As in the best method to collect the yellow gold . . .
One could scoop, pump or suck WVO from barrels, using a vacuum appears to have the most benefits. It is the fastest (especially on a newly vacuated vessel), it won’t choke on chunks, and is quietest.
A 30 gallon tank with a 27″Hg vacuum in it will draw in 10 gallons very quickly if a large enough hose is used (I like 1.5″ “spa” or suction hose) the next 10 gallons will take about twice as long as the first since the vacuum is reduced to around 22″Hg and the lower the vacuum the slower the flow. Given enough time and low enough viscosity VO a 30 gallon tank will eventually fill to about 95%.
Another bonus is that a “super sucker” collection unit has no valuable parts so leaving it in the back of your truck presents no temptations. It is typically constructed of a pressurized tank (water pressure tank, hot water heater tank, propane tank, compressor tank . . ) fitted with a small ball or needle valve from which the air is drawn out to create vacuum or pumped in to push out the collected oil. The additional modification to the collection tank is the opening for oil to be drawn in or be pushed out. This portal is a 1.5″ pipe welded so its interior opening is at the lowest point in the tank. Attached to it is a ball valve (make sure the inside diameter of the valve is not smaller than 1″) and then connected to enough hose to reach from your truck to the barrels. Get fancy with detachable tips (clear, filtered with a shower drain cover, electrically heated for winter collection), male and female hydraulic quick couplers, clear tubing to see what you are gathering, pin striping . . .
An internet search of “WVO Super Sucker” will provide hours of educational reading, plans and completed units for sale.
