Brew Bio-Fuel

[Dustier]

I've been reading things about the continuing explosion in the price of fuel and was reminded of a 60 Minutes segment years ago where a couple farmers were brewing their own fuel.

Their still looked pretty simple, a barrel with a fire under it. I'm sure there was more to it, but that's my memory. The segment made making your own bio-fuel look easy and the farmers were delighted that their fuel burned cleaner and ran their equipment better. It was a win-win for their pocket books and the environment.

They brewed their fuel from corn and other crops that were left over from harvest. It looked pretty simple and made me envious. The 2 guys couldn't imagine how fateful their notoriety was about to become, as they sipped their brew throughout the episode from a couple mason jars.

The only downside was in an "update" by 60 Minutes some time after the original airing - the federal government sent agents to shut down their still or their farm would be impounded for illegally making hooch.

Anyway, my reading about how to make bio-fuel gives farmers a real leg-up on beating the oil cartel out of a few bucks. Anybody making their own clean bio-fuel?

 

[sldva00]

I used to when I had an oil supply. Since I don't farm, never looked into making biofuel from corn or crops.


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/owning-operating/231921-make-your-oil-diesel.html#post2678887

 

[Diamondpilot]

I took a class here in Indiana and really thought about it. There is no free lunch so to speak and long and short of it for me and my neighbor was there was no money savings in the long run at $4 per gallon. They are not stupid. Keep gas and diesel priced where there is no viable competition. :thumbsup:

Chris

 

[Dustier]

Diamondpilot, you pretty much confirmed my suspicions on the cost factor. The whole point of making our own fuel, diesel or gas-a-hol is to defray the rising cost at the pump.

I've looked into mechanisms designed for distilling a brew that would produce a non-polluting end product, but the materials to cook are creeping up with every notch gas goes up. It's really looking as though price increases are a consequence of the falling value of the dollar.

 

[Marveltone]

I took a class here in Indiana and really thought about it. There is no free lunch so to speak and long and short of it for me and my neighbor was there was no money savings in the long run at $4 per gallon. They are not stupid. Keep gas and diesel priced where there is no viable competition. :thumbsup:

Chris

You said a mouth-full there. It's all about control. With my farm right on the border, I don't even dare try brewing my own fuel. Between the drones, planes and choppers, I'd be shut down instantly.

Joe

 

[V1Rotate]

What about making biodiesel? I know a guy who makes his own and claims that it is much cheaper than buying fuel at the pump. BTW, he gets his waste cooking oil for free.

 

[creekbend]

I thought this might be of some interest. Small-scale Biodiesel Production and Use