Either way this works pretty good once you change some of the valves
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I guess I should have given more information.
I clean my collection and other pieces on my CLS with ethanol. I am not big on scraping so there is substantial leavings in the ethanol
I winterize the ethanol and filter it. When I accumulate a couple of liters I distill it and with the oil that is left my GF processes it into different products such as topicals and tinctures and I get to reclaim the ethanol
I used to use a little extractcraft but it took a shit after 5 or 6 years of service. I picked up a 1 litre rotovap and to reclaim the ethonol and just like the extractcraft the left over oil is dark.
I started thinking about maybe filtering the ethanol before running it through the rotovap. Since I already have a buchner I have been watching videos and gathering up some things that might work
I am just playing around with this, and probably get more enjoyment out of tinkering around with stuff than most would understand
My plan, however misguided, was to pick up a fritted disc to place in the buchner, then a piece of filter psper, the make a bed of some media (probably celite) followed by some AC.
Like I said… for me the intrigue is in the journey, not really the destination
Thanks for the reply!
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So it’s not about filtration.
It’s about color remediation.
It’s not misguided, simply not described worth a damn till this point, which made it harder to be helpful 
You are not using AC to filter ethanol.
You are using the butcher to filter the AC out of your tincture.
You would also be using that bed of diatomaceous earth in your buchner to filter out the ac (depth/3D filtration).
I assume you have read EHO Color Remediation
Edit: so when you say “buchner” are you actually referring to one of these?
Because the usalabs “buchner” is a perfectly usable filtration device, but it’s not a buchner. A buchner does not require the addition of a sintered disk.
Buchners, especially glass ones, may have a sintered frit, but if the don’t have one, adding one is not standard practice
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Bingo!! I don’t have a buchner funnel I have what USA Labs “calls” a “buchner funnel”. I also don’t really speak the chem language properly or describe my intent and proposed procedure with anything even closing resembling someone who knows what he is doing.
I am closer to 70 than I am to 65 and my last formal instructions in the world of chemistry was in 1972. Needless to say in 1972 my daily activities usually revolved around purple oswley or a bit of white microdot. The only thing I really took away from that class was a D- that Mr. Dunham so generously gave me so that I would vacate the premises.
I love this stuff and I love playing around at a tinkers pace. I also appreciate your reply and then a bit of a concession that even though I don’t know enough to even explain what I want to ask (other than just wanting to know the micron ratings of "fine and “coarse”) That I am not 100% off track, you are for sure one of the exemplary individuals on this site that always comes around to lay down some knowledge to those in need… Thank You!!
The intrigue might be in the journey but the satisfaction is in the destination. Like the man said “Well, I don’t know but I’ve been told
You never slow down, you never grow old” Approaching 70 I take great comfort in those words
Thanks Again
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you are most welcome.
Having the right terminology makes searching so much easier, and enables more productive discussion.
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Why is the one with holes not a Buchner?
I can see how you got there…but it was not my intent to imply that the “one with the holes” was not a Buchner.
Both the funnels shown are examples of Buchner
It is the usalabs device that @MTOG has that is not strictly speaking a “Buchner”… because adding positive pressure was beyond the scope of the original design
@MTOG, it’s pretty late in the game…but yeah, adding a sintered disk to an “enclosed buchner” like the usalabs device IS a common response when trying to keep fines (magic dirt) out of your filtrate. You were 100% on track…
I actually purchased a legit buchner from USA Labs and it is spot on for what I need it for. The first one was pretty lame and pretty much useless
I too also purchased a “Pressurized Buckner” from USA Labs and I can tell you that the service is great and the people over there are super nice. But… When I first got the “Buccaneer” I put it together and pressure tested it and could not get it to hold pressure above 20 or 30 PSI. After some time I found that the part that was the filter plate was not completely flat which meant it would not hold completely flat against the washer and thus was leaking. I made a short video of it sent it to USA Labs and they immediately sent me a new part (again I have to say super nice people and excellent service). I pressure tested it and everything was holding fine up to the 90 PSI rating. I set it up and loaded significant amount of media on top of the filter plate closed everything up and started working. As the day progressed and the filter starts getting a bit clogged up the pressure started rising (nothing out of the ordinary). About midday through the day at somewhere in the 80 psi range maybe a couple of PSI higher there was what sounded like an explosion that actually shook the ground. I immediately checked the Buckner but it was still holding pressure. Looking through the viewing port I seen that the filter plate has detached and hit the bottom of the “Buckner”. And so I can tell you please be careful pushing that filter plate to the maximum pressure. Having no choice I had to find the solution to work with the first filter plate that was sent to me that didn’t hold pressure right so I Jerry rigged something that sealed up the small Gap and got it to hold enough pressure for me to continue working. Also I have noticed that even when new the filter plate is not welded in place it is pushed into place into a groove and it is delivered to me not completely flat which made getting the paper filter to fit it properly a bit of a challenge as the center of the plate is slightly lower than the sides so that when the paper in the center touches the steel plate the sides detach from the plate. The solution I found was to get the paper a bit moist first and run vacuum through the bottom so as to suck the paper flat against the steel plate and then I will load up with media on top of it.
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I have had no problems with mine but will certainly take your experience into consideration moving forward.
I couldn’t agree more about the Customer Service at USA Labs. I bought a mole sieve from them that had an issued and they immediately sent out a new replacement
Yeah, that’s not the first one of those I’ve seen like that.
Just an FYI: 90PSI is just a smidge over 10,000lb on a 12” plate…
So
80 psi range maybe a couple of PSI higher there was what sounded like an explosion that actually shook the ground.
Is really not at all that surprising. LOT of energy stored in that plate right before it gave up
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Oh yeah I’m keenly aware of the immense pressure 12 inch plate at 90 PSI has on it. But also I trusted the 90 PSI test rating and I stayed at least 5 to 10 psi below it. Also I am disappointed with the fact that the plate was pressed into place instead of welded into place as well as the fact that the plate comes from the factory not completely flat which makes it really difficult to keep blowby
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Wasn’t really aimed at you…I get that’s how reads.
Just needed to be pointed out explicitly.
To @MTOG and anyone reading along who did not already get that (90) pounds per square inch really add up quick when you’ve got an hundred and thirteen of them (sq.in).
Yeah, flattened, then welded in place would be my expectation too.
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