So I’m crafting cartridges from flower. First i process the material into BHO, since I dont have a dewaxing sleeve, I winterize my BHO afterwards. My question is, how purged does the BHO need to be, before dissolving in ethanol, and is it safe to purge my BHO at a higher temp? Is it safe to purge my bho at a 130’ f, I figured the oil will experience these high temperatures when I’m purging the ethanol, why not raise the temps and speed up my butane purge? I always did a low temp purge around 100’ F for 3 days. I’m purging with a chamber, running the vacuum pump intermittently to maintain full vac. Also, for a 10-20g slab, is 48-72 hours @ 130’ f excessive?
I’m trying to refine my process, and reduce the time to finish product. I perform 2 winterizing filtration of varying grades, and currently it takes nearly 10-12 days to make carts. With 2-3 days purging the bho, and 3 more days purging the ethanol after winterizing, and 4 days total in the freezer separating lipids/fats/oil. I know upgrading my equipment would help, a dewaxing sleeve is the ultimate goal, but in the mean time, is there a way i can expedite my process?
If you intend to dissolve the compound in ethanol there is no need for a vacuum purge. At room temp butane is a gas. Once the gas is no longer entrapped in compound it will escape of its own accord.
I am reintroducing plant derived terpens. I decarbed a batched, but I felt like it changed the high, maybe I’m just paranoid though. Should i be decarbing?
It darkens the product, and you loose terpenes. But you’re adding extra terpenes right? Dunno.
I was exploring the correct purge temp.
Purge too hot, and you both darken the product and loose terpenes…but you might be decarbing to reduce viscosity or make a more versatile concentrate (eat it, vape it, dab it!).
Ok I have a question and I know this is a old thread but …so I am now going with wax to vape, I have made distillate and was able to put it in cartridges, but I don’t have the right equipment for it all now. After making wax with bho, you should still add ethanol and winterize it? For cartridges? And what is the best cheapest way to evaporate it? I’m thinking a rotovap ? And I don’t get decarbing it. Why would I need to do this, to make it able to work in a vape pen. Sorry for seeming dumb but it’s difficult to get the answers by searching. I’m not a chemist but a do it yourselfer Thank you for any help you can give me.
You don’t want fats in your vape pen so you’re definitely going to want to winterize.
Rotovap is the best, Chinese simple distillation setup is the cheapest.
Decarbing your material makes it bioactive and ready to use. This makes decarbed material work for edibles and tinctures and carts and such. For cartridges, decarbed material is best because it helps the cartridge wick and helps it mix and fill more easily, all due to it’s lower viscosity.
Does decarbing the oil change any of the final high experience? I was always worried about that. I understand decarbing is required for edibles, but for smoking oil, I always try to keeps temps low and refrain from decarbing. I always make carts without decarbing, the highest temp they see is 170’f while filling carts. I do small batches, so I’ll purge my winterized oil @ 155’f for 96 hours.
Your purge temp and time will likely result in very slight decarb. The difference in high or taste from decarbing would be due to the terpene degredation while heating. If I’m making bho carts I always try to crystalize first, decarb the crystals, and add the non-decarbed terps back into the decarbed crystals. This will preserve taste and effects of the strain you’re extracting.
If you’re making dabs don’t decarb because it’ll happen anyway in the nail. For carts always decarb the bulk of your THC so you get a nice wicking experience.
@Krative I’m thinking of trying this, if I may ask, what is the viscosity of the finished product like? Will I need to keep it warm to fill carts? Sorry, I’m a newb when it comes to this obviously.
Yes decaebing will make it activated. You could rub it on tour skin and feel the effects. I decarb 2-4 liters in a roto at 140c it takes about 1 hr give or take