$30 WMO filtering

[paulfarber]

My oil is clean, from my own cars... and I really don't have a lot of it (maybe 10 gallons saved up).

So I bought three sock filters (50,10,1 micron) and two 5 gallon buckets (bought new so would not have to worry about cleaning them).

Pics are self explanatory. The socks hole about 2 gallons and take about 5 minutes to drain.

I have made 1 change, the bottom bucket that the oil drains into is an 18 quart blue cleaning bucket from the dollar store. I used that because the 5 gallon bucket does not have a spout... and the top bucket fits in much better.

Total so far was $21 for the 3 socks and $8 for the buckets.

The MDF is to catch spills (its pretty absorbent).

 

[tco3129]

where did you get the sock filters ?

 

[scoutmanadam]

Nice, cheap, and easy setup. i started using sock filters too, i also throw a few rare earth magnets in the first two, probably not necessary, just for piece of mind. it does help the first sock to last longer though as the metal shavings are a pain to get out of them when cleaning.

 

[paulfarber]

where did you get the sock filters ?

Bag Filters / Sock Filters / Water Sock Filters / WVO Filters / Oil Filters / SVO Filters - 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 Micron - Utah Biodiesel Supply

If you get more than one the shopping cart will add $6 shipping per filter.. email them and they will send out all the filters under one shipping charge. I paid $8 shipping for 3 filters.

They are standard type filters. Google sock filter and find someone close.

I don't plan on cleaning them.. when the filters clog (take to long to drain) I'll just buy new ones. I write down how many gallons I've put through them (8 so far) and once I hit 100 gallons (in a year or two) I'll toss them.

I don't know if I would trust cleaning them... how hard is it to rip a > 1 micron hole in a poly bag?

 

[Hank.]

If you choose the (5) 7" x 16" Poly Felt Bag Filter option you can then choose a Multi-Pack option of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 micron for $17.50 + $9 shipping. Not bad!

 

[Jimma]

Next time check dudadiesel in Alabama. Find them on the web. Thier prices on sock / bag filters are very good and they have many, many sizes and micron ratings.

 

[hedgehog69]

Waiting for my shipment from dudadiesel on ebay....I ordered some of the bucket filters as well as sock filters. I plan to use high micron bucket screens/filters first. I will cut a hole into the top of a 55 gal barrel and 'hang' my sock filters into the top of the barrel.

 

[paulfarber]

I just cleaned out my buckets and looked in the filters.. they are doing their job... there is about 1/2 inch of tar like goo in the filter bags.. seems I may have had some sludge in the my catch bucket.

I have 3 55 gallon barrels of oil to pick up tomorrow... with any luck they will be water free (i hope). Other than settling (which can take time) my only other option is heat.

Water heater elements are cheap enough.. but I don't know of any that actually boil water... or is that controlled by the thermostat???

I've got a mix of 5 gallons filtered oil and 15 gallons of diesel in my tank now... its definitely black but seems to run fine... no diff in smoke or power.

 

[Chief_919]

I just cleaned out my buckets and looked in the filters.. they are doing their job... there is about 1/2 inch of tar like goo in the filter bags.. seems I may have had some sludge in the my catch bucket.

I have 3 55 gallon barrels of oil to pick up tomorrow... with any luck they will be water free (i hope). Other than settling (which can take time) my only other option is heat.

Water heater elements are cheap enough.. but I don't know of any that actually boil water... or is that controlled by the thermostat???

I've got a mix of 5 gallons filtered oil and 15 gallons of diesel in my tank now... its definitely black but seems to run fine... no diff in smoke or power.

I have been selling M-67 immersion heaters like hotcakes lately for folks using them to boil the water off WMO and WVO. Other than them I don't know of a way to get that much that hot aside from Wreckermans method of wood heating.

There is a guy on Youtube with a whole series of videos dewtering WVO with one. Pretty neat.

 

[paulfarber]

I thought of immersion heaters.. I see them at WWII Events but they are very hands on devices.

I am going to keep looking for an electrical element and thermostat.... the barrel blankets are to much $$$ and I know that someone has to have done this before.

 

[paulfarber]

The craigslist ads paid off. $40 for 150 gallons of oil (or an oil like substance... 3 barrels) and I still have more to get. They had hydraulic oil in 5 gallon jugs... I only wanted the barreled stuff for my first outing.

I have about 4 SOLID leads for WMO in PA and MD. If anyone wants the emails PM me. I offered $0.50/gal negotiable and one place has 5-7 55 gallon drums of the stuff... and has access to more. I figure I am buying the barrel and getting the oil for free.

I know people are getting it for free.... but for the first time I would rather get the oil and get my setup complete than knock on every garage I can find..... next batch I will try that.

 

[cbvet]

I still don't understand going to all the trouble of heating the WMO.
I've filtered several hundred gallons without heating (or thinning) it first.

 

[Chief_919]

I still don't understand going to all the trouble of heating the WMO.
I've filtered several hundred gallons without heating (or thinning) it first.

Biggest advantage is getting it hot enough to boil the water off.

 

[cbvet]

Okay, I understand the need to eliminate the water. And I have no doubt that boiling the water off works well.
But I still think just pumping the oil through a water separator is faster, easier & cheaper.

 

[Chief_919]

Okay, I understand the need to eliminate the water. And I have no doubt that boiling the water off works well.
But I still think just pumping the oil through a water separator is faster, easier & cheaper.

If you are doing low volume, water seperator may be cheaper. When you are doing volume heat will cost far less than replacing water block filters.

 

[paulfarber]

How do you tell when a water separator is 'full'? Most of the water filters I have seen are solid with no indicators.

Oil can get wicked hot before it will burn... so other than having a huge turkey fryer it seems safe from a blow you up and kill you point of view. Plus the extra complexity of plumbing, pumps etc seems to offset the relative ease of simply putting some heating elements in oil.

If you find an old water heater (or get one cheap) that seems like 4/5ths the battle right there. Most can go to 150F+ and a little tinkering with the thermostat will get you an insulated vessel, plumbed for in/out and holds 50-80 gallons.

 

[Hank.]

The easiest way I have of dewatering WMO is to heat the oil to 150 F and let it sit for 10-12 hours. After that open the drain on the very bottom of the barrel and let the water pour out through a clear hose. As soon as the stream turns completely black you are done. Just to be on the safe side you can let the drum sit a little while longer after the first dewatering exercise and try cracking the valve open again to see what comes out the bottom. There could be a few small pockets of water that take time to migrate from one side of the barrel bottom to where the drain valve is located.

Total cost for the electricity is $1.44 (1200 watt heater x 12 hours / 1000 watts per kilowatt x $0.10 per kilowatt hour). That equates to a cost of $0.02 per gallon. If I change my sock filters every 100 gallons ($26.50 for 5 filters) that becomes: $26.50 / 2 = $13.25 per batch. Total cost to process one 55 gallon drum = $13.25 + $1.44 = $14.69. That's $0.27 per gallon if the WMO is free. Much better than $4.00/gal.