Boy, I just did something real dumb….

[Paul Taylor]

I wanted to make a fuel recovery jar like I saw my buddies had in Portland. So I found a old small jar of garlic in the refrigerator and proceeded to wash it out. No matter how many times I washed it, it still smelled like garlic.  I had some very old RC fuel someone gave me. The pink stuff. I use it to wash out engines when I plant one in the ground. So I put some in the jar to sit for a few days in the heat. Still smelled like garlic. Ryan suggested that I put bleach in the jar. So I dumped the fuel and poured in some bleach. I did notice that there was still about ¼ of tsp of pink fuel when I poured in the bleach. I thought the more the better. So I let that sit for a few days on the bench. I went out this morning and guess what the outside of the jar still smelled a little like garlic. So I opened the lid and took a wiff. As soon as that smell got in my nose I started coughing so hard that I threw my sun glasses off on the bench and ran out of the garage. It made my eyes water and I thought I was going to hurl. My chest still hurts. WOW was a bone head move.
I hope that did not cost me a lung.

[Andrew Hathaway]

Seems like a lot of work for a few drops of fuel.  Just about everything I fly gets a measured amount of fuel, like 2.5oz in a 3oz tank or 3.5 in a 4oz tank, so there isn't any overflow out the vent.  I waste more fuel out the venturi then I do from the overflow.  A month's worth of flying wouldn't amount to an ounce of fuel in a catch can, and it'd be 'dirty' fuel that'd been exposed to contaminants from my syringe, air, humidity, the tank, and the catch can... I wouldn't want to use it anyway.  Maybe I'm missing the purpose?

[Leester]

I'm sure the purpose is to keep your flying and fueling area as clean as you can.

[Paul Taylor]

Well I am just a sport flyer. But in attempt of going green and keeping from killing the grass I tought I would steal and idea from by NE buddy's.
Also the price of fuel is going up. I can handle a little recycled fuel. Just messing around and having fun.

Paul

[Mike Spiess]

Just let it smell like garlic it wont hurt the fuel and your flying buddies well start asking about the new super additive in your fuel  I used a pickle jar for mixing dope once and my buddies use to get hungry for pickles when I flew it.

[Randy Cuberly]

Ryan suggested that I put bleach in the jar. So I dumped the fuel and poured in some bleach. I did notice that there was still about ¼ of tsp of pink fuel when I poured in the bleach. I thought the more the better. So I let that sit for a few days on the bench. I went out this morning and guess what the outside of the jar still smelled a little like garlic. So I opened the lid and took a wiff. As soon as that smell got in my nose I started coughing so hard that I threw my sun glasses off on the bench and ran out of the garage. It made my eyes water and I thought I was going to hurl. My chest still hurts. WOW was a bone head move.
I hope that did not cost me a lung.

Hmmmm....Methanol and bleach could release Chlorine gas.....bad news.  Hope everything is OK.  Might do to get checked out at the Doc's.  Chlorine gas is very destructive to tissue.
Garlic is only destructive to romance! and close relationships.

Randy Cuberly

[Paul Taylor]

I think all is well. It sure took my breath away for sure.

White vinagar was used and it knocked it back some. I hope to test it out tomorrow.

Paul

[Larry Renger]

The trick is to feed the girl Garlic Pizza and lots of Chianti.  No problemo!     It is getting the Castor Oil smell past her that is the big problem.  Answer, more garlic and Chianti!

[Steve Helmick]

I've watched Howard use an overflow catch bottle for years, and I never understood it. He uses a plastic fuel jug with a "mustard pump". Simply poke a hole in the top side of the jug, & add a Sullivan S476 fitting. Lash a fair length of fuel hose onto that, to be hooked to your tank overflow. Pump the tank full, remove the hose from the overflow, and plug in the line from the pump...closed loop, stays clean.

A neat wire hoop can hold a 1 oz or 2 oz syringe on the jug, to draw out that .6 oz of extra fuel, so you won't overrun. It's Brett's contention that this (filling and then removing) is the most accurate way to ensure consistent runtime...seems very logical to me.    Steve

[Wynn Robins]

dont you guys just use a rag to soak up overflow?  you just lay it on the ground when you fuel up.....its what we do down here.........

simple - but effective.................

[john e. holliday]

When I flew RC the catch jar was used because of the electric pumps.  Could never get the fuel to quit flowing when pump was shut down.  Always had a little over flow.  DOC Holliday

[Leo Mehl]

I think we are all alowed a few mistakes. I once was thrown out of my sail boat without my life vest on and a sailboarder came by an rescued my sorry a__ __. One of those lessons we get a chance to learn along the way!