Swamp Water / Golden Dragon a use for your abv/avb
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
I do not and I am happy with the strength I get. If anything, I believe you would only weaken your duff by using up more thc in an attempt to ensure something is activated after it is already. I think of it like trying to make charcoal more charcoal like. Over redundant and potentially wasteful is my thinking but I do not know.VapoFish said:Seems like a good idea to pre-warm duff as a general rule, just to make sure it's all reached the right temperature.
Doesn't it?
VapoFish
Well-Known Member
OK - just made my first batch of Green Dragon. Used ABV & Everclear. Just put a few drops under my tongue ... poaty! 
Question: what do you do with the expended (and Everclear saturated) ABV? I mean after you strain it (I used lo's technique of a double strainer, each with a coffee filter - worked great).
I guess it'll take a few hours to feel the effects of Green Dragon? It's been a while since I've ingested THC.
Question: what do you do with the expended (and Everclear saturated) ABV? I mean after you strain it (I used lo's technique of a double strainer, each with a coffee filter - worked great).
I guess it'll take a few hours to feel the effects of Green Dragon? It's been a while since I've ingested THC.
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
Ive maid about 5 batches and they vary. I believe its due to the consistency in quality of the abv. Sometimes I need to vape stronger than at other times and as such the abv is created from a higher heat, not combustion of the weed but a draining or a more darkened and weakened abv at times. So my quality of abv varies.
To date, I do not see myself using my abv any other way. As Lo stated, I also agree on an empty stomach that it takes 45 minutes or so and longer if you eaten. Actually if I eaten, I barely feel it.
To date, I do not see myself using my abv any other way. As Lo stated, I also agree on an empty stomach that it takes 45 minutes or so and longer if you eaten. Actually if I eaten, I barely feel it.
I came here for some help, but realized you guys might need mine!
Some basic extraction advice:
Finely ground plant material
Warm (not too hot!) solvent
Multiple pulls
You would be benefitted by making sure your AVB is powdered (mortar and pestle/coffee grinder), and by gently warming your everclear in a hot water bath. Not to decarboxylize, but to increase THC's solubility in the alcohol.
Use a bit less everclear than you normally would (only use everclear for a tincture, vodka has much more water which THC is insoluble in, and isopropyll is a poison), and do two or three extractions on the same material. Make sure you squeeze all the alcohol out before doing another pull.
If the alcohol is still picking up a lot of color, you should do another pull.
Combine all the extracts and let them evaporate over time to a manageable amount. A shallow dish with a fan blowing over it makes very short work of 95% alcohol. Keep an eye on your stuff, cause you don't want it to completely evaporate.
If it does, though, it can always be scraped up with a razor blade and redissolved in exactly how much (warm) alcohol you want your tincture to contain.
Thanks for all the tips in this thread. I am going to try my own method, compiled from all your methods in a few moments.
Some basic extraction advice:
Finely ground plant material
Warm (not too hot!) solvent
Multiple pulls
You would be benefitted by making sure your AVB is powdered (mortar and pestle/coffee grinder), and by gently warming your everclear in a hot water bath. Not to decarboxylize, but to increase THC's solubility in the alcohol.
Use a bit less everclear than you normally would (only use everclear for a tincture, vodka has much more water which THC is insoluble in, and isopropyll is a poison), and do two or three extractions on the same material. Make sure you squeeze all the alcohol out before doing another pull.
If the alcohol is still picking up a lot of color, you should do another pull.
Combine all the extracts and let them evaporate over time to a manageable amount. A shallow dish with a fan blowing over it makes very short work of 95% alcohol. Keep an eye on your stuff, cause you don't want it to completely evaporate.
If it does, though, it can always be scraped up with a razor blade and redissolved in exactly how much (warm) alcohol you want your tincture to contain.
Thanks for all the tips in this thread. I am going to try my own method, compiled from all your methods in a few moments.
