g$420
Well-Known Member
Whats up RIU!
I have been making extracts for a number of years using commercial product to create many fun experiments (have even launched my own consulting and canna-product line) and have a FOOL PROOF standard method I have used for a good 5 yrs solid and am sadly moving more and more away from as short pathing (distillates) have become a new premier product. So, for all you Lab nerds like myself, here is a little gold on making the best alcohol extract without breaking your bank or ever bring the temps above freezing for live flower lovers:
I am going to put this up front, you will need to invest about $400-$500 to continue with this process, turn around now if you aren't willing to use the necessary equipment. There is no 'rigging' shit up cheaply here
this is lab level extract you will be creating.
What You Need:
1.) 1oz produce - I will scale this for 1 oz of quality raw produce, multiply by your amounts, this will never procuce much if you use less than 1 oz, again commit to the process if you're gonna make a run!
2.) 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (if you can only find 91%, use your step 4 item to create pure iso alc). ISO is far superior in this type of extract for many reasons, but ill lead with the #1 - Under 99%/29.62 vac it boils at -4C. All vacs should hit 99% easy (adjust for elevation you CO and WA folks). You will NEVER have to bring this extract above a room temp if above freezing once you get this down. ISO - it reigns supreme for this reason alone in my book and yrs of experience.
3.) Unbleached coffee filters
4.) Vacuum Distillation Apparatus (eBay, $40) but you'll need a reaction vessel (add $150, also suggest eBay) you will use the reaction vessel instead of a boiling flask.
5.) Vacuum Pump - this is a range, I personally suggest you invest in an aspirator style pump as it is way safer in your lab and for the environment. Yes, a $55 amazon oil fueled pump WILL work and pull 98%+ Vac. but so can a $20 aspirator and a $40 500gph water pump hooked up in a bucket for constant flow (theres a gem for you cheap asses) without sputtering exhaust and oil all over your lab area
6.) Mason Jars - go for wide mouth style larger ones, makes it easier on yourself an only a few dollars difference
7.) Buchner Funnel Kit ($50 Amazon) - consists of Buchner funnel and Erlenmeyer flask
8.) Heating Mantle - I suggest when you buy your distillation apparatus you get a heating mantle to fit your flask and reaction vessel size. id suggest getting a 1000ML vac distill and 1000 ML reaction vessel as well as 1000ML equivalent heating mantle.
9.) Water Pump for your condenser and Water pump for reaction vessel bath
What You Do:
Ok so now you have all your gear to get started, like i said it's a small investment but the fact you can now make lab level extracts, spirits, and other fun experiments is pretty rad and alone worth it. So on to the process, here is what you do with all these items:
Step 1 - The advantage of this process is that the extract will never have to reach an above 30 degree F temp preserving all terpenes and cannabinoids. FREEZE these items 24 hours before the process: The Isopropyl Alcohol, the herb, the mason jars (i fill the mason jar with the herb and toss in freezer along side the alcohol bottle).
Step 2 - Once all is frozen, add the iso alcohol to cover the herb (sounding like your standard iso wash so far) and shake shake shake
Step 3 - Let sit for 90 min, 90 exact min. Every so often, continue the shake shake shake. Fuck what you hear about swirling and all that treat it delicate weak shit, we're trying to get trichs and terps here! Seriously, this process is for pro level extract, your other 'rules' need not apply.
Step 4 - Place 3 coffee filters in your Buchner Funnel, strain your contents of freezing mason jar into Buchner funnel and use vac assist to drain it all into your erlenmeyer flask it hooks up to (use back of spoon to assist in pressing herb to get all the liquid out). Place the herb in a baggie or something and use in a soxhlet for full plant extract tincture or something to that nature, point being it still has content we just got the grade A out so don't toss it.
