The Home Grower's Thread
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duncanwilliam
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Love this thread.. 
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
I ordered a Buchner vacuum filtration flask and a pump. After much reading it appears Bowling4Bikes is right the Magical Butter machine is great for infusions like butters or cooking oils, but not great for extractions. So I am going to switch to the cold alcohol in the freezer method, heavy filtration followed by home distillation. It's no Source Turbo but I won't be shelling out $600 more
Bowling4Bikes
Steee-riiike!
:thumbup that's essentially all of it. I'm even considering freezing it again then filtering, just to super clarify. I think I'll dabble with dry ice, but the freezer sounds like it would be just about the same especially after proper filtration.
I joined a fb group for ethanol extractions. lots of great info. the extracts they're making are phenomenal. But it seems after the ethanol extraction there will still be 3-5%ish ethanol left. there's a bit more post-processing, but the extract seems to be a starting point to go in many directions of concentrates, edibles, tinctures, etc.
edit: I read this that may also help...they suggest filtering dark extracts with diatomaceous earth. check it out: https://extractcrafter.com/2018/09/...on-scrubbing-diatomaceous-earth-de-filtering/
I joined a fb group for ethanol extractions. lots of great info. the extracts they're making are phenomenal. But it seems after the ethanol extraction there will still be 3-5%ish ethanol left. there's a bit more post-processing, but the extract seems to be a starting point to go in many directions of concentrates, edibles, tinctures, etc.
edit: I read this that may also help...they suggest filtering dark extracts with diatomaceous earth. check it out: https://extractcrafter.com/2018/09/...on-scrubbing-diatomaceous-earth-de-filtering/
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HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
thanks, I ordered the earth!
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So the only question I have, is 5-10 minutes sufficient for the ethanol to extract the THC? Most of the recipes call for just that time while I've seen sme overnight ones.
The main benefit I can see from the Source is that it has a vacuum seal and you can run the extract AGAIN to remove even more alcohol. I might invest in a vacuum chamber at some point.
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So the only question I have, is 5-10 minutes sufficient for the ethanol to extract the THC? Most of the recipes call for just that time while I've seen sme overnight ones.
The main benefit I can see from the Source is that it has a vacuum seal and you can run the extract AGAIN to remove even more alcohol. I might invest in a vacuum chamber at some point.
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Bowling4Bikes
Steee-riiike!
I'm totally overstepping my real world knowledge here, but the freeze time and temp seems to be up to experimentation. The balance is to maximize time for the tricomes to dissolve in the etoh, while minimizing time for undesirable plant matter, wax, etc to also dissolve. What I'm thinking of doing is that 5-10minute soak first, filter, then add more etoh and do a longer soak to get more off. evaporate separately and see what I get.
vacuum heater seems to be the choice. I haven't found a cheap one yet, so I'm going to try no vacuum longer exposure to low heat. Like, 24 hours in my dehydrator at 100-150F. see what I get.
It'd be rad to hear your experimental designs when trying this yourself. Please share with results if you want.
AFA running the extract again through the Source...yes it can drive the etoh content further down, but what I read is that it becomes really crappy to get out of the reaction vessel that way. They say it's best to remove the extract while it's still bubbling and soupy, pour it on a silicone mat or glass baking plate, then finish the etoh removal via time, wind, heat, vacuum, or a combo of. If the extract was or gets decarbed, shatter can form. if not decarbed, a pull-n-snap or perhaps a sugar forms. the soup can also be agitated/whipped to make a peanut butter looking thing.
vacuum heater seems to be the choice. I haven't found a cheap one yet, so I'm going to try no vacuum longer exposure to low heat. Like, 24 hours in my dehydrator at 100-150F. see what I get.
It'd be rad to hear your experimental designs when trying this yourself. Please share with results if you want.
AFA running the extract again through the Source...yes it can drive the etoh content further down, but what I read is that it becomes really crappy to get out of the reaction vessel that way. They say it's best to remove the extract while it's still bubbling and soupy, pour it on a silicone mat or glass baking plate, then finish the etoh removal via time, wind, heat, vacuum, or a combo of. If the extract was or gets decarbed, shatter can form. if not decarbed, a pull-n-snap or perhaps a sugar forms. the soup can also be agitated/whipped to make a peanut butter looking thing.
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
Thanks I'm going to try it tomorrow via my method but with the new filtration method.
Do think there would be a point to take the oil I already made, dissolve it in alcohol, filter it properly, and re-distill out the alcohol?
Do think there would be a point to take the oil I already made, dissolve it in alcohol, filter it properly, and re-distill out the alcohol?