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
Thanks for stopping by. We are not experts, we are just travelers going down the same road. I look forward to see what process you end up with. Hopefully with more contribution and over time we can come up with a more refined process.
I hear you on the advice about crushing up the abv first but offer in addition that you might need filter again at the end as when you make the abv in a finer powder more of it gets into the solution and for me it takes an extra filtering to get the tincture clean of the fine debris and longer to filter as the finer the abv the more it clogs/slows the filtering process.
I dont do more than one soaking. Many many moons ago I used to make an oil residue using some other chemical and that we would use two pulls but that was with weed and not abv. I am not sure at this point I would advocate for more pulls on the abv as it is significantly weaker than using weed that it might not be realistically worth it for most people but I would imagine its more of a preference but I am of the thinking that the remnant thc salvaged from the a second pull on abv wouldnt be enough to matter but I eagerly look forward to your findings and I have not a side by side test but is something I might try at some point.
Thanks again for contributing and stopping. Its an interesting journey and thus far making abv is still my favorite way of using the abv. The one thing I will caution though, dont expect your first run to be judging point. Every time I make abv tincture it varies in strength and color. Always brown to very dark and I do strain it clean. The darker did not make a difference in strength for me. I am still learning and analyzing every time I make it and adapt here and their but right now I am doing what I have posted in the first post.
Good luck and Happy Vaping!
I hear you on the advice about crushing up the abv first but offer in addition that you might need filter again at the end as when you make the abv in a finer powder more of it gets into the solution and for me it takes an extra filtering to get the tincture clean of the fine debris and longer to filter as the finer the abv the more it clogs/slows the filtering process.
I dont do more than one soaking. Many many moons ago I used to make an oil residue using some other chemical and that we would use two pulls but that was with weed and not abv. I am not sure at this point I would advocate for more pulls on the abv as it is significantly weaker than using weed that it might not be realistically worth it for most people but I would imagine its more of a preference but I am of the thinking that the remnant thc salvaged from the a second pull on abv wouldnt be enough to matter but I eagerly look forward to your findings and I have not a side by side test but is something I might try at some point.
Thanks again for contributing and stopping. Its an interesting journey and thus far making abv is still my favorite way of using the abv. The one thing I will caution though, dont expect your first run to be judging point. Every time I make abv tincture it varies in strength and color. Always brown to very dark and I do strain it clean. The darker did not make a difference in strength for me. I am still learning and analyzing every time I make it and adapt here and their but right now I am doing what I have posted in the first post.
Good luck and Happy Vaping!
I took a bottle of everlcear and ~14g abv. I heated up half the everlcear til it was warm then poured it over the finely ground (coffee ground) stuff. Shook it up and let it settle for an hour or so. I poured off the top layer of alcohol, saving in another jar and pressed liquid out of the weed out as much as possible (french press).
I took the leftover plant matter and added the rest of the everclear, unwarmed. Shook it up a lot and let it sit a few hours. Repeated straining steps and combined extractions.
Filtered alcohol through a cotton filter lightly placed in a funnel. Took forever. Multiple cotton filterings clarified the extract somewhat, and were quite demanding of one's patience. Finally filtered through coffee filter.
Clarified extract was allowed to evaporate in a shallow bowl in front of a fan for maybe an hour or two, frequently checking to note loss of liquid. This final concentrated extract was then bottled in an amber colored glass dropper bottle, found at a local herb shop for less than a dollar.
The shallow bowl had quite a bit of resin on the bottom that, I guess, fell out of solution as it was concentrated. This was dissolved in some 99% ISO, and combined with another ISO solution of oil cleaned from my vape, to be evaporated and used as hash. Or maybe dissolved in some everclear and added to the tincture.
I probably could have avoided all the filtering trouble by letting the alcohol solution sit in a tall glass container overnight or even longer. The undissolved sediment would have naturally settled to the bottom, and the potent liquid could easily be decanted off - no filter required.
