Biodiesel Processor Buy or Build?

BUILDING A BIODIESEL PROCESSOR IS EASY! The headlines scream. Let's get this straight right away. Yes, it is possible. (Notice I didn't say "Easy.") Many people have built them themselves, and a lot of people are doing so right now. There is a lot of talk recently about people going to the local dump and scrounging up the various parts and whipping up the processor of their dreams. In fact on my web site below you can find detailed plans to do this very thing. First a word of caution: ANYTHING is easy, if you know what you are doing. These guys are experts. They know what they are doing. They have been working with, and around biodiesel for many years. This isn't to say you can't do it, this is to say be smart about it...and be careful. I'm not trying to talk you out of it, But I am trying to talk some sense. Don't get caught up in the hype. If you have mechanical ability, are able to educate yourself, have the ability to apply that education into action and take proper safety precautions, there is no reason why it can't be done. Before undertaking a project like this you need to be rational about your mechanical abilities. Have you ever done anything like this before? If not, re-think. Buying a kit first, and maybe building your own after maybe the way to go. For many people buying a kit is the way to go. Part with some money and it is delivered to your door. Put it together, buy the ingredients, and you have some biodiesel ready to go. You'll get to understand the biodiesel process first, which is the most important, not the processor. Having said that, this isn't building a nuclear reactor, either. For the most part you are building a simple machine to create a simple chemical reaction. You are going to mix, then blend chemicals into vegetable oil, allow them to settle, then "wash them." I'm simplifying here, of course, but in the end that's about all there is to it. These actions can be accomplished simply. The parts, and processes involved are simple and straight forward. The advantages of building your processor are compelling... The cost: You can always build a processor much cheaper than buying one. You will understand (at least by the time you're done) every aspect of the process. Many of the components can be gotten cheaply, or free. The disadvantages are equally compelling... The time factor. It's going to take you a lot of time of scrounging and tinkering. Real engineers designed the commercial kits, they thought of things you might not. Trial and error. You may have to make and re-make many times before you get it right. There's risk involved. Do it wrong and you're playing with dangerous chemicals and fire. If you are still convinced this is the path you want to take and are looking for a detailed discussion of the project, including diagrams, plans, schematics, and parts list, check out the web site below. David Sieg is the Managing Director of Global Biotechnology Solutions, an American company based in Vietnam. His expertise is in real world application of alternative fuels and technologies for developing countries. He is also the author of the wildly popular http://www.making-biodiesel-at-home.com web site where he shares his knowledge freely to enable anyone to become energy independent.