The many varieties of seeds and nuts can produce oils for food, nutraceuticals, skin care products, aromatherapies, biodiesel fuels, and industrial lubricants. This publication profiles the evolution of a cold-pressing and consulting business in the U.S. It also describes the basic processes involved in oil processing: seed cleaning, extraction, clarification, packaging, and storage. Sources for more information and equipment are included.
- Oilseed Processing for Small-Scale Producers (Source: attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/oilseed.html)
Welcome to the wonderful world of Biodiesel. It is a fun and rewarding hobby in which you can make your own fuel to run in diesel engines.
Biodiesel is most commonly made by chemically altering an organic oil through the use of a catalyst and an alcohol, typically Methanol. The chemical reaction that occurs through this process breaks down the oil molecules and replaces the glycerine portion of the molecule with an alcohol molecule. The glycerine falls to the bottom and is drained off resulting in Biodiesel.
The Biodiesel is then typically washed, to remove any extra impurities and is then used as a fuel in a diesel engine without making any modifications to the engine.
Biodiesel is known chemically as a 'fatty acid methyl ester'. Which is just a fancy way of saying it's a product made from Methanol and an organic oil with fatty acid chains in it. It is easily made and has many benefits, including environmentally friendlier tailpipe emissions and improved engine performance.
- Collaborative Biodiesal Tutorial (Source: http://www.biodieselcommunity.org/)
The Sunflower Seed Huller and Oil Press
-- from Organic Gardening, April 1979, Rodale Press
IN 2,500 SQUARE FEET, a family of four can grow each year enough sunflower seed to produce three gallons of homemade vegetable oil suitable for salads or cooking and 20 pounds of nutritious, dehulled seed -- with enough broken seeds left over to feed a winter's worth of birds.
- Making Your Own Oil Press (Source: journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/oilpress.html)
Band mills are very popular and lead in portable mill sales. Here is what Sawmill Exchange suggests are the choices and price ranges on popular band mills:
* Manual: The least expensive. They have no labor-saving hydraulic features which increases the amount of work you must do. New models with a trailer package generally cost between $4,000.00 and $9,000.00 (see Log Miser )
* Power Feed: The blade is mechanically powered into the cut, but you must load and turn the logs manually. New models with a trailer package generally cost between $9,000.00 to $14,000.00
* Fully Hydraulic: This category of portable sawmills features the most labor-saving devices that minimize the workload and maximize production. The more expensive models normally have larger power units and other accessories designed for higher daily production. New models with a trailer package generally cost between $16,000.00 and $32,000.00. (see Wood-Mizer )
- Purchasing a portable saw mill (Source: forestry.about.com/cs/portamills/a/port_mill_buy.htm)