Hello Bob >Thanks for your speedy reply. > >What about Biodiesel Solutions, which is endorsed by Joshua Tickell? > > >http://www.biodieselsolutions.com/default.asp
:-/ Now how did I know you were going to say that? I suppose it might have something to do with the fact that Rudi Weidegger (who makes the odious FuelMeister) is good at marketing himself, if at little else, and so is Joshua. Re Joshua, here's part of a previous exchange about this: >>>>My question is, why is Joshua Tickell pimping for Rudi's FuelMeister >>>>joke? What is he getting out of it? >>>> >>>>Chris >>> >>>Good question - harsh word though, pimping. Maybe Joshua doesn't >>>know from processors. Previously he was hailing the Argentinian >>>processors as good news, and that they're not. >> >>You are right that "pimping" is quite harsh, and possibly the wrong word >>to use, > >:-) Others have been harsher. > >>but I have a problem with Joshua Tickell, who for many, seems to >>be the official spokesperson for the grassroots biodiesel movement > >There have been some harsh words about that too. > >>endorsing processor equipment that is way over priced and looks as >>though it could be ineffective at making quality biodiesel. As you >>stated he just might not really know from processors. And, I would >>question, does he care? > >Hm. I'm quite sure that Joshua cares about biodiesel, let's put it that way. > >>With all the processor designs on your web site, possibly a person who >>considers themselves incapable of plumbing together a processor could >>hire someone to do it for them (local plumber?), and still come out way, >>way, way cheaper than any pre-bought system. Yes indeed, much cheaper and much better. This cost about $100: http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor10.html It's WAY superior to any of these allegedly ready-to-use for-sale things. As for Rudi's junk, instead of improving the thing so it might get within spitting distance of doing even a half-assed job, he's now supplying add-ons instead, at a 400% markup, so it now costs $4,300 with an extra tank and a heater, which should be standard, not extra. You could make an excellent processor plus more than 8,000 gallons of high-quality biodiesel for that price. So what exactly is wrong with the thing? Quicker to ask what's right with it - nothing. But, please, do yourself a favour and spend some time reading through this stuff here, previous discussion on the FuelMeister: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/?keywords=fuelmeister&time=6mont hs&usertime=2002-12-31 If that's all a bit much at first you can start with these: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/28752/ Re: Now here's a nice little joke http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/29808/ Re: Off-the-Shelf Processors (When you access the messages, if you hit on "Click here for more on this subject" you get a clickable table of the whole thread.) Nobody here has an axe to grind (except the guy who keeps saying "Why do you have a problem with the FuelMeister?" only it turns out he sells them). We'd all just love to see a good ready-made that did a good job at a reasonable price, but, as I said in the first place, there isn't such a thing, sad to say. So much for the "processor", but it turns out the "process" is as bad or worse - the instructions Rudi sends out with the FuelMeister not only ensure poor quality, they're dangerous: http://forums.biodieselnow.com/post.asp?method=ReplyQuote&REPLY_ID=178 01&TOPIC_ID=2668&FORUM_ID=3 Originally posted by girl Mark >Obviously, the FuelMeister will cost you an extra $3,000-$4,000 for >a reactor made of some really crappy materials, and if you were to >follow their instructons you'd make an inferior product instead of >'biodiesel' (there's no way to make ASTM-grade biodiesel following >their instructions, they've brought back the Dark Ages of methanol >skimping among other things, including suggestions that you should >wear a solvent respirator (there's no such thing for that works >against methanol!!!!!!!!!!) and that you should open the lid of your >reactor and evaporate a bunch of the excess methanol into your >house/garage/work space after the reaction (duh!) oh and there's a >recommendation to sniff your unwashed (ie very much >methanol-containing) biodiesel as a sort of quality test -using your >nose to test for excess methanol). > >Since they're counting on the fact that their customers probably >aren't already homebrewing, and want to buy something without going >through the process of learning it on their own, most of their >customers won't know the hazards or shortcomings of the processes >they're buying... > >by the way there's no filter for methanol that you can buy, and the >fact that the FuelMeister claims that they have one in their reactor >is an absolute travesty. > >Mark And now for the good news? Not yet, more bad news first - you seem to value Joshua's judgment. It's kind of telling that Joshua now endorses Rudi's processor. I got a letter from him explaining why, and I'm afraid it rather confirms the widespread doubts and questions at the time. Well, to each his own... only that's not the case here, both of them claim to be leading the way, but the direction's all wrong. Joshua's book, From the Fryer to the Fuel Tank, is four years out of date and a lot of it's plain wrong anyway. There's been conjecture over where he got his information from, and some good guesses, but whatever, it's drawn from a very narrow knowledge base, and omits all the work and new findings of the last four years, which have seen tremendous developments in small-scale biodiesel technology. And safety. You're much better off here and at Journey to Forever, though I say it myself (we run Journey to Forever). I don't mind saying it myself: the biodiesel information at Journey to Forever is up-to-date, it's not just our own work (though there's a lot of that), it's also a compilation and distillation of the work, discoveries, investigations and discussions of thousands of people on this list over the last four years, and of work done elsewhere. Using those resources as your foundation, this list for guidance, and its huge archives for further reference, you really can't go wrong. Please see this previous message about Joshua: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/BIOFUEL/31729/ I must say I'm getting more than a little fed up with these guys who not only jump on the biodiesel bandwagon but try to hijack it for the own benefit and aggrandizement. Yeah, Chris and others I've chided for being perhaps a little harsh, I apologise, I take it all back. A self-promoter pimping for a charlatan would seem to be about right. They're a waste of time, and worse. There are those who feel Joshua held back the homebrew biodiesel movement for years, Rudi's doing the same, and now they're in it together. I won't argue with that. So, now, finally, the good news? Sure... You don't need the likes of Rudi and Joshua and their iffy offerings. You've come to the right place, you'll find everything you need right here, willingly given, free of charge, good information, good advice, and help and assistance from experienced biodieselers when you need it. But you're not a mechanic (plumber, engineer, chemist, handy person), you can't build your own processor? One of the most important aspects of DIY biofuels is that it's a very empowering thing to discover that you don't have to be Exxon-Mobil to make your own fuel, and not only that, yours is better than theirs. Same with building a processor - if you try, you might just surprise yourself, and wouldn't that'd be a GREAT feeling? Our modern societies have been grievously deskilled, we're not nearly as capable or competent as our grandfathers were. Or so we think, until we try. There are plenty of people here who'll be happy to help you, you won't be the first. (We're not engineers either, we're journalists - if we can do it, so can you.) Best wishes Keith >Thank you! > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Keith Addison > To: biofuel@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2004 10:01 PM > Subject: Re: [biofuel] Best Processer > > > >Hello Bob, welcome > > > >There isn't such a thing, none of them is recommended - check the > >list archives. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Yahoo! Domains - Claim yours for only $14.70 http://us.click.yahoo.com/Z1wmxD/DREIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
