In a previous post that I cannot seem to find now girl mark said
something to the effect of "collecting wvo is a time consuming and
expensive part of making biodiesel" for her group.

It does not have to be.

I use a simple and cheap "oil sucker" which uses a salvaged (free)
refrigerator compressor to create a vacuum (25") in a salvaged
(free) water pressure tank. These tanks are commonly available in
sizes from 5 to 120 gallons and are easily capable of safely
withstanding the pressures involved.

In the top of the tank I have a needle valve ($3) screwd into the
port provided for a schreader valve. I use 20' of 1/8" poly line
($1.20) to connect the compressor to the tank..which I load into my
pickup bed or small trailer on collection days..and store in the
corner of my garage the rest of the time.

In the bottom of the tank I connect a 20' section of cheap flexible
hose ($10) to a brass ball valve ($4) via a few nylon barbed
fittings ($4). On the other side of the ball valve I have 6' of
clear flexible poly hose ($2) so I can see if I am drawing crud or
clear wvo from the dumpster. This allows me to skim the best wvo off
the top of the wvo in the collection container...and leave the rest
to settle more. Eventually I have to suck the accumulated crud out
fo these tanks using the same unit and dispose of it...but those
making biodiesel may find it ok to simply use even this dirty bottom
crud.

When I arrive at my wvo source I slip the cleap clear pipe into the
wvo and barely open the ball valve allowing me to determine if the
end of the "suck" tube is sitting above the layer of crud. Then I
secure it with a simple clamp and open the valve all the way. At a
rate of about 4 gal per minute the wvo is sucked into the evactuated
tank and quickly fills it to within a few inches of the top before
the rate of flow decreases noticably. I have a cup of coffee, talk
to the owner/manager/cooks, or read a book while the tank is filling
sicne there is no pump to damage when/if the pipe sucks air. When I
was collecting for a co-op I had several units in the truck so I
could pull from several collections tanks at once and speed my day
along.

Usually these wvo collection tanks are 55 gallon drums I
provide...since most restaraunts with grease hauling service
have "exclusivity" agreements with the haulers. Once the wvo is in a
grease haulers dumpster it is often their property and even the
restaraunt owner cannot "give permission" to take it.

Once the tank is full I simply drive home and connect the
compressors "pressure" side to the tank, slip the "suck" hose into
my holding tank, and open the ball valve. Soon the tank pressurizes
and the wvo flows out of it even faster than it was sucked in.

This is a simple and cheap manner to collect wvo without pumps or
lifting. Sicne I have a "corporate" policy of sharing much of the
fruit of my R&D for free I would be happy to elaborate more on
the "system" or even provide pics and diagrams if there is interest.

Let me know if you want more info.
danalinscott@...