A few QWISO related questions

[Purpl3_Haz3]

Hello all. I'm planning on doing another QWISO run in the very near future, and I have a few questions to ask beforehand. First off, here is my last qwiso run (and first)

I've been doing more research on the process, to see if there's anything I can do to make it better.

First, One thread on GC suggests decarb'ing the washes in the oven at 220, to convert the THC A to THC. The time being dependent on the size of the wash. Is this something I should do?

Second, I also read in the thread linked above, that the reason for the wash turning white, is due to water (which is in the ISO) In my last wash I used 91% IIRC, would I be better using 99% or as close to it as possible?

Third, I left my nugs whole for all three washes last time. I plan on leaving them whole for at least the first wash...is there any advantage to breaking them up vs. leaving them whole for the second or third wash?

Fourth, I let my dishes evap by sitting out in front of a fan near a dehumidifier...Would there be any harm in using a warm/hot water dish below the evap dish (like a double boiler) to speed up the process?

Any help/advice regarding to the topic would be greatly appreciated! To anyone who may suggest doing a BHO run instead, I would love to, but do not have a safe place to do so. I live in the city, and couldn't do it outside.

 

[stroh]

i think 220 is way too high, though i used to oven purge my ISO, and currently oven purge my BHO to ensure a good purge. i always double boil, it speeds up the process by a good deal, and IMO makes it easier to scrape up, as the end product you are scraping is an oil instead of a kief like consistency. as for BHO in the city, if you can find a timezone that would be clear of any nosy neighbors for a maximum of 15 minutes, you would be able to do a run no problem if you aren't running whole ounces. i am maybe outside for 8 minutes before i am done spraying and everything is good to go inside for the purge

 

[Purpl3_Haz3]

i think 220 is way too high, though i used to oven purge my ISO, and currently oven purge my BHO to ensure a good purge. i always double boil, it speeds up the process by a good deal, and IMO makes it easier to scrape up, as the end product you are scraping is an oil instead of a kief like consistency. as for BHO in the city, if you can find a timezone that would be clear of any nosy neighbors for a maximum of 15 minutes, you would be able to do a run no problem if you aren't running whole ounces. i am maybe outside for 8 minutes before i am done spraying and everything is good to go inside for the purge

Just the person I was looking to hear from!

My last run came out very solid, so I'll definitely double boil! As for the oven, what temp should I use to decarb?

 

[stroh]

isopropyl begins to boil at 181F, so i'd say 190 would be a safe bet. i would double boil until there is no liquid left in the pyrex, then pop it in the oven for 10-15 minutes depending on how big of a batch you make. this step is more to ensure there is no alcohol rather than decarbing, IMO any unnecessary heat is just degrading the cannabinoids, and since decarboxylation happens right before you inhale the product anyway.

 

[Purpl3_Haz3]

isopropyl begins to boil at 181F, so i'd say 190 would be a safe bet. i would double boil until there is no liquid left in the pyrex, then pop it in the oven for 10-15 minutes depending on how big of a batch you make. this step is more to ensure there is no alcohol rather than decarbing, IMO any unnecessary heat is just degrading the cannabinoids, and since decarboxylation happens right before you inhale the product anyway.

Alright, sounds good, thanks for the input! That makes sense about it decarbing before you inhale. I had just read in a few places, that you had to decarb to get the thc a to jsut thc. But if it's like my first run, it should be fine

 

[cannybagoftudor]

I have done my very first QWISO run using 99.9% Iso - used some of the oil scrapings in 100% cotton in my mflb (thanks vitolo) lovely hit very intense and lasts about 45 mins to an hour then mellows - is that how it should be - just curious as first time.

 

[2clicker]

To anyone who may suggest doing a BHO run instead, I would love to, but do not have a safe place to do so. I live in the city, and couldn't do it outside.

im in the same boat. tane fumes travel downward and pool on the ground. i dont really want that near my house. maybe if i had a bigger yard.

 

[Purpl3_Haz3]

I have done my very first QWISO run using 99.9% Iso - used some of the oil scrapings in 100% cotton in my mflb (thanks vitolo) lovely hit very intense and lasts about 45 mins to an hour then mellows - is that how it should be - just curious as first time.

Yeah, that seems about normal IIRC. It really depends on the product used, and the quality of the wash, etc...I'd say you probably made out good

im in the same boat. tane fumes travel downward and pool on the ground. i dont really want that near my house. maybe if i had a bigger yard.

I agree, same reason I haven't done it, yet. As soon as it's warmer, I'll hunt for a safe place.

 

[cannybagoftudor]

Many thanks - I must say I am impressed a really nice way of recycling - Ilove being green

 

[weedemon]

i wouldn`t do the oven deal. you will lose flavour if you do that imo.

not sure why your stuff went cloudy on ya. wierd. the more pure the iso the better though! also freeze the iso and the buds for at least an hour (more if ya can wait) before running right..

whole buds for the first run, and busted for any others is good imo. more surface area = more extraction.

the hot water bath is a good idea.

 

[Purpl3_Haz3]

i wouldn`t do the oven deal. you will lose flavour if you do that imo.

not sure why your stuff went cloudy on ya. wierd. the more pure the iso the better though! also freeze the iso and the buds for at least an hour (more if ya can wait) before running right..

whole buds for the first run, and busted for any others is good imo. more surface area = more extraction.

the hot water bath is a good idea.

