Cannatrol vs. Freeze Dryer

I wonder if someone can explain the difference in benefits of something like a Harvest Right freeze dryer vs. a Cannatrol? IE: why would I spend double or triple the cost of a Cannatrol?

Are there any competitors to the Cannatrol?

Is there something on the market comparable to Harvest Right machines for freeze drying, that is known to be reliable and work well, but maybe I don't have to sell a kidney to buy?

@Kgrim has a cannatrol and had a harvest coming up to try it with. Was wondering how that turned out kgrim, can you tells us more about how things went for you and the cannatrol?

The main difference I see is a Harvest Right your done in 24 hrs, and freeze dry your food for long term storage if you wanted too. Cannatrol about 8 days. I just purchased a Cannatrol for this years run, already ran my buddies auto flower harvest thru it, and its worth every penny IMO. Start to finish on factory defaults, 8 days to his jars and have been holding 58-60 on his hygrometer in his jars. His whole harvest wouldn't fit into the Cannatrol, so had to put some down in the old drying room, which has served me well for many years. There wasn't a comparison, the Cannatrol buds tasted WAY better, initial jar opening, rack dried smelled better, but when the buds out of the Cannatrol were broken up, that's where it shined, it stunk up the whole room, tasted and smoked much better than the rack dried. As far as competition for the Cannatrol, I haven't really found any for the "home" grower, it's mostly commercial sized units based on the same principles. There are Chinese companies on Alibaba that have freeze driers cheaper, but I would say they are hit or miss, especially if you have problems. If your running mass amount of hash, I would say a Harvest Right, but haven't run any bubble hash thru my Cannatrol yet, hopefully first batch in a day or so, since I can't go back to work until Monday.

mudballs said:

@Kgrim has a cannatrol and had a harvest coming up to try it with. Was wondering how that turned out kgrim, can you tells us more about how things went for you and the cannatrol?

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Things went great!!!! 8 days start to finish in the Cannatrol on factory defaults, I'll be able to run different settings and times here in a couple more weeks, since it will be running non-stop for a few months. Compared to the rack dried buds I had to do for my friend, Cannatrol won hands down, tasted WAY better, and smoked real smooth. His hygrometers have been holding 58-60 in his jars since we loaded them up a couple weeks ago.

Let me also add, I wet trim with a Centurion Pro Tabletop, and the rack dried buds darkened up a bit, as usually happens to me every year while drying, but the Cannatrol buds didn't change color at all, they were the same color coming out as going in, and when Light hit the trichomes, it glistened like little diamonds. Will post a few pics when I get to my phone, out on the deck enjoying the cool weather and having a cup of coffee with the wife and my pup.

Kgrim said:

Things went great!!!! 8 days start to finish in the Cannatrol on factory defaults, I'll be able to run different settings and times here in a couple more weeks, since it will be running non-stop for a few months. Compared to the rack dried buds I had to do for my friend, Cannatrol won hands down, tasted WAY better, and smoked real smooth. His hygrometers have been holding 58-60 in his jars since we loaded them up a couple weeks ago.

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Thanks for the info.

Once it's been through the Cannatrol, how do you deal with anything more than your headstash? IE: are you then sticking it into wide-mouth mason jars and curing it some more? Or no need for that at all?

Kgrim said:

If your running mass amount of hash, I would say a Harvest Right, but haven't run any bubble hash thru my Cannatrol yet, hopefully first batch in a day or so, since I can't go back to work until Monday.

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I just read on this page

"Under deep vacuum below 500 militor, terpenes become volatile. This is why it is not possible to freeze dry cannabis or hemp buds/flowers with a Pharmaceutical or a Home unit of brands we utilize/distribute like Harvest Right, as well as because points 1) and 2) are not able to be managed. Home and pharmaceutical models are great for Live Kief and Bubble Hash applications but not for buds or flowers.

That is why it is necessary to use a Scientific model freeze drier with a digital bleeder valve for the vacuum control in systems we distribute like Harvest Right."

Is this correct in everyone's mind?
I need the $7500 scientific model to deal with "buds"

LoveBudz420 said:

Thanks for the info.

Once it's been through the Cannatrol, how do you deal with anything more than your headstash? IE: are you then sticking it into wide-mouth mason jars and curing it some more? Or no need for that at all?

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I've yet to run any of mine yet, but afterwards it will be going into Grove bags and Jars until I run it thru the washer. Don't smoke much flower here anymore, the wife likes the hash way better, and so do I.

LoveBudz420 said:

I just read on this page

Why Freeze Dried Cannabis Makes Business Sense for Cultivators

Learn how freeze dried cannabis dramatically reduces the time to market and significantly increases cannabinoid and terpene retention.

www.theoriginalresinator.com

"Under deep vacuum below 500 militor, terpenes become volatile. This is why it is not possible to freeze dry cannabis or hemp buds/flowers with a Pharmaceutical or a Home unit of brands we utilize/distribute like Harvest Right, as well as because points 1) and 2) are not able to be managed. Home and pharmaceutical models are great for Live Kief and Bubble Hash applications but not for buds or flowers.

