OK Edward, I've got a bit of time up my sleve. It has become to dry to continue cropping...so to fill you in. I purchased a P0015 lab press from Egon Keller & Co for approx. EURO 5100 which will crush up to 30kg / hour of seed. ( If you want to buy one, tell Ulrich Steven said to look after you!!) I have set my press up on a movable frame, and had planned to set up a gravity feed bin above it, so I could operate my press up to 24 hours a day, but one thing happened. My seed supply dissapeared.I had a few tonnes of seed organised but it fell through. I didn't sow any Canola myself last year, as conditions weren't favourable and we missed our optimum planting window. As it turned out, we had spring rains and most Canola crops yielded well, 2.3 to 3.0 tonne/ha. So to cut a long story short, I have only crushed a few hundred kilos to date. I have more seed becoming available in August, so I hope to get back into it then. I built a 150 litre batch processor from a collection of parts from the farm, local rubbish tip and some new bits & pieces. My oil is crushed into open topped containers, left to stand a week to let the fines drop. The fresh oil is drawn off the top and pumped into the reaction vessel. The BD is washed twice and then cooked and filtered. I have found cold pressed oil processes into good fuel...although..it appears there may be a developing cold pressed oil market. Some of the locals have had a taste of coldpressed oil and love it. Everything on the farm (diesel engines that is) is getting 2-4% BD added to every tankfull of fuel, and to date I have had no probles with filter blockages.I am running a 40% blend in my ute, that I drive around everywhere, and have not had any problems develop. 6000kms and counting. In fact, better cold weather starts and quiter & smoother running. Also, no carbon around tail pipe and clean emmissions. I eventually would like to go to 100% BD,but at this stage it is not possible with the limited quantaties I am producing. I think the idea of eventually growing all your fuel on farm has stirred up a bit of healthy controversy, and I've got a few interested people looking out to see if they can see my vehicles stranded on the road or in the paddocks. (They think making fuel out of vege oil is "bollocks". Just wait till my Vege therm arrives and my ute is running on straight vege oil! That'll really blow 'em away!!) Anyhow, I better go and tidy up the house a bit....the missus decided to go for a holiday with her girlfriend while I'm busy cropping...so I had at least better do the dishes! Cheers Steven
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