Given all the different types of chemicals used in processes for extracting fun stuff (currently focused on DMT & LSA), what is the best tool for testing Ph? Paper test strips or a digital meter?

I'm pretty sure that a digital pH meter will give more accurate readings. Not in the least because it can be pretty hard to read specific pH values from strips. Considering the fact that basic DMT extractions are quite easy with strips, I won't be getting a digital meter anytime soon. On the other hand, I'm currently doing my first harmala extraction and a digital meter would've been very helpful in separating harmine and harmaline..

It's on the bucket list I guess .

I looked at the Ph digital meter selection on Amazon, they're all made of plastic. Is there any part of any process where touching plastic to the material would cause anything bad? Of course, I only mean parts where testing the Ph would be helpful. I'd never touch plastic to my acacia root mixyure while making DMT.

I got a good pH meter right at the border between non-lab and lab quality with 3 point calibration and probe on a wire. As you said, plastic casing for probe body. I've used it for testing aqueous samples contaminated with xylene many times and some etching has begun to appear on the plastic. It doesn't effect the glass portion of the probe and if a tiny quantity of plastic actually dissolves in the NPS it would stay there and not be salted out.
I wont stick the probe through an organic layer to test aqueous beneath, but I don't think minor exposure is a big problem.
If you buy a good pH meter, be sure you have a squirt bottle of distilled water for cleaning and some 3M KCl solution made with distilled water for probe storage.

Even with a good pH meter, I mostly use pH papers cut into tiny 'doll size' strips and handled with tweezers. If I want precision I use papers to get me close and then meter to get to a precise pH value.
In an emergency, red cabbage juice can be used to make pH papers.

In regards to harmine and harmaline separation, there is a point that should be made.
A harmine and harmaline mix can be improved without a pH meter. In the VDS thread you will see that harmine and harmaline can be separated very well with ammonia and precise pH manipulation to progressively precipitate one and then the other. To get partial separation you can just add the needed amount of ammonia in partial portions and collect the precipitate fractions separately.
Fifty to 65% harmaline is far too much for me, I don't like the feel. My fancy pH meter allows me the luxury of pure harmine I can take in gram quantities if desired, but if I had to settle for improving it to 10 or 20% harmaline and 80 or 90% harmine that alone would be a great improvement.

Could you give me the make & model? Thank you for that very detailed answer!

https://www.thermofisher...atalog/product/STARA2140

got one on ebay for $200.

Of course for precision (e.g. harmala separation - as mentioned here), digital pH meter is irreplaceable.

However, I would recommend getting a set of narrow-range pH papers - the advantage of pH paper is instant reading and they can be used in any temperature and you don't have to worry about cleaning them, damage from solvents or cross-contamination. The pH probes work only in certain temperature range, too.

For applications like mescaline backsalting, where you have to hit the neutralization point, I like to use drops of nitrazine solution.

The refillable probes are glass (ex. Thermo ROSS electrodes). impervious to solvent degradation, and tolerate pH/temp extremes; but they are $$, up to a couple hundred dollars.

The model I got is Smart Sensor AS218. The key things I was looking for was the probe on a wire for ease of use in beakers and such, temperature adjustment, and as many pH calibration points as possible.

I just used ph test strips. super cheap and reliable. ive tried to use ph meters before but they need constantly calibrated and if they get dry they can be ruined.

fish tank PH strips from walmart

I like those, they are very reliable for the price.

I have a Milwaukee MW102 Meter w/ Temp. Nothin' fancy, but it gets the job done and the temp probe is separate from the pH probe. If the electrode gets wonky, or the storage vial leaks the fluid, then a replacement is pretty cheap. The initial set-up is around 100 bucks, but you could probably find a cheaper one.

I haven't compared the direct readings from the cheaper Milwaukee to something like the Thermo, but seems to have a comparable measurement to Hydrion 0-13 litmus paper. Granted, litmus has plenty of flaws and I would never use it to justify the accuracy of a probe. IMO the Milwaukee MW102 is sufficient for "kitchen khemistry." It's 'relatively' easy to calibrate... slightly annoying, but hey. It was free!

Mine was given to me by a tea company who needed a few extractions performed prior to sending a sample to a lab. I was satisfied with a meter as payment for something that I enjoyed doing and only took a short amount of time.


Take Care,
ACY