That is why it is necessary to use a Scientific model freeze drier with a digital bleeder valve for the vacuum control in systems we distribute like Harvest Right."

Is this correct in everyone's mind?
I need the $7500 scientific model to deal with "buds"

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I don't know about that, I have seen people use the harvest right and not complain, but at $7500 it's not worth it in my opinion, neither is $4k for a freeze dryer. Quite happy with what came out of my Cannatrol with my friends run, don't see a need to freeze dry bud, especially when done, it will probably just crumble to dust like super dried bud.

Start to finish to jar.

So you just stick the fresh trimmed nug in there and press start? ..gtfo

mudballs said:

So you just stick the fresh trimmed nug in there and press start? ..gtfo

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Yes sir!!!! From the trimmer, to the tray, and hit start, close the door. After the 1st day, put the damp sponge cup in, check it every couple days, and empty the condensation tray.
That’s pretty much it, then 8 days later, jar it up.

Kgrim said:

don't see a need to freeze dry bud, especially when done, it will probably just crumble to dust like super dried bud.

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Did you ever hear this from someone? Or you just taking a guess?

I think I would want to see one working or get a real-world recommendation before dropping that kind of money.

I also think that I would want to be harvesting "about a pound" every damn day, to justify that kinda spending.

I haven't heard it from anyone, just taking a guess. I've had freeze dried food before, and it was pretty crispy.
I don't figure that bud would be much different, because it's going thru the same process, but I'm just speculating.
I just can't justify spending that much money on a freeze dryer, I've personally never smoked any freeze dried flower.
I have smoked what comes out of the Cannatrol vs. Rack dried of the same strain, and it was dramatically different.
With the discounts I got, veteran, coupon code etc. I'm good with the price I paid for my Cannatrol.
For the price of a Freeze drier, I paid for a whole new downstairs setup, veg & flower rooms, LED lights, fan, ducting, dehumidifier, heater, controllers and a Cannatrol for less.

how's the odor outside the cannatrol?

Kgrim said:

I haven't heard it from anyone, just taking a guess. I've had freeze dried food before, and it was pretty crispy.
I don't figure that bud would be much different, because it's going thru the same process, but I'm just speculating.
I just can't justify spending that much money on a freeze dryer, I've personally never smoked any freeze dried flower.
I have smoked what comes out of the Cannatrol vs. Rack dried of the same strain, and it was dramatically different.
With the discounts I got, veteran, coupon code etc. I'm good with the price I paid for my Cannatrol.
For the price of a Freeze drier, I paid for a whole new downstairs setup, veg & flower rooms, LED lights, fan, ducting, dehumidifier, heater, controllers and a Cannatrol for less.

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When I was a kid my dad would buy freeze-dried peas. When boiled to add water back in and to cook, these were amazing peas, leaving frozen and or canned peas where they belong, in the trash can!! I can't really compare to fresh peas, as I have not eaten fresh peas that often, but believe me when I say that freeze-dried peas are really good!

Does this equate to perfect weed? There is no correlation. But I thought I would put it out there.

groworm said:

how's the odor outside the cannatrol?

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Very minimal, the only smelll is from the water in the evap tray. I've got mine set up in the living room, and let me tell ya, if the wife could smell it, I would surely know about it.

I use my medium size harvest right freeze dryer for my harvests. I’ll admit they do come out real dry but has been improving as I find the sweet spot for my tray temps. First bunch of plants I did at default but that’s 125f tray temp and buds were dry, but amazing smell coming out. I’ve been lowering the trays down to 65f and more moisture seems to stay. I have my Golden Tiger in the tent coming to a finish soon and my outdoor gals. I’m thinking of lowering the temps to be just above freezing, or at about 40f and see if that does anything better. Fit roughly in total 900-950g of buds on the trays, trimmed down to buds themselves. Below are pics of my Amnesia Lemon Kush after coming out of my dryer.

LoveBudz420 said:

Does this equate to perfect weed? There is no correlation. But I thought I would put it out there.

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According to the internet, this "peas" you speak of are not climacteric. So definitely no correlation. Oh you mean those little green things you have to pull out of pot pies?

For the Cannatrol, is it possible to hang branches and dry trim after the 8 days? I assume so, just need to get a hanging rack of some kind. I'm not privy to wet trimming and laying buds on flat surfaces. Otherwise that seems like a deal honestly for anyone running less than 2 lbs per harvest and living in hot climates. Holding a whole room at 60/60 here for 2 weeks is expensive.