Ripper406

Trying to make Bio Diesel but cannot find Methanol or Lye, I know lye comes in storm drain cleaners, but is that 100% lye? Also I cant find methanol anywhere, How much is it per gallon and how easy is it to get ahold of it. Thanks for the help.

Dr. Evil

It might be hard to get ahold of some of the things you are mentioning - sounds like some of the ingredients used for making methamphetamine....

Ripper406

Ahahaha, no, Need methanol and Lye to convert the veggie oil or cooking oil to Bio Diesel.

argve

You should be able to get lye down at your local hardware store (ACE and the like) not home depot or lowes.

Meth can be obtained at any race car shop or gas distrib. Also you can if you just want to do a test batch and don't want to go hunting for one of the afore mentioned places you can get it at your local hobby store but be forewarned that your hobby store will charge you an arm/leg for it. In the hobby shops they use it for powering the airplanes and such.

infidel

Red Devil brand drain cleaner is pure lye, most any hardware store.

Lightman

Ripper - join and post here. http://biodiesel.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=cfrm&s=447609751 I'm sure they will have an answer, maybe even someone in your area willing to go in on a 55gal drum of meth.

Mechanos

I had the same problem when sourcing stuff here. Sure I could buy 18oz containers of Red Devil lye at the store, but it's not cost effective. I could also buy HEET (gas dryer) from the auto store, it's methanol, but again.... buying that by the truckload isn't cost effective. I called chemical supplier after chemical supplier and none of them would sell to the public.

I finally found a "repackager" that buys from the big guys in bulk, breaks down into smaller quantities, and resells to the public and small businesses. They wanted $165 + $25 deposit for a 55 gallon drum of methanol and $45 for a 50 lb bag of NaOH (aka: caustic soda, lye). I kept at it and found a speed shop that sells the methanol for $2.50/gallon or $100 + $15 deposit for a 55 gallon drum.

I picked up my phenolphthalein, 99% isopropyl alcohol, a jewelers scale and some misc. glassware at a local toy & science store. I just finished drying my first test batch and my reactor is under construction.

Lightman

It also would be helpful to call local biodiesel distributors/refineries. They may be able to help you out with some supplies or point you in the right direction.

Mcmopar

What kind of glassware do you use?

NORM

make sure you "wash" your product or the methanol left in there will kill your seals.

Mechanos

Various sizes of beakers and a graduated cylinder. These are primarily used for measuring out small quantities of material used to make up the solutions for, and titration of the WVO sample.

NORM

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_processor4.html

a friends system.

Mcmopar

If you know what you need I can probably get it for you. Possibly the Methanol, but I need to know the grade.

1ST CUMNZ

I'am very interested also,talked to a guy about it,the meth any hardware store and same with the lye.This guy suggested do a few DR. PEPPER batches.Dr Pepper is a one litre batches with new oil,just to get the hang of it.Then after that try used oil and slightly bigger batches.Have fun,hoped this helped

zulusafari

I get my methanol in 55 Gal. Drums from a performance race car shop. The Lye is Sodium Hydroxide. I get 50 lb. bags from a local chemical supply house. I have a business name I use and can pick it up right from them. Be warned about carrying the beads -- it is considered a hazardous material! I use the 2 stage process and get my Sulfuric acid from them as well, by the 15 gallon carboy. The Chemical company is Harcross Chemicals. Do a search and find a distributer near you. The only other option I have seen is to have the products shipped in, but unless you buy enough to cover the hazardous materials delivery charge, it is very expensive. Soap Supply companies are also a possible source for high quality NaOH.