My tank is pressurized so I push the oil through a spin-on automotive filter on its way to the burner. Before that, when I was just using gravity and a siphon nozzle with compressed air, I poured it through a plastic/canvas reusable shopping bag into a bucket. What kind of setup are you using?
@Petee716 thanks, I had been mostly using diesel for melting iron, but have started to use WMO just lately, so that was why I was asking. So far I used a 5 gallon bucket sawed into two open ended sections and then the narrower one fitted into the larger. stretching a single layer of old teeshirt over the opening. I saw that one in a YouTube video, and tried it. Unfortunately it collapsed once and was generally pretty messy. Also clogged with the water and gunk in one of the donor WMO pails. So I was hoping to see some better setups here. One of my problems is probably that I don't yet have a larger tank than 5 gallon pails and fuel containers. Where did you get the automotive spin filter top part? I've also recently seen someone use a household water filter and a gear pump attached to a small electric motor to do the filtering and transfer. I actually have a water filter and gear pump I could use for that.
It can easily get messy! I don’t have any idea where that filter housing came from. Junkyard, yard sale, tractor mechanic. I’m certain that I didn’t buy it new. The best way to clean your oil is by controlling the source. These days I only get my oil from my (and others’) routine oil changes. The friend or neighbor who has a bucket of accumulated waste oil laying around out behind the garage has dumped all manner of crap in there. My experience with used hydraulic oil is that it often has an abundance of water in it too. My last large supply came from my local auto mechanic. I took a 20gallon drum to him and he filled it up with routine oil changes in a few days. Not too heavy. I used a gear pump to transfer it into my “hot water heater”. Incidentally, I found that the water heater works perfectly for my needs. I didn’t have to dismantle it at all other than removing the anode rod and broken controller/gas valve. I could have waited to get my hands on a small one, but I was on a mission so it took the 50 gal model. It’s a gas model, obviously not hooked up! It has exactly the number of holes needed for pressure in (hot side), oil out (cold side), filling, and pressure relief valve. Also a sight tube. One of the great advantages is that it has a drain valve at the bottom so I can tap off most of any settled water before use. (And my kids can easily empty it after I’m dead lol). It’s in a permanent location against a wall inside the barn and I run the oil line and compressed air through the wall out to my casting area on the other side. A smaller tank would have all of the same features but at least it would be portable. Pete
Thanks Pete, that's great information! I already have more 5 gal pails of "gift" oil than I will probably use in a year. I guess I'll decant as much good top layers of the stuff as I can, and bring the remainder to the hazard recycler facility here. Also, When I think about it, my 5 gallon modified propane tank of filtered furnace feed oil takes up as much floor space as a 100 pound tall one. The only advantage in a small feed tank is it can be moved. But I realized that, wherever I move it to, it's still taking up that much floor space. For me, sheltered floor space is at a premium. I have a small workshop shed, about 10x12' and a lean-to roof addition it, about 6x12 for casting. Which I seem to keep filling up with containers of sand, oil, metals, old vacuum cleaners and other "treasures". I'm in the process right now of changing my ways. Of just deciding to get rid of things, organize get some space back, and have a workable space. I don't have a paved drive or pad, everything is hill and earth here, so level covered working space is precious. I have a 100 pound scrapped propane tank, so, maybe it's time to use that.
I don't filter it. I just pour it through a large, fine-screen, kitchen strainer. But I don't have any nozzles to push the oil through. I use gravity-fed oil burners that drip the oil from a 1/8 inch iron pipe with a blast of air from a shop-vac behind it. Very simple, but it does require a pre-heat with propane. Richard
