I was dying to do some BHO runs the other day, but was stressing because I couldn't easily find this Vector Butane that everyone uses and says is so great because it's 5x filtered or whatever. BernzOmatic 'tane was available at both of the Lowe's within 7 miles of me, but a lot of folks say that's a shit brand and to stay away from it. Additionally, there are those rumors about ethyl mercaptans and that made my last minute search for butane all that more difficult.
So I did my own research and found the Materials Safety Data Sheets on several well known brands butane. As far as I know, companies HAVE to include any hazardous ingredients and their percentages that are in their products in these sheets, including butane, isobutane, ethyl mercaptans, propane, arsenic, etc.
Some people say n,butane is better than isobutane and vice versa, but I tend to believe that for solvent purposes, either does just as good as the other.
Regardless, here's what I found.
Vector Butane:
http://www.vectorkgm.com/catalog/butane/Vector_Gas_MSDS.pdf
SECTION II- Summary of Hazards & Composition
SUBSTANCE: Butane Percent: 60.00
CAS#: 106-87-8 Synonyms: n-Butane, Tetrane
SUBSTANCE: iso-Butane Percent: 29.00
CAS#: 75-28-5 Synonyms: 2-Methylpropane, Trlmethylethane
SUBSTANCE: Propane Percent: 11.00
CAS#: 75-98-6 Synonyms: LPG, Dimethylmethane, Propylhydride
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE! Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame.
Propane 11%??? I really couldn't believe it, so I searched Ronson to see what their Propane content, and other crappy ingredients were.
Ronson Butane:
http://www.gpsidental.com/uploads/files/Ronson Butane Refill MSDS - May 2000.pdf
Ingredient Name CAS No Contents Health Risk
(class) (R No.)
Butane 106 - 97 - 8 99%
Composition Comments Substances indicating a hazard do so under EC Directives 88/379 & 67/548
Aerosol classified as Flammable
Wow, 99% butane. No Propane, no ethyl mercaptans. But there's a 1% of something not listed that apparently isn't deemed hazardous, but I figured could be some kind of contaminant so I continued my search.
BernzOmatic Butane:
http://www.bernzomatic.com/Portals/8/Resources/msdsSheets/Eng-BF55-Butane-MSDS-082010.pdf
Hazardous Components
N,Butane, volume (CAS #106-97-8) 22%
Isobutane, volume (CAS #75-28-5) 78%
Ok, so I've found a brand that has 100% butane/isobutane and I'm nervous, but feel confident enough to maybe try it. At least get one can and do the mirror test.
But let me just look up Colibri, which used to be the 'flavor of the month' brand of tane back when BHO first started taking off and I know I could get it from a Cigar shop, but it's about 15 minutes further than the bernzO out of my way.
Colibri Butane:
http://www.action-electronics.com/msds/224.pdf
Hazardous Components (Specific Chemical Identity)
Common Name CAS# %
Butane 106-97-8 78%
Propane 74-98-6 22%
Propane again. No thanks. I'm not making BPHO. I guess I used to though when I bought into the 'best brand of butane' hype.
Now, I'm no chemist, but I just don't get the "5x filtered butane" thing. If it's 100% butane, it's 100% butane. If it's not pure butane, it would be 99% butane, and whatever else, like the Ronson, no? Whatever.
So I took my chances on going to Lowes and trying the bernzOmatic 'tane. They were cheap, less than $5 for a 5.5 fl.oz can. Only 3 left so I snatched up all 3.
I got them home and immediately sprayed some on a mirror for a few seconds to make a nice puddle. No smell of sulfur or eggs or anything foul. After evaporation, there was some condensation, and after the mirror warmed back to room temp, the condensation dissipated, leaving only a nice shiny mirror behind. I figured I was safe.
And I was. The shit made some great fucking oil, in fact the best I've ever made I think. Mango Haze oil is nothing less than an amazing gift from heaven, let me tell you.
