Ight all, I will be updating this tek as time flows because this isn't a 4hr till you smoalk tek.
I will be brutally honest, this tek is designed to achieve high quality results. It focuses on accuracy vs simplicity and speed. So then, let's cook!
Chapter 1: The Cook.
The first step of chapter 1 will of course, be grinding up your bark. Here I have 65g mimosa hostilis I have cut up. After it is cut up I put it into a blender to pulverize the living daylights out of it.
Next, we need some base. I use a 1:9 ratio of NaOH/water solution. This means for every 9 grams of water I use, I use 1 gram of lye. 1ml of water is 1 gram for reference. (Isn't metric just so convenient?)
Add your base slowly to cool water, never add water to lye. You understand? NEVER! Stir while you do this, it will be milky so keep stirring until it is clear.
I went ahead and heated mine up a bit. You may do this as well with a hotplate or hotwater bath. Take note, this step is dangerous and you should only attempt it if you have safety equipment (gloves, goggles) and you feel comfortable doing this. Else skip to the next step.
Intimately mix your shredded bark with your basic solution. I kept heating mine to keep it hot, that is fine if you do the same. Stir constantly and NEVER let it boil. Molten lye is as much fun as not fun could get.
Again, this isn't nesicary feel free to omit this step if you'd like.
Keep stirring for a while, between half an hour to an hour. After you are done, we travel to chapter 2 of this tek.
Chapter 2: Extraction.
You will need a vessel. A stainless steel bottle with a glass or stainless steel marble/bearing works rather well.
It must be glass, or steel.
Now we add our solvent. Many folk recommend 1m per gram of bark, I use about half that. Do what you prefer.
Now add your solvent (I will assume you're using naptha) to your aqueous mixture. The aqueous mixture will be the one with water. Your solvent will be frequently referred to as your organic layer.
Now, mix the two layers together in a container, and mix them intimately for several minutes. Once you are through mixing your layers, pour them out into a larger container, and allow them to separate.
Now remove the organic layer carefully to avoid taking very much, if any of the aqueous layer. It will really screw up the washing step.
I use a sep funnel for this step. Syringes are amazing for removing your solvent as precisely as possible. I purposefully put a ton of base in my sep to show you the consequences of not being careful.
(Too much base)
Once you transfer your organic layer wash it with DISTILLED water. Use an equal volume if possible. After it settle swirl it gently and let it settle again. Be very gentle while washing, emulsions form easilly, and if you don't have a centrifuge you might cause yourself alot of headache screwing this part up.
Done right:
Done wrong:
Centrifuges are n1ce:
Now that you have washed your organic layer a couple times, set it off to the side and repeat this chapter 2-3 more times. Dump your washed solvents together, and proceed to chapter 3.
Chapter 3: Pre-precipitation preparation. (Say that 3 times fast!)
Your solvent may be yellow, but that's ok. Evaporate it down to 1/3-1/2 its current volume.
Yellow solvent ='(
I evap using a water bath and a vacuum to recollect my solvents. So I'm not afraid to go a little overboard and use too much to extract with. You would do well to avoid this as you will likely be evapping with a baking dish and a fan. Fumes are nasty.. open a window!
Fumes are nasty..
Now that you have way less solvent to worry about, clean it up with activated charcoal. Crush it up and add a bit in and swirl. Be sparing, or your yield will suffer!
CLEANNNNNNNNN
Your solvent should be free of yellow traces. If it is not add a tiny bit more crushed activated charcoal. You may use a hot water bath amd swirling as you deem fit.
After it is clean, filter your solvent 2 TIMES.
Okay, your solvent should be looking pretty damn clean. You're probaly already thinking about the glory you're going to be vaping later.
Stop that. We're not done yet.
Chapter 4: Crystalizing
First and foremost. Get your crystalizing dish right now and clean it. Do not use soap, whipe it dry, then rinse it with a small amount of acetone and let it evaporate dry.
Clean and dry:
When your dish is all nice and clean, pour your solvent into it, seal it up. And let it sit for 2-3 hours.
Foil and a rubber band make a good lid, be sure to crease the edges:
After this, place it in the refridgerator for 3 more hours. Then the freezer for no less than 12 hours. NO LESS THAN 12! a full day would be optimal.
Chapter 5: Harvest.