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll probably pass on the oven...

As far as my previous washes coming out white, the ISO was 91%, the bud was frozen ahead of time, and did whole buds. I think the white is more a sign of purity...the washes were very, very quick. and I got more of a traditional color in the later washes as you can see in my pics :-/ not really sure though, but also not really worried

I'll be doing some Sour Diesel and AK 47 QWISO in the next couple days if all goes as planned. I'll be sure and provide results! If possible, I'll be getting 99%, or something higher than 91% ISO. What is the best coffee filter to use? any reason to use the unbleached vs bleached, etc? Am I fine to place the evap dish(es) in a warm water bath directly after straining into them?

 

[weedemon]

always go for unbleached (brown filter paper) why worry about adding chlorine to your oil?

yep hot water. generally as hot as your tap will go is good. don't use boiling hot for the same reason as not to use the oven. change the water as often as yo like the more frequent the higher ytou will be keeping the temps and the faster your evap will go. i like to use an electric frying pan to hold the hot water in. beats changing the water all the time!

*edit, if you are in doubt and want to be sure that you have completely purged your concentrate then put it in the oven on the lowest temp it will go 150-170 usually. i let it sit 20 min or so like that. but in most cases this step is not needed. just the hot water bath usually does the trick.

 

[2clicker]

for the record... 99% ISO is only better than 91% because it will evap faster right?

there shouldnt be any dif in quality of product...?

 

[weedemon]

for the record... 99% ISO is only better than 91% because it will evap faster right?

there shouldnt be any dif in quality of product...?

yes i agree that other 8% difference is only water(or should be at least) and it will just take longer to evap. in the usa you guys mostly get 70 and 91% only as options right? here in canada it's 70 and 99.

it shouldn't be a big deal, but given the choice i would always go with more pure. water is only going to extract shit you don't want so it's not welcome to the party!

 

[Purpl3_Haz3]

Thanks again Weedemon! I believe you're correct in that we only get 70% and 91% but I'm gonna look around a bit for 99% just for giggles.

always go for unbleached (brown filter paper) why worry about adding chlorine to your oil?

I thought about that, but I was also wondering if ISO would dissolve or extract anything from an unbleached (brown) coffee filter. I mean, why do they bleach them anyhow? Pardon me if this is a stupid question :/

Also, you mentioned to freeze the ISO and the herb. I know freezing the herb helps, locking in chlorophyll and what not, but why freeze the ISO? Stroh mentioned in the thread pertaining to my first QWISO wash, that I shouldn't freeze the ISO...

don't freeze the alcohol unless you want an almost kief like consistency. but by all means prefreeze the jar and nugs

Not trying to be nit-picky, I just want to make certain on some things before I do this again...especially where I am waiting until the weekend anyhow.

 

[weedemon]

oh thats cool I didn't know about not needing to freeze the iso. I always did it. maybe stroh is right though. thb I'm not sure why not. I have only done 5 or 6 iso based extractions. but I always froze both solvent and solutes. I think stroh is more of an expert on iso than I am so I would go with him on it!

regarding bleaching, I think it's simply because we think of white as clean and looks nicer than brown.

 

[2clicker]

can 99% ISO be found online and shipped to the US?

 

[Purpl3_Haz3]

oh thats cool I didn't know about not needing to freeze the iso. I always did it. maybe stroh is right though. thb I'm not sure why not. I have only done 5 or 6 iso based extractions. but I always froze both solvent and solutes. I think stroh is more of an expert on iso than I am so I would go with him on it!

regarding bleaching, I think it's simply because we think of white as clean and looks nicer than brown.

Well I'll probably do like last time and keep the ISO room temp, buds/jar frozen. And, that makes sense on the coffee filters.

2Clicker, not sure on that. I would assume one could find 99% ISO online, but I'm not sure of shipping regulations pertaining to ISO,alcohol solvents. Either way, I'll probably end up using 91% myself.

I may end up doing this today...if so, I'll post some pics.

 

[stroh]

the only reason i do not freeze the ISO, is because it greatly reduces the purge time. IMO freezing the buds is plenty enough to make the trichomes brittle for a more optimal extraction.

 

[smokum]

Just make sure your 91% and below (rubbing alcohol) doesn't contain lanolin that some will add to avoid drying out your skin.

Most times pharmacies will keep 99% behind the counter (don't know why but meh), and if I must ask for it, I just tell them its for a pet's injuries to clean the wound. Not like its any of their freakin business anyways.

As far as filters, I (and many old timers), have always used the malletta or tim hortons coffee filters without issue EVER.

 

[2clicker]

kind of expensive, but...
http://www.amazon.com/Swan-Alcohol-...ef=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1332991412&sr=1-1

 

[Willuminati]

MSDS say's the red bottle is 99% iso but I am not so sure I would give it a try any chemists care to shed some light I know you can get this at any auto parts store and even walmart in the U.S.

 

[StickyShisha2]

i have heard that the automotive stuff has some methanol added.

 

[EyeFonez]

Most Safeways carry 99% ISO, at least in my area they do.

 

[SD_haze]

Most Safeways carry 99% ISO, at least in my area they do.

yup, safeway/vons always seem to have 99% iso already out.