Just thought I'd share what I found. If I'm wrong in my reasoning and I really fucked up in using that brand, please tell me why and provide proof.
If you already knew this and this was common knowledge, well, I guess I missed that thread.
So I did my own research and found the Materials Safety Data Sheets on several well known brands butane. As far as I know, companies HAVE to include any hazardous ingredients and their percentages that are in their products in these sheets, including butane, isobutane, ethyl mercaptans, propane, arsenic, etc.
Some people say n,butane is better than isobutane and vice versa, but I tend to believe that for solvent purposes, either does just as good as the other.
Regardless, here's what I found.
Vector Butane:
http://www.vectorkgm.com/catalog/butane/Vector_Gas_MSDS.pdf
SECTION II- Summary of Hazards & Composition
SUBSTANCE: Butane Percent: 60.00
CAS#: 106-87-8 Synonyms: n-Butane, Tetrane
SUBSTANCE: iso-Butane Percent: 29.00
CAS#: 75-28-5 Synonyms: 2-Methylpropane, Trlmethylethane
SUBSTANCE: Propane Percent: 11.00
CAS#: 75-98-6 Synonyms: LPG, Dimethylmethane, Propylhydride
EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE! Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame.
Propane 11%??? I really couldn't believe it, so I searched Ronson to see what their Propane content, and other crappy ingredients were.
Ronson Butane:
http://www.gpsidental.com/uploads/files/Ronson Butane Refill MSDS - May 2000.pdf
Ingredient Name CAS No Contents Health Risk
(class) (R No.)
Butane 106 - 97 - 8 99%
Composition Comments Substances indicating a hazard do so under EC Directives 88/379 & 67/548
Aerosol classified as Flammable
Wow, 99% butane. No Propane, no ethyl mercaptans. But there's a 1% of something not listed that apparently isn't deemed hazardous, but I figured could be some kind of contaminant so I continued my search.
BernzOmatic Butane:
http://www.bernzomatic.com/Portals/8/Resources/msdsSheets/Eng-BF55-Butane-MSDS-082010.pdf
Hazardous Components
N,Butane, volume (CAS #106-97-8) 22%
Isobutane, volume (CAS #75-28-5) 78%
Ok, so I've found a brand that has 100% butane/isobutane and I'm nervous, but feel confident enough to maybe try it. At least get one can and do the mirror test.
But let me just look up Colibri, which used to be the 'flavor of the month' brand of tane back when BHO first started taking off and I know I could get it from a Cigar shop, but it's about 15 minutes further than the bernzO out of my way.
Colibri Butane:
http://www.action-electronics.com/msds/224.pdf
Hazardous Components (Specific Chemical Identity)
Common Name CAS# %
Butane 106-97-8 78%
Propane 74-98-6 22%
Propane again. No thanks. I'm not making BPHO. I guess I used to though when I bought into the 'best brand of butane' hype.
Now, I'm no chemist, but I just don't get the "5x filtered butane" thing. If it's 100% butane, it's 100% butane. If it's not pure butane, it would be 99% butane, and whatever else, like the Ronson, no? Whatever.
So I took my chances on going to Lowes and trying the bernzOmatic 'tane. They were cheap, less than $5 for a 5.5 fl.oz can. Only 3 left so I snatched up all 3.
I got them home and immediately sprayed some on a mirror for a few seconds to make a nice puddle. No smell of sulfur or eggs or anything foul. After evaporation, there was some condensation, and after the mirror warmed back to room temp, the condensation dissipated, leaving only a nice shiny mirror behind. I figured I was safe.
And I was. The shit made some great fucking oil, in fact the best I've ever made I think. Mango Haze oil is nothing less than an amazing gift from heaven, let me tell you.
Just thought I'd share what I found. If I'm wrong in my reasoning and I really fucked up in using that brand, please tell me why and provide proof.
If you already knew this and this was common knowledge, well, I guess I missed that thread.