The tincture is good. Pretty potent, but that is only due to how much it was evaporated. One could evaporate more or less, to achieve desired potency. Compared to other tinctures, this one is pretty gross tasting. It doesn't fill your mouth and senses with that incredibly fresh weed taste that fresh tinctures have - it's pretty dirty tasting. You can just throw it into a drink though, and it's alright.
I took the leftover plant matter and added the rest of the everclear, unwarmed. Shook it up a lot and let it sit a few hours. Repeated straining steps and combined extractions.
Filtered alcohol through a cotton filter lightly placed in a funnel. Took forever. Multiple cotton filterings clarified the extract somewhat, and were quite demanding of one's patience. Finally filtered through coffee filter.
Clarified extract was allowed to evaporate in a shallow bowl in front of a fan for maybe an hour or two, frequently checking to note loss of liquid. This final concentrated extract was then bottled in an amber colored glass dropper bottle, found at a local herb shop for less than a dollar.
The shallow bowl had quite a bit of resin on the bottom that, I guess, fell out of solution as it was concentrated. This was dissolved in some 99% ISO, and combined with another ISO solution of oil cleaned from my vape, to be evaporated and used as hash. Or maybe dissolved in some everclear and added to the tincture.
I probably could have avoided all the filtering trouble by letting the alcohol solution sit in a tall glass container overnight or even longer. The undissolved sediment would have naturally settled to the bottom, and the potent liquid could easily be decanted off - no filter required.
The tincture is good. Pretty potent, but that is only due to how much it was evaporated. One could evaporate more or less, to achieve desired potency. Compared to other tinctures, this one is pretty gross tasting. It doesn't fill your mouth and senses with that incredibly fresh weed taste that fresh tinctures have - it's pretty dirty tasting. You can just throw it into a drink though, and it's alright.
whosgottheherb
Well-Known Member
I'm thinking of making green dragon, but throwing in some ABV also.. But my question is what do you think all the black and/or dark brown is? Why is it different from fresh buds? I know about chlophyl(sp?) but why so dark? I just wonder if it's healthy..
HerbalSquirrel
IckyStickyStuff
I'd like to share the method described by VaporBrothers in their YouTube video.
It works pretty well - for me atleast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4HLLgVN_xk
The typical dose for a nice mixture of GoldenDragon is using your vaped material and mixing:
1g / 35ml of Alcohol
*(my personal favorite - Austrian "Weingeist" - which we can only get in the pharmacy here since it has 96% alcohol - I think its the equivilent to "Everclear")
The color I usually get from my GoldenDragon is more like a light/Gold to Green liquid - depending how much i've vaped my material.
Here are some pictures of my GoldenDragon using vaped "Nebula":
Here you can see the typical color that I usually get:
The fun thing is - I usually have one of these bottles with me when i'm in a lecture.
I just squirt one Pipet full under my toung - keep it there for a few seconds (I can't n'e longer because 96% alcohol gives a pretty unpleasant burn under the tounge).
I do this because for me it is the fastest method to transfer the "goodies" to my system.
It usually kicks in about 10 - 15 min - i personally notice when my thoughts start drifting and my vision starts lagging - I also squirt it on pretty much anything and eat it or drink it - for example in tea before going to bed.
I personally feel the effects for about 2h until it starts wearing off but it usually comes in waves so its pretty difficult to say.
Does anyone else drop GoldenDragon under their tounge? LOL - i'd like to know how you deal with the nasty alcohol burn taste. I sometimes drop it on a cube of sugar - and suck on that... works too
It works pretty well - for me atleast.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4HLLgVN_xk
The typical dose for a nice mixture of GoldenDragon is using your vaped material and mixing:
1g / 35ml of Alcohol
*(my personal favorite - Austrian "Weingeist" - which we can only get in the pharmacy here since it has 96% alcohol - I think its the equivilent to "Everclear")
The color I usually get from my GoldenDragon is more like a light/Gold to Green liquid - depending how much i've vaped my material.
