I had started a thread about this last week and it appears to have been deleted?!? If it was moderated for some reason, please let me know. Anyways.....


I've been doing a lot of reading and asking a lot of questions of the good folks around here and am now ready to set up a small Bio-Diesel production operation. Nothing large, mind you, just a small 35 or 50 gallon-per-batch setup. Should be able to produce enough to keep a couple of trucks supplied with all the fuel they'll need by putting in a few hours a month worth of effort.

Trouble is, although I now understand how to make it, and can afford the investment to buy the equipment, I don't have any place to set it up. So, I'm looking for a partner. You supply the space, I'll supply the equipment, and we can split the cost of supplies and the waste oil gathering duties.

Only "catch" is you have to be close by enough that it isn't too much of a hassle for me to swing by to drop off a load of WVO, brew a batch, or get a fill-up of our finished product. I live in Kent Washington and work in South Seattle.


Anybody around here in the South Seattle, Kent, Fife, Milton, Tukwila, area who would be interested in fuel for around $.75 a gallon?


Send me a PM if you're interested....

 

Well, thought I'd bring this thread back to life after what happened today....

For the last couple of months I've been filling up on B20 at the CFN about a mile from my office. The B20 has been running anywhere from $.03 to $.20 a gallon less than diesel at the other stations in the area. Add about another nickel a gallon worth of savings for the DieselKleen that I DON'T have to add to the B20 and I've been saving up to a quarter per gallon on fuel by buying the B20 at this particular location. Now $.25 a gallon may not sound like much but on a 30 gallon fill up, about 3 times every 2 weeks it adds up to around $575 a year! Not exactly chump change....

Well, today I went and filled up again and right there on the credit-card reader is a sign that says
"We regret to inform all our loyal customers that this location will be closing March 31st. We are attempting to find another location in the local area to relocate our station. Sorry for the inconvenience."

DAMN! My truck runs really great on their B20 and my wallet likes the savings too! From what I've been able to find there isn't another station selling B20 anywhere in my area - without my driving 15-20 miles out of my way to get it - which would totally wipe out any savings on fuel costs.

So, I'm still looking for someone in the local area who has space to set up a bio processor and who wants to partner with me on producing fuel for our trucks......

 

I don't mean to rain on your parade but what you are thinking of doing is stupid and foolish.
1. Taking a partner in any business is dumb and reduces the chances for success by a whopping 80% or more.

2. If you partner with someone and set up equipment with them on thier property, they can lock you out any time they get mad at you. You will loose all your investment and there really isnt much you'll be able to do about it.

3. Set up your own biodiesel processor.. start real small, work your way up. Rent a storage unit or something.. You can go ahead and even rent a garage or whatever from someone.. that's ok.. but if you make them a partner, you'll fail.

Just general business advice.

 

Man CJ,

Sounds like something I would love to get envolved with, just live a great distance away from you.

I wonder why that station closed? Was it by chance affiliated with Citco. The company is based in Venezuala, their president & ours have been having a go around. I know that starting the same date, I will no longer be able to use my Citco charge for gas.

So much for a free country with free choices!

 

The decision on accepting your charge card for gas was not made in this country.
Look way south as in across the equator for the culprit.

 

Dude, you really must not realize how you come across. No wonder you seem to get into so many dustups with people.

First off, I'm neither stupid OR foolish. Second off this isn't a business proposition - more like a co-op. I'm not talking about selling bio - just producing enough for a couple of trucks - mine and the other person who "parners" with me. Lastly, I'm not naive enough to do this with a stranger without drafting a contract explicitly spelling out the terms - including terms of dissolution should it come to that.

Sorry to be so rude, Murphy, but you need to stop and think about how what you are saying is going to sound to the person you're addressing - instead of just jumping in with both feet (in your mouth). Telling people they are stupid and foolish is NOT the way to win friends and influence people.

If that's the best you can do, for my part, you can just keep it to yourself....

 

In Ohio, it was done at the State level!

 

Well, I don't know that CFN (which I believe stands for Consolidated Fuel Network) is affiliated with Citi-corp or any other major producer/supplier. I have the impression that they are organized more like a buying co-op and buy their fuel from whomever offers the best price at a given point in time. I believe Pacific Pride does the same thing. But that is speculation on my part.

I was thinking that the reason for their closure is more likely due to issues with the property where they are located. It is prime light-industrial real estate just south of downtown Seattle on the corner of Airport Way and Lander - two major streets. Based on the fact that they are trying to find somewhere in the area to relocate and reopen for business, I was thinking it is more likely that their lease is expired and the owner wants to jack their rent up higher than what they are willing/able to afford.

Either that or the environmental regulations say it's time to replace their underground tanks and its just too cost prohibitive to do so. But again, these are just my theories. All I know is that it really SUX loosing my convenient source of B20! Now I have to go back to adding DieselKleen to every tank of ultra low sulfur dino juice I buy. Here's hoping that CFN can reopen the station somewhere in the immediate vicinity......

 

Yup.. I'm working on that.. I can tell you its a "typing" thing and I don't come across the same in person.

I said what you are thinking of doing is stupid and foolish.. Not you..

I was thinking of going bungie jumping on one of those pay-to-jump places.. I decided to do some research on it and found that I don't want to put my life into someone else's hands who may not maintaine that rubber-band correctly..

Thinking about jumping on their platform was stupid and foolish. (just one of the many stupid and foolish things I've thought about)

I did not say you are stupid and foolish by any means but I can understand how you could get offended.

Like I said, I"m not like that in person.. Typing is very different.

In my own defense, I don't have the time or patience to cuddle every person I respond too on the internet. Emotionally sensitive folks should probably stay away from me! LOL

My intentions are always to help in any way I can. Sometimes that advice, or the way it's delivered, isnt so easy to swallow when I'm typing away.

Trust me, nothing I type is personal and I don't take anything anyone else says personally either.. (unless they are standing right in front of me)

Didnt mean to offend you but experience has shown me that partners are a very bad idea.

Hope this clears a few things up.

Sincerely,
Murphy
(the loud mouth jerk trying to help)

 

OK Murph we're good. I've been known to develop a bad case of hoof-in-mouth disease myself from time to time. Kinda' the opposite of you though. I usually step in it when I'm talking to someone rather than when I'm typing. Typing I can take the time to re-read what I've "said" and revise it if I think the other person may take it the wrong way. Unfortunately it isn't possible to do that when speaking....