Newbie caught the bug

[staphoent]

Hi and welcome.

My advice to you is, go to your local spots stop and invest in a good pair of running shoes,
put them on your feet observing that you have right and left in the correct configuration.
Then, and only then, run like hell, run as far as you can away from anything slightly bio/veg related.

Bio is a drug, worse than heroin, it'll consume your entire life, destroy any friendships you have, leave all of your clothes with irremovable stains, your car will slowly but surely self destruct starting with wiper blades then moving on to just about every other part, apart from the parts that get covered in veg/bio (and this will be most of it) as they will never ever rust as once it's on there satin himself cannot get it off.

Hilarious! I couldn't stop laughing!

[staphoent]

Welcome to the forum, you'll enjoy it here. If you can find somebody not too far from you who is already brewing, try to spend a few hours with them (I think you have to take a packet of biscuits) as a live demonstration is invaluable.

Thanks, that was going to be my next question, Is there any way to search a list of members on this forum in order to get in contact with people in the North Cornwall/ North Devon area?

[Julian]

In a 100 ltr tank the biggest batch you'll do is 60 - 70 ltrs.  Think in terms of oil + expansion + methoxide + ullage space.

Experience shows you get far quicker complete processing if you use a large pump, say circa twice the oil volume/min.

Again from experience, the Leo pumps seem to be overrated, producing far less volume than stated.

Monos are no good as a processing pump.  Way too low capacity and far too gentle with what it's pumping, but well worth having for moving stuff around if you can find a cheap one.

[Julian]

Welcome to the forum, you'll enjoy it here. If you can find somebody not too far from you who is already brewing, try to spend a few hours with them (I think you have to take a packet of biscuits) as a live demonstration is invaluable.

Thanks, that was going to be my next question, Is there any way to search a list of members on this forum in order to get in contact with people in the North Cornwall/ North Devon area?

Go to members, search members, check only "search by location" type in the area you're looking for, town or county etc and you should get a list.

Probably posting your request on the forum will be good enough, there are several experienced brewers in your part of the world.

[Tony]

Welcome to biopowered staphoent

There is no rehab from biodiesel, are you sure you want to do this?

Glad to hear you're studying theology, we all have a tenuous relationship with the veg oil god - sometimes good, sometimes bad, but mostly very sticky.

[Jamesrl]

Here's a cheap pump, I've just had one delivered and it's identical to a Leo xkm60.



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151112-Centrifugal-Peripheral-1-2-HP-Water-Pump-For-Home-Pond-Garden-Farm-Tank-/291045806976?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PondsWaterFeatures_UK&hash=item43c3ae9380

[Tony]

That's a bargain, well found Jim

[oakwoodtv]

That pump has a plastic impeller do not know how long it will last with hot bio.

[Jamesrl]

I'll have it apart tomorrow then and see if a brass one fits.

[Glycer-rides]

I will shortly have a Calpeda 40 lpm pump available, pretty cheap.
It's a bit like a TAM / Leo but nicer build quality / easier to strip when blocked / better port orientation, too.

I'm upgrading to a Calpeda 70 lpm, is why.

[therecklessengineer]

I'm near Langport and will give a demonstration in return for chocolate biscuits. That said, I'm currently in Christchurch, Nz.

My advice on the pump would be to get the biggest you can... Or be prepared to use an eductor. IIt'll make the reaction so much easier.

[Tony]

I'm currently in Christchurch, Nz.

You jammy jammy b*******, I'm trying not to be envious

[staphoent]

In a 100 ltr tank the biggest batch you'll do is 60 - 70 ltrs.  Think in terms of oil + expansion + methoxide + ullage space.

Experience shows you get far quicker complete processing if you use a large pump, say circa twice the oil volume/min.

Again from experience, the Leo pumps seem to be overrated, producing far less volume than stated.

Monos are no good as a processing pump.  Way too low capacity and far too gentle with what it's pumping, but well worth having for moving stuff around if you can find a cheap one.

Right, that makes sense. Ok thanks for the information, ill keep that in mind

Welcome to the forum, you'll enjoy it here. If you can find somebody not too far from you who is already brewing, try to spend a few hours with them (I think you have to take a packet of biscuits) as a live demonstration is invaluable.

Thanks, that was going to be my next question, Is there any way to search a list of members on this forum in order to get in contact with people in the North Cornwall/ North Devon area?

Go to members, search members, check only "search by location" type in the area you're looking for, town or county etc and you should get a list.

Probably posting your request on the forum will be good enough, there are several experienced brewers in your part of the world.

Ok thanks ill do that now

[staphoent]

Welcome to biopowered staphoent

There is no rehab from biodiesel, are you sure you want to do this?

Glad to hear you're studying theology, we all have a tenuous relationship with the veg oil god - sometimes good, sometimes bad, but mostly very sticky.

Haha, well if I had some control over this urge to create biodiesel, given the warnings I would probably opt out. Seeing as I am unable, I will have to let the bug carry me as it leads ha.

[staphoent]

I will shortly have a Calpeda 40 lpm pump available, pretty cheap.
It's a bit like a TAM / Leo but nicer build quality / easier to strip when blocked / better port orientation, too.

I'm upgrading to a Calpeda 70 lpm, is why.

Ok thanks Glycer-rides, I would appreciate that, please let me know when its free.