Step 5 - Take this frozen clear green liquid you now posses in your flask and pour it into your reaction vessel hooked up to your Vacuum Distillation Apparatus (i suggest using a Vigreux column for glorified bump control if you suck at temp regulation) . This is where the magic happens. So, like i mentioned in the materials needed section ISO is supreme for its extreme low boiling points under vac. Hook up your Vacuum distill and kick on your vac! Now the magic happens. I suggest taking a pot or small bucket and filling it with room temp water to place your reaction vessel with your solution in to maintain a standard temp. your water pump going into your condenser needs to have ICE water going into it and i place a small glass of ice to hold up my receiving end flask of the apparatus to keep that whole side cold and attractive for the alcohol vapor. The second water pump is to pump luke warm/room temp water in/out of the pot/bucket of water your reaction vessel is sitting in as well so it doesn't get cold (the vessel is going to be freezing temps se need to cycle the room temp water most likely through some slight warm water in say a pot on a hot plate set on low). Keep a thermometer attachment hooked to your reaction vessel so it stays at NO MORE than 5C. try to keep steady at 0 to -2
Step 6 - Wait about 2 hours and all your iso will be on the other side of the distillation apparatus, and whats left in your reaction vessel is the best quality extract that has yet to see above freezing temps
Be careful as your reaction vessel gets lower and lower with alcohol as the temps will want to rise causing spikes causing bumping causing your goods to potentially splatter all over your apparatus and you will cry painful tears.
Thats it folks, from there once completed the extract is shatter consistency immediately unless you want to heat up around 20C to caramelize the natural sugars so you can suck up in a glass lure for dab darts. I have used this to make some of the best vape cartridges around for a while until I finally consistency figured out the straight Short Path, fractional SP distillation, and not that I'm great but playing a ton with the rotovap into chromatography tubes!! Trying for them unicorn tears baby (crystalized THC for those unfamiliar)
I rarely post, but I love this community and wanted to share a little gem that has made me some of the best extracts of its time but i know as far as my place in the industry goes is being phased out. From my lab to yours, I hope you can give this a whirl with immediate success and pleasure in the outcome!
Tests wise, I was able to achieve 88% THC as the highest ever tested with this method, standard was around 82%. yield wise, expect about 15% return on AVG. It's a give and take, toss in all prime GG4, get 20%+, toss in some smalls and trim or some jack herrer or some old school green house seed co mid grade level strains and get 10%ish.
Ask any questions or feel free to chime in on your experience with similar process! Good luck, happy extracting, and don't hold me liable for any dumb shit you do or bud you loose attempting.
I have been making extracts for a number of years using commercial product to create many fun experiments (have even launched my own consulting and canna-product line) and have a FOOL PROOF standard method I have used for a good 5 yrs solid and am sadly moving more and more away from as short pathing (distillates) have become a new premier product. So, for all you Lab nerds like myself, here is a little gold on making the best alcohol extract without breaking your bank or ever bring the temps above freezing for live flower lovers:
I am going to put this up front, you will need to invest about $400-$500 to continue with this process, turn around now if you aren't willing to use the necessary equipment. There is no 'rigging' shit up cheaply here
this is lab level extract you will be creating. What You Need:
1.) 1oz produce - I will scale this for 1 oz of quality raw produce, multiply by your amounts, this will never procuce much if you use less than 1 oz, again commit to the process if you're gonna make a run!
2.) 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (if you can only find 91%, use your step 4 item to create pure iso alc). ISO is far superior in this type of extract for many reasons, but ill lead with the #1 - Under 99%/29.62 vac it boils at -4C. All vacs should hit 99% easy (adjust for elevation you CO and WA folks). You will NEVER have to bring this extract above a room temp if above freezing once you get this down. ISO - it reigns supreme for this reason alone in my book and yrs of experience.
3.) Unbleached coffee filters
4.) Vacuum Distillation Apparatus (eBay, $40) but you'll need a reaction vessel (add $150, also suggest eBay) you will use the reaction vessel instead of a boiling flask.
5.) Vacuum Pump - this is a range, I personally suggest you invest in an aspirator style pump as it is way safer in your lab and for the environment. Yes, a $55 amazon oil fueled pump WILL work and pull 98%+ Vac. but so can a $20 aspirator and a $40 500gph water pump hooked up in a bucket for constant flow (theres a gem for you cheap asses) without sputtering exhaust and oil all over your lab area
6.) Mason Jars - go for wide mouth style larger ones, makes it easier on yourself an only a few dollars difference
7.) Buchner Funnel Kit ($50 Amazon) - consists of Buchner funnel and Erlenmeyer flask
8.) Heating Mantle - I suggest when you buy your distillation apparatus you get a heating mantle to fit your flask and reaction vessel size. id suggest getting a 1000ML vac distill and 1000 ML reaction vessel as well as 1000ML equivalent heating mantle.