Here are some pictures of my GoldenDragon using vaped "Nebula":
Here you can see the typical color that I usually get:
The fun thing is - I usually have one of these bottles with me when i'm in a lecture.
I just squirt one Pipet full under my toung - keep it there for a few seconds (I can't n'e longer because 96% alcohol gives a pretty unpleasant burn under the tounge).
I do this because for me it is the fastest method to transfer the "goodies" to my system.
It usually kicks in about 10 - 15 min - i personally notice when my thoughts start drifting and my vision starts lagging
- I also squirt it on pretty much anything and eat it or drink it - for example in tea before going to bed. I personally feel the effects for about 2h until it starts wearing off but it usually comes in waves so its pretty difficult to say.
Does anyone else drop GoldenDragon under their tounge? LOL - i'd like to know how you deal with the nasty alcohol burn taste. I sometimes drop it on a cube of sugar - and suck on that... works too
Lo
Combustion free since '09
Hi Herbal!! I think GD/Tincturing is my fav use for ABV.... Okay so I would LOVE brownies too but damn....gotta watch the fat/calories 
I'm not sure if you already do this but when I tincture I evaporate off about 1/2 the alcohol or so.
Yes, I've tried under the tongue but.... pretty harsh though I think the effects are felt a little quicker. After evaporation I can either just down a bit or I've been known to dilute it a little bit a beverage, even though when mixing it in things get cloudy, easier to down that way for me.
I'm not a big fan of drinking alcohol though so...
I'm not sure if you already do this but when I tincture I evaporate off about 1/2 the alcohol or so.
Yes, I've tried under the tongue but.... pretty harsh though I think the effects are felt a little quicker. After evaporation I can either just down a bit or I've been known to dilute it a little bit a beverage, even though when mixing it in things get cloudy, easier to down that way for me.
I'm not a big fan of drinking alcohol though so...
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
I just made some green dragon the other day and I like it alot.
I also made a big batch of abv tincture, we call it swamp water hehe. It is still my favorite way of using ABV and I can not recommend it enough.
Under the tongue is harsh. I have stopped doing that a long time ago lol.
I also made a big batch of abv tincture, we call it swamp water hehe. It is still my favorite way of using ABV and I can not recommend it enough.
Under the tongue is harsh. I have stopped doing that a long time ago lol.
Lo
Combustion free since '09
Hey Herbal I just noticed the Iolite reference in your siggy in another thread. I am a big fan of the Everclear for cleaning my Iolite parts (PD stems too). That makes a REALLY nice tincture that isn't the swamp water (like that Beez) that we get from our ABV. I actually have been giving my swamp water away as I just don't like alcohol enough to consume it all. The golden stuff though... I rarely give away
I reuse the liquor until it's a lovely color then evaporate down... It is top shelf stuff!!
I reuse the liquor until it's a lovely color then evaporate down... It is top shelf stuff!!
HerbalSquirrel
IckyStickyStuff
Hi!!lo said:
Thanks for the great tips!
I've already been wondering how I should clean my iolite. *I'm new to it*
Definately going to try that out ^^
I'll probably also just stick to squirting some GD in to my drinks instead of under my tounge. LOL
- it's irritating.
Progress
'Socratic Existentialist, MD'
If GD is irritating but quicker & more effective under the tongue, you may want to try evaporating some of the alcohol out of the tincture or adding a few drops to a spoonfull of water (and swishing the solution or taking it a drop at a time under the tongue).
I believe that mixing it into a hot/watery beverage or a carbonated alcoholic beverage is very effective/quick as well.
I believe that mixing it into a hot/watery beverage or a carbonated alcoholic beverage is very effective/quick as well.
DevoTheStrange
Ia! Ia! Vapor Fthagn!
Ive mixed mine with some cola.... its odd too, the tincture makes the cola extra fizzy for some reason.
Interesting... I plan to try this very soon.
