no one to my knowledge has tried it, but trapper and i discussed this below for a bit. it is entirely possible, as the heating and cooling and heating and cooling etc. is really what it is all about. this changes the "molecular bond angle" (thanks trapper for your explanation of that below). the problem is that you would have to keep pouring it between the two containers conitiuously, it would take a lot of your time and require constant baby sitting and working at it. but honestly i agree with you, there seems to have to be a way to do it for less than $1700. if you come up with any concrete ideas, please share.
btw, has your machine worked well for you, and have you had any run-ins with Mr. Ellis?