9.) Water Pump for your condenser and Water pump for reaction vessel bath
What You Do:
Ok so now you have all your gear to get started, like i said it's a small investment but the fact you can now make lab level extracts, spirits, and other fun experiments is pretty rad and alone worth it. So on to the process, here is what you do with all these items:
Step 1 - The advantage of this process is that the extract will never have to reach an above 30 degree F temp preserving all terpenes and cannabinoids. FREEZE these items 24 hours before the process: The Isopropyl Alcohol, the herb, the mason jars (i fill the mason jar with the herb and toss in freezer along side the alcohol bottle).
Step 2 - Once all is frozen, add the iso alcohol to cover the herb (sounding like your standard iso wash so far) and shake shake shake
Step 3 - Let sit for 90 min, 90 exact min. Every so often, continue the shake shake shake. Fuck what you hear about swirling and all that treat it delicate weak shit, we're trying to get trichs and terps here! Seriously, this process is for pro level extract, your other 'rules' need not apply.
Step 4 - Place 3 coffee filters in your Buchner Funnel, strain your contents of freezing mason jar into Buchner funnel and use vac assist to drain it all into your erlenmeyer flask it hooks up to (use back of spoon to assist in pressing herb to get all the liquid out). Place the herb in a baggie or something and use in a soxhlet for full plant extract tincture or something to that nature, point being it still has content we just got the grade A out so don't toss it.
Step 5 - Take this frozen clear green liquid you now posses in your flask and pour it into your reaction vessel hooked up to your Vacuum Distillation Apparatus (i suggest using a Vigreux column for glorified bump control if you suck at temp regulation) . This is where the magic happens. So, like i mentioned in the materials needed section ISO is supreme for its extreme low boiling points under vac. Hook up your Vacuum distill and kick on your vac! Now the magic happens. I suggest taking a pot or small bucket and filling it with room temp water to place your reaction vessel with your solution in to maintain a standard temp. your water pump going into your condenser needs to have ICE water going into it and i place a small glass of ice to hold up my receiving end flask of the apparatus to keep that whole side cold and attractive for the alcohol vapor. The second water pump is to pump luke warm/room temp water in/out of the pot/bucket of water your reaction vessel is sitting in as well so it doesn't get cold (the vessel is going to be freezing temps se need to cycle the room temp water most likely through some slight warm water in say a pot on a hot plate set on low). Keep a thermometer attachment hooked to your reaction vessel so it stays at NO MORE than 5C. try to keep steady at 0 to -2
Step 6 - Wait about 2 hours and all your iso will be on the other side of the distillation apparatus, and whats left in your reaction vessel is the best quality extract that has yet to see above freezing temps
Be careful as your reaction vessel gets lower and lower with alcohol as the temps will want to rise causing spikes causing bumping causing your goods to potentially splatter all over your apparatus and you will cry painful tears. Thats it folks, from there once completed the extract is shatter consistency immediately unless you want to heat up around 20C to caramelize the natural sugars so you can suck up in a glass lure for dab darts. I have used this to make some of the best vape cartridges around for a while until I finally consistency figured out the straight Short Path, fractional SP distillation, and not that I'm great but playing a ton with the rotovap into chromatography tubes!! Trying for them unicorn tears baby (crystalized THC for those unfamiliar)
I rarely post, but I love this community and wanted to share a little gem that has made me some of the best extracts of its time but i know as far as my place in the industry goes is being phased out. From my lab to yours, I hope you can give this a whirl with immediate success and pleasure in the outcome!
Tests wise, I was able to achieve 88% THC as the highest ever tested with this method, standard was around 82%. yield wise, expect about 15% return on AVG. It's a give and take, toss in all prime GG4, get 20%+, toss in some smalls and trim or some jack herrer or some old school green house seed co mid grade level strains and get 10%ish.
Ask any questions or feel free to chime in on your experience with similar process! Good luck, happy extracting, and don't hold me liable for any dumb shit you do or bud you loose attempting.
holding chambers to soak the Plant in (yes, I'm dawging butane/propane closed loop extractors people get hustled on),'just let it evap bro', those types of things to ME, and again my opinion, are what will forever give inconsistent and dangerous results leading to continuous bad reputation for our thriving and capable industry.
currently not running to much of this or soxhlet these days but will bust my personal gear out from time to time to get a live run in when I get some airy lower branches out of my personal room.
