ive been curious about the mason jar method as well, but when i saw a tutorial, i think the process involved about half, to a whole can of butane for just a few grams of weed.. and im also afraid it just wont be cold enough where i am. ...
You can opt to use a prechilled stainless thermos in place of the mason jar. Last time I actually wrapped these wrist gel packs around the jars. Don't know how much that helps but some i'm sure. I just try not to touch the jar with my bare hands for long if at all. WHOLE CAN FOR A FEW GRAMS, for the 20.6g of bud and 3.1g yield I got with a 20-30min soak i used maybe 1.5 cans and that's only because i did i really quick rinse with more butane to try and wash some more oil out...i know of a pretty popular youtube video that a guy lives in a warmer climate i'll link it then make references to it.
[video=youtube_share;VTVRYk0Zdg4]http://youtu.be/VTVRYk0Zdg4[/video]
So he empties the whole can into an EMPTY LARGE jar. If you know some physics and chemistry you just know this isn't the most efficient way to utilize the $6can of vector...I use the smallest jar i can fit my herb into leaving enough room to swirl it around a bit. My thought is that the butane will come in contact with the cold herb almost immediately and the smaller container helps achieve that. I just have a couple holes in the lid opposite to that of the inlet hole where you place the nozzel. While poking the exhaust holes, pry the tool down and away from you as to shape the hole in a way that the escaping gasses shoot away from you not towards to. I can def feel a lot gasses escaping out of the exhaust...I;m not worried about the mason jar exploding while blasting haha so i'm going to experiment with smaller exhaust holes slightly increasing the internal pressure possibly helping more of the butane stay in liquid form. The pressure would only be increased slightly and only while the can is being emptied.
While blasting use caution, because the plant material close to the inlet and exhaust can be blown around and small chunks may fly out. Multiple small exhaust holes helps the problem.
After filling each jar to just level with the top of the material it soaks of "x" time. Shorter for better quality. I would say at 30F I would soak for 5-10minutes minimum but i need to experiment more.
I use my old bubble bags as screens, easy to rinse and reuse, I just rubber band my 28 or 76 micron as tight as i can and seems to work just fine. I'll drain until it barely drips. Then after I clean that up I get the water bath started.
...and that's the end of anything different with the extraction method.
I throw the jars full still full of product into the freezer after drying a bit for a second run later.
Making multiple clarity checks during the extract is wise, just as with Iso extractions(except thank god butane barely extracts chlorophyll compared to iso) So eventually it gets really cloudy especially if you shake it a lot, I kinda wait until it's a very nice solid color for a higher yield/lesser quality.
MAD THOUGHT: Insert can of butane into pressure vessel, equalize pressure to that of the internal pressure of the can, poke holes in can(somehow) and would the contents just drain right out??? There is probably much more to that than i realize lol. Basically it would be cool to build a vessel that would allow you to release the contents under pressure and then perform a soak under pressure maybe...idk like a said mad thought.
I guess I would just rather have a Terpenator or some other butane recycling extraction unit.