Just wanted to say that I would make sure to use only brown - unbleached - coffee filters for those who use coffee filters. The white ones have dioxyn in them, a nasty chemical. You can usually get the brown ones at the grocery stores if you look for them.
(Also, if you're a coffee drinker I suggest you use these brown filters.
And use "organic" coffee, as coffee is one crop that tends to be grown in 3rd World countries where they often use pesticides that are too dangerous to use here in the U.S.. Many health food stores now carry organic coffee. Not sure if Starbucks does but Peets and others do.)
Just wanted to say that I would make sure to use only brown - unbleached - coffee filters for those who use coffee filters. The white ones have dioxyn in them, a nasty chemical. You can usually get the brown ones at the grocery stores if you look for them.
(Also, if you're a coffee drinker I suggest you use these brown filters.
And use "organic" coffee, as coffee is one crop that tends to be grown in 3rd World countries where they often use pesticides that are too dangerous to use here in the U.S.. Many health food stores now carry organic coffee. Not sure if Starbucks does but Peets and others do.)
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
Thanks Moe, I did not know that about coffee filters. I will add your to use the brown ones. Thanks.
I did a batch of the green dragon made from the vape. I was not really impressed with it but I am going to try it again at some point and ready the weed differently I think.
I did a batch of the green dragon made from the vape. I was not really impressed with it but I am going to try it again at some point and ready the weed differently I think.
Beezleb - so "green dragon" is generally when you use fresh herb and "golden dragon" is when you use abv?
I don't have a lot of abv yet - I just started vaping in November or so and am a light user. How many grams of ABV do you think you need to start with, to make it worth it?
I'm intrigued by making my own elixir or extract or whatever, though. I may go buy some "shake" at the local dispensary just so I can try making some "green dragon".
I don't have a lot of abv yet - I just started vaping in November or so and am a light user. How many grams of ABV do you think you need to start with, to make it worth it?
I'm intrigued by making my own elixir or extract or whatever, though. I may go buy some "shake" at the local dispensary just so I can try making some "green dragon".
Beezleb
Well-Known Member
Yea. We call the golden dragon swamp water around here though hehe.
I dont really weigh it out. I think you can make as a little a shot to as much as you wanted. I just take a mason jar. Put in some abv, not quite twice as much ever clear or alcohol of choice and shake it for all I can, let it sit for about 20 minutes. Shake the crap out of it again. Let sit 30 minutes at least, but I have also let sit longer up to a day but I have no idea if it matters.
strain, maybe strain twice if needed.
With weed it will be green in color and with abv it is dark water like.
With weed my results were not so great, I needed a 1/4 shot to get good effects. We used good weed, hoped for effects from mere drops but I think that was hoping for a bit much. Going to look at it a bit more serious I think in the future. I did the green dragon from then video exactly as shown.
With abv, swamp water, I mix it with a bit of coke. It fizzes and looks like something you shouldnt drink hehe but its not so bad. I use a bit everyday.
I do use more herb than most I am sure.
I dont really weigh it out. I think you can make as a little a shot to as much as you wanted. I just take a mason jar. Put in some abv, not quite twice as much ever clear or alcohol of choice and shake it for all I can, let it sit for about 20 minutes. Shake the crap out of it again. Let sit 30 minutes at least, but I have also let sit longer up to a day but I have no idea if it matters.
strain, maybe strain twice if needed.
With weed it will be green in color and with abv it is dark water like.
With weed my results were not so great, I needed a 1/4 shot to get good effects. We used good weed, hoped for effects from mere drops but I think that was hoping for a bit much. Going to look at it a bit more serious I think in the future. I did the green dragon from then video exactly as shown.
With abv, swamp water, I mix it with a bit of coke. It fizzes and looks like something you shouldnt drink hehe but its not so bad. I use a bit everyday.
I do use more herb than most I am sure.
Thanks. Then maybe I'll try making some swamp water from the little ABV I have, just to try it.