Castor oil question

tru168 Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:58 am

Seek for castor experts !!

Since castor oil seems a must for all Cox engines, I just post it here.

In our country, none of local hobby shop selling castor based , or partially castor fuel. local Sig Champion fuel supplier stop import them about 3 years ago.
I used raw castor from local soap industries for quite a long while to mix with normal fuel, or just plain methanol. No Nitro supply in our country too.
Raw castor that I used are non- Degummed castor.
Its really really sticky, and hard to clean my plane.

I know that I can just purchase from Bernie ( coxengines.ca) but I need quantity at low cost, which our local soap industries can supply only raw castor.
I need it in quantity because I have to supply our local clubs who start to fly Cox engines.
In our country, none of them know what Cox engines is, I flew my Cox powered planes from places to another places , and hopefully I have more members flying Cox engines. Thats why I need to supply them Castor oil.

I try to find out how to degum the raw castor, I just boil a few oz of raw castor oil just now and waiting for cool down,a and I will check if it will be not too sticky as raw one.
I don;t know if this is the correct way, I know that I can't over cook or it will polymerized, but again, don;t know if polymerized castor are suitable for lubrication in glow fuel.

Edit: Raw castor oil looks light yellow in color, and the few oz I cooked looks golden - amber in color .

Anyone know more about how to de-gum castor ?

andrew Fri Aug 02, 2013 9:44 am

tru168 wrote:

I know that I can just purchase from Bernie ( coxengines.ca) but I need quantity at low cost, which our local soap industries can supply only raw castor.
I need it in quantity because I have to supply our local clubs who start to fly Cox engines.

You can buy AA Castor Oil directly from SIG Mfg. for $23.00 USD per gallon. While you will have shipping added, a gallon of castor oil will go a long way when preparing 1/2A fuel. Should you anticipate using much more, SIG likely would price a case (4 gallons) at slightly less per gallon.

tru168 Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:14 am

Hi Andrew ,

Thanks for reply.

I tried . contacted them several times several years ago. Sig MFG. refused to ship it to our country.

tru168 Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:25 am

My experimental de-gummed castor looks promising, looks darker amber/ golden color and its oily but not sticky anymore.
I pour a little in transparent film canister, and pour a little of FUCH'S SILKOLENE go-cart oil, ( castor + synthetic ) in another film canister, compare side by side.
the SILKOLENE looks golden, and my "home brew" looks darker. I can feel its viscosity is about similar, and smell similar too.
Will try to mix small batch of fuel , run an engine, and check my piston/ cylinder's oil residue and compare with non- degummed castor - fuel mix .

dinsdale Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:19 am

Klotz Benol is 100% de-gummed castor oil - if there's a Klotz seller there. Klotz products are used very widely in most motor sports (cars, bikes etc). If there is any drag racing happening in Malaysia then find out who supplies their stuff. Drag racers use nitromethane.

By-the-way, a US gallon is close enough to 4 litres.

**RknRusty** Fri Aug 02, 2013 2:43 pm

Don't know about their shipping policies, but here's the page with Klotz BeNol racing castor:
http://www.klotzlube.com/products.asp?cat=8

tru168 Fri Aug 02, 2013 9:22 pm

We don't have Klotz here, nor drag racing / nitro supply.
Thanks for the klotz link. I will try to ask them shipping cost.
I still have a gallon of Sig fuel bought before local importer decide to stop selling it, but I'm packing it in small 250ml can and give away to club members who flying Cox engines.
I saw BYRON 25% Premium 1/2A Castor on Singapore web site, Singapore are just 200km from my place, shipping will be much cheaper I think.
I don't know if BYRON 25% Premium 1/2A Castor any good but Byron are good brand and I will order a gallon to try out.

crankbndr Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:09 pm

I got Klotz here before, they ship to Malaysia if you order it over the net and pay with PayPal.
It gone up in price lately, I think I payed 6 bucks last time.
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXS627&P=ML

pkrankow Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:27 pm

http://www.byronfuels.com/pages/products.html

I would call the 1/2a fuel a little light on oil, but they list oil too. Boosting the oil to 20% would be good for longevity, although 16% probably produces a little more power without risking catastrophic failure. I would guess their lube is castor oil since it is listed as "non-hazardous, non-petroleum lubricant" with ingestion irritation listing "laxative effect expected"

Phil

tru168 Fri Aug 02, 2013 11:22 pm

Hi Doug &Phil,

$17++ for 2 pints of Benol castor, I will check with its shipping cost. Thanks for info.
Byron used 16% pure castor in their 1/2A fuel. I would like to have at least 20% for all my 1/2A engines. They mentioned that their classic plane fuel contains castor+synthetic but never mentioned the percentage of actual castor in it.

Singapore Byron supplier need to re-order Byron 1/2a fuel, they won't stock any 1/2a fuel because no demand here. price for a quart is about USD17.50 , thats means about USD70 for a gallon seems much expensive than normal fuel.
I'm not quite happy with 16% oil contain. I have to find a long term supplier here, I try really hard to maintain Cox engine user in our country, they will lost their interest if we can't find any suitable fuel here.

The best way so far , just use my own home brew castor in 30% nitro Byron racing fuel , Byron car racing fuel only contain 8% synthetic oil, I can top up to 20% by adding my own castor oil. Will try to get Benol castor from towerhobbies.

Ew

tru168 Sat Aug 03, 2013 12:19 am

Finally , i found Singapore Klotz supplier, a pint of Benol castor selling at price USD10
I ordered and will compare it with my home brew castor .
I also found some castor seed in local plantation supply this morning , I will grow it in my back yard just for fun!

JPvelo Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:07 am

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Castor-Lube-Cox-010-020-049-051-09-15-Castor-Oil-Fuel-Mix-010-020-049-09-15-/370777421908?pt=Radio_Control_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56540e7854

fredvon4 Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:24 am

Tru168

I recommend a bunch of reading before messing with any beans from the castor plants

Ricin, one of the most potent toxins to mammals is found in that bean

Just sayin

tru168 Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:53 am

Hi Fred,

Thanks for your remind, I'm not going to cold press those castor beans, I read a lot about raw castor beans few years ago, while I'm doing some research on biodiesel.
Yes, Ricin in castor beans , which is carbohydrate-binding protein , is highly toxic.

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