while, but yesterday I ran out of chemicals. This will signal the end of biodiesel making for me. There are multiple reasons, probably the largest one being that I plan to move to a warmer country in the not too distant future - so as part of the preparations I have to stop making bio.

It's been fun (sometimes), messy and educational. I've still got a few hundred litres of stockpiled bio that I intend to use up, and then the plant will be up for sale.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Dickjotec on March 27, 2015, 04:54:15 PM
How does it feel? Relief, joy, sadness, grief?
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: therecklessengineer on March 27, 2015, 05:11:26 PM
Pretty indifferent really.

It's also got to the point that it's a lot of hassle. The plant remains at my parents house, some 100 miles away and while I've been making the stuff when visiting it seems like an obligation rather than enjoying the visit. Another reason why I'm stopping.

So overall, I'd say relief bordering on indifference.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Julian on March 27, 2015, 05:22:45 PM
Oh that's a shock!

Know what you mean about it feeling like an obligation, but I just keep thinking of the money I don't have to earn to buy dion.

What's your hot country of choice?
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: kamaangir on March 27, 2015, 05:47:06 PM
I have had the same issue as you, I was having to pay for premises to do veg/bio in. I also hurt my back lifting 60l drums. Too much mess and not enough time. Still I can always do svo if the going gets tough. It gets to be a chore rather than a hobby after a while.

 If I did have space I would put together a plant. Buy a years worth of oil and chemicals and do loads of batches over a couple of weekends and dismantle the plant and that would be it till next year, but alas......
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: therecklessengineer on March 27, 2015, 08:13:16 PM
Oh that's a shock!

Know what you mean about it feeling like an obligation, but I just keep thinking of the money I don't have to earn to buy dion.

What's your hot country of choice?

Probably Aus or NZ. Most likely the latter I think.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Head Womble on March 27, 2015, 08:47:59 PM
I'm sure there are many of us that feel the same,
what started off as an interesting yet quercky hobby has slowly turned into a chore.
My oil collections have been dropping off one by one, the only new ones that come up are semi solids and I'm just not willing to mess around like that any more.

My mileage has dropped off but I still fall short so visit the pumps, something that made me shudder some time ago.

Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: greasemonkey on March 27, 2015, 09:00:50 PM
Go for it. I wouldn't let Bio keep me here if Aus was on the cards.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Glycer-rides on March 27, 2015, 09:18:49 PM
Hmm, growing trend? I last made bio in September.

Two house moves in 3 months, basic man cave without power, and most of my spare time I'm ferrying the kids about or babysitting.
My expanding Merc. collection hasn't helped.
Then I lost my main oil collection.

I'll get back into it.
Been blending wvo/derv/mis. recently and it's a step backwards for me.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: K.H on March 27, 2015, 09:50:04 PM
I dont really find it a chore, its more like sleepwalking now, settled on a method and i stick to it, its only when i experiment that it goes tits up
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Head Womble on March 27, 2015, 10:32:21 PM
Not having my plant at home doesn't help.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: nigelb on March 27, 2015, 10:34:24 PM
I only found it a chore when my plant was much smaller. Been there..got past it..
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: K.H on March 27, 2015, 10:37:44 PM
Not having my plant at home doesn't help.
Yep, if it wasn't at home i wouldn't find the time
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Head Womble on March 27, 2015, 10:42:16 PM
Not having my plant at home doesn't help.
Yep, if it wasn't at home i wouldn't find the time

That's my problem, I get a couple of hours after work but that only gets one stage done each visit, and in the winter you can't get it up to temp in that time.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: julesandtash on March 28, 2015, 07:50:27 AM
I dont really find it a chore, its more like sleepwalking now, settled on a method and i stick to it, its only when i experiment that it goes tits up

I thought that was because you got your wife  to do it for you  :)
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: therecklessengineer on March 28, 2015, 08:52:03 AM
Not having my plant at home doesn't help.
Yep, if it wasn't at home i wouldn't find the time

That's my problem, I get a couple of hours after work but that only gets one stage done each visit, and in the winter you can't get it up to temp in that time.

Perhaps then I could sell you a bio fired boiler that I've been using for heat? 30 mins to reaction temp.
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: photoman290 on March 28, 2015, 01:58:33 PM
I dont really find it a chore, its more like sleepwalking now, settled on a method and i stick to it, its only when i experiment that it goes tits up

I thought that was because you got your wife  to do it for you  :)

now theres an idea.....get someone else to do it for you :D
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: K.H on March 28, 2015, 02:07:23 PM
Yeah, right, shes just from the Julian school of filtering, ask Nige :)
Title: Re: I'm done.
Post by: Julian on March 28, 2015, 02:57:18 PM
Yeah, right, shes just from the Julian school of filtering, ask Nige :)

Always thought she was a smart cookie (not withstanding her choice of partner).