Mother Earth Waste Oil Heater

[Russ]

I believe this was published in The Mother Earth News back in 1980:
http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel_library/ethanol_motherearth/me4.html

[Kyle]

I have tried this version with many others, with only bad results, Heats like hell but will NOT clean up, I've done @ least 12 different versions of the burner plate and @ least 3 diff changes on the draft tube....always black!!!!!!

[Russ]

I was in search of an old hot water heater to do this project, actually the sanders modification, but I'm thinking the pressure or siphon system is a better way to go.  Do you get a clean burn out of the exhaust but lots of black ash in the heater?  Is the drip method even worth trying?

[Kyle]

there's so much Black out the pipe that it tassels together and floats down like little black feathers, it is not a pratical way to burn oil (and the neighbors won't like ya either).

[Russ]

Wow.  I guess I will probably scrap the idea of the drip system.  I had a friend make me a nice conical burner out of aluminum a while back.  I will post pics of it and if anyone else wants to experiment with it, I would sell it for less than I have in it.

[Kyle]

don't let me discourage you, please try, all minds think differently and maybe you'll find that "sweet spot"