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HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
I can't find 190 Everclear so I bought some cheap-ass Gordon's 80 proof vodka (like $15 for 1.75 L) and I'm throwing it into the electric still to re-distill it and make it significantly stronger for the extraction process. I have some isopropyl alcohol on the way but that's only good for extracts for smoking and not for ingesting.
I finished the first run and I'm throwing it back again with some previously used vodka and will distill it a 3rd time and then freeze it.
I finished the first run and I'm throwing it back again with some previously used vodka and will distill it a 3rd time and then freeze it.
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HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
Yakoo752 is a super nice dude
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Ok got my ghetto Source Turbo setup except for the Diatomaceous Earth which is on the way. I'll do the tincture in the meantime. Pretty excited.
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Ok got my ghetto Source Turbo setup except for the Diatomaceous Earth which is on the way. I'll do the tincture in the meantime. Pretty excited.
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Bowling4Bikes
Steee-riiike!
ghetto source...lol.
:thumbup
:thumbup
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
Hmmm I have the wrong kind of charcoal, mine is like little pebbles I need crushed. Still works as a layer above the Diatomaceous Earth. Coming out very clean. So slow though even with a pump. Might get a stronger one.
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Came out very clean, will process it today
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What do you think about putting a small crucible INSIDE the electric still to simulate a Source Turbo?
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So the main downside is how to collect it easily compared to the Source Turbo.
Put it in the food dehydrator @ 105
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Came out very clean, will process it today
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What do you think about putting a small crucible INSIDE the electric still to simulate a Source Turbo?
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So the main downside is how to collect it easily compared to the Source Turbo.
Put it in the food dehydrator @ 105
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Bowling4Bikes
Steee-riiike!
cool! I have so many questions...
so you noticed a large difference in extract clarity, yes?
Did you smoke/vape it? if so, how does it compare?
I guess if that metal vessel isn't easily removable or is otherwise hard to work with, you could put a crucible inside that...should work. The extract should stay in the crucible and only etoh volatalize out. But if you're losing stuff like terpines due to the heat of the distillation, there may be residue left outside of the crucible. Also, if there are big bubbles forming from the process, it may pop and spread distillate around. dunno...try it!
Could you stop the distillation earlier and see if it's easier to remove? Then let your dehydrator bubble off the rest of the etoh?
so you noticed a large difference in extract clarity, yes?
Did you smoke/vape it? if so, how does it compare?
I guess if that metal vessel isn't easily removable or is otherwise hard to work with, you could put a crucible inside that...should work. The extract should stay in the crucible and only etoh volatalize out. But if you're losing stuff like terpines due to the heat of the distillation, there may be residue left outside of the crucible. Also, if there are big bubbles forming from the process, it may pop and spread distillate around. dunno...try it!
Could you stop the distillation earlier and see if it's easier to remove? Then let your dehydrator bubble off the rest of the etoh?
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HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
- It's definitely less black than previous runs where I didn't go a good filtration
- I haven't smoked it yet
- Yes you can end it early and I could finish in my magnetic stirrer heat plate
- I haven't smoked it yet
- Yes you can end it early and I could finish in my magnetic stirrer heat plate
Bowling4Bikes
Steee-riiike!
:thumbup
I ordered 200 proof food grade etoh from bvv chemical: https://shopbvv.com/products/bvv-lab-grade-ethanol-200-proof-1-gallon
1 gallon was ridiculously expensive, but I hope to be able to use it over and over for some time. But...yeah, not really happy about the price. Watch out for the haz chem shipping fee.
I ordered 200 proof food grade etoh from bvv chemical: https://shopbvv.com/products/bvv-lab-grade-ethanol-200-proof-1-gallon
1 gallon was ridiculously expensive, but I hope to be able to use it over and over for some time. But...yeah, not really happy about the price. Watch out for the haz chem shipping fee.
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
Isopropyl alcohol is much cheaper and easier to get but it would be only for smoking not for ingestion.
If this doesn't work I might get a Source Turbo in the future.
If this doesn't work I might get a Source Turbo in the future.
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
A gallon of food grade ethanol is $110 from here:
https://culinarysolvent.com/collections/gallons/products/1-gallon-200-proof-ethanol
https://culinarysolvent.com/collections/gallons/products/1-gallon-200-proof-ethanol
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
To make our own alcohol?
I have a copper still and a mini electric
I have a copper still and a mini electric
HappyHighwayman
Warning: Do Not Engage
Neat!
I just don't want to invest in more distillation equipment I don't intend to make THAT much extract.
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Just did a test dab, smoked nicely. Will report back on status of brain.
I just don't want to invest in more distillation equipment
I don't intend to make THAT much extract.-----
Just did a test dab, smoked nicely. Will report back on status of brain.
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