krzysiek_ck
Champion Author
Illinois
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Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 8:25:11 AM
FarmTech wrote: "The Wholesalers have tremendous expenses in keeping the water out of highly corrosive, extremely flammable ethanol."
Is it water that is corrosive or ethanol? How about gasoline?
FarmTech wrote: "Plus, those states and wholesalers -- along with the Feds -- are subsidizing it to the max."
Can you list Federal Ethanol subsidies? You claim they exist, list them.
[Edited by: krzysiek_ck at 3/13/2013 8:25:41 AM EST]
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FarmTech
Champion Author
Virginia
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Message Posted: Mar 13, 2013 12:31:26 AM
It is not feasible. Just the raw materials and keeping a fairly good SMALL SCALE (i.e. Home Version) still, with the distillate NOT so clean as you would want the shine for human consumption, puts the shine at over $3.00 a gallon. Then you have to deal with fact that alcohol is HYGROSCOPIC by nature. Hygroscopic means that it actually pulls the water vapor -- humidity -- out of the atmosphere as the alcohol itself evaporates. So now you have water contamination to deal with in BOTH making the shine and attempting to use it a Motor Fuel.
BTW, when cars were called "jalopies" and the world had not even heard the words "pollution control", those old cast iron engines could burn just about anything flammable. Any vehicles make since the 1960's, and ESPECIALLY ANYTHING made after 2000, is going to need MUCH cleaner fuel.
How do I know about the shine?? Been making it in the family since 1743. My grandfather and his NC friends were the ones who built the back road burnin' "hot rods" that started NASCAR. I am legit and have Five Lifetime Still Permits from ATF. The ATF comes around at least once a month and always around quittin' time, so he can sample my product. I have been making some of the best whiskey you have ever seen. My best stuff barrel proofs at over 160. It goes down so smooth, then it feels like someone punched you in the stomach and hit you on the head with a sledgehammer. I have seen those that thought they were tough, hardcore men fall over after consuming just 3 ounces. My cost of production is around $75 a fifth. If I were attempt to sell it, with Fed (ATF) and State Taxes, it would have to go for over $135 a fifth just to make it profitable. Alcohol for public sale is taxed on a sliding scale based on proof, which is one of the reasons most stuff is around 80 proof or less.
Once alcohol starts getting around 150 proof, you can actually watch it evaporate fast enough, while the level stays about the same in the glass. Why?? Because it pulls the moisture out of the air to replace the evaporating alcohol. That is why even pharmacies, to this date, and the old-style grain alcohol was only 190 proof. It takes an enormous amount of energy and sophisticated distillation techniques to get it to that level. Once it is opened, you have to keep in airtight, ever smaller containers, since the proof will drop rapidly to 150 or less.
This is one of the reasons E10 blended (AKA on the Commodities Markets as "RBOB") gasoline keeps going up in price. The Wholesalers have tremendous expenses in keeping the water out of highly corrosive, extremely flammable ethanol. Their cost is now over $5.00 a gallon at the rack. This is one of the major reasons why you the distribution of E85 is limited mainly to the "Corn Belt" Mid-West. Plus, those states and wholesalers -- along with the Feds -- are subsidizing it to the max.
The only E85 I want is some smooth sippin' stuff in my glass.
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BUSSY
Champion Author
Dallas
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Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 4:43:05 PM
not for me
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RareFlowerGirl
Sophomore Author
California
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Message Posted: Mar 8, 2013 1:35:58 PM
if it were a very efficient means, you bet.
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aalix
Champion Author
Orange County
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Message Posted: Mar 7, 2013 1:37:09 PM
never tried one.
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roxanebay
Veteran Author
Nova Scotia
Posts:497
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Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 11:39:43 PM
kinda like french fry oil in VW's diesels converted
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ggg452
Champion Author
Manitoba
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Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 1:32:58 PM
Rather drown my sorrows as opposed to putting it in my tank...
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bruin19MD
Champion Author
Maryland
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Message Posted: Mar 6, 2013 11:54:52 AM
A shame we cannot fully utilize solar energy
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Banjoe
Champion Author
Winnipeg
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Message Posted: Mar 4, 2013 7:25:14 AM
If you love America, you gotta love Ethanol.....didn't I hear something like this somewhere before?
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MikeCapeCoral
Champion Author
Cape Coral
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Message Posted: Mar 4, 2013 12:16:31 AM
Drink it, eat it... just keep it out of my tank!
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ItisAJeepThing
Champion Author
Tucson
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Message Posted: Feb 28, 2013 6:02:27 PM
Make mine Everclear, 190 proof.
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LeeLavergne
All-Star Author
Texas
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Message Posted: Feb 28, 2013 11:25:29 AM
brew your own
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MikeCapeCoral
Champion Author
Cape Coral
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Message Posted: Feb 22, 2013 12:19:15 AM
It is called ethanol...
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OceanArcher
Champion Author
Mississippi
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Message Posted: Feb 20, 2013 12:14:19 PM
Ain't no big thing -- the diesel boys are already doing it with biodiesel
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SilverStreaker
Champion Author
Twin Cities
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 4:31:48 PM
You can save a lot of money making your own.
Make your own E85 fuel
You'll need a permit to do it legally.
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Hannie59
All-Star Author
Appleton
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 12:54:00 PM
Absolutely a do-able thing. If you have the money:
Home Ethanol Machine
Or in this case, not necessarily the money, but then you gotta have alot of time:
Alcohol Can Be A Gas!
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ggg452
Champion Author
Manitoba
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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2013 11:42:11 AM
At least it would be a way to "whistle while you work..."
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