List of Available Micron Sizes for Bags-- Ice Water Extraction, Bubble Hash

[Psuper]

All of the following micron sizes for 5-gallon water hash bags are available online as of June 2011.

I divide the bag sizes into categories:

THE WORK BAGS

230μ

220μ --This is the common size for the workbag, but Dropbags, among others, makes a 230μ and some larger sizes, up to 400u (suited for different plant material, just saying).

209μ

200μ

190μ

185μ

180μ

170μ

COOKING HASH BAGS
(The following size bags are generally considered only good for cooking, adulterant for good hash for sale, or mixed with 25μ and given away to friends.)

160μ

150μ

135μ --I haven't seen this size used, but I would think that depending on strain/sativa dominance this could fall into either this or the next category.

TRICHOME/HASHISH COLLECTION BAGS
(Yum.)

120μ --Generally considered the start of what you want. Trichomes form Sativas will collect more on the smaller size bags, whereas with indicas you will see more quality stuff at this layer.

110μ

100μ

90μ

86μ

75μ

73μ

72μ

70μ

55μ

50μ

49μ

45μ

THE FINAL BAG
(Anything that drains below the final bag is not worth collecting, so the size of the final filtering screen is important. This final bag is a low yielder and is most often considered lower-quality than the above micron sizes, higher-quality when using a sativa as starting material.)

38μ

33μ

25μ --A common size bag most often used as the final bag.

20μ --Sounds tiny to me, but I haven't done runs with small-gland pure sativa material before.

SPECIAL MENTION

1. I didn't use Ebay as the source for any of this information on availability, and you should not waste money on cheap or counterfeit bags offered at any auction sites.

2. Please contribute any sources/sizes I may have missed.


Pressing Screens
Pressing screens, dabbing screens, blotting screens, drying screens(all the same thing), are made of the same mesh as a bags filter and are most often a 25μ size. Name-brand pressing screens cost around $15 and are only about 12" x 12" usually.

Some ice hash makers don't really like the term "pressing" screen. Many don't fold the screen over and press the screen with any kind of force. The screen is instead left on top of the layer of absorbent paper towels for a little while before being folded over and being gently "dabbed" at with a fistfull of paper towels.

I have seen these screens commercially available in the three following sizes:

33μ
25μ
20μ

 

[Psuper]

Mesh Material

Iam constantly seeing people in different hash forums around the internets link to and ask about "silkscreen" or purchasing pieces of mesh material. "Silkscreen" is just a term nowadays and is usually multifilament mesh when what you acutally want is monofilament mesh. Here's an article explaining the distinction:
http://www.shfilters.com/corporate-blog/monofilament-vs-multifilament-polyester-printing-mesh.html
most of the "silkscreen" and printing cloths you find online and at craft stores is going to be multifilament. It isn't that this multifilament polyester won't work, it is that the monofilament mesh holes will retain there rated size much better and that the monofilament filter itself is more durable.

Multifilament mesh has a rating with "xx" (example: 10xx) in its rating while monofilament does not. Monofilament will let you know the thread diameter.


Folks are also constantly linking to Chineese industrial suppliers for mesh materials who aren't going to sell a few dollars worth of stuff to you or me.

The mesh filter of the ice water extraction bag screen is woven polyester monofilament mesh.

Another distinction to understand in micron mesh ratings is absolute rating vs. nominal rating for filters. Here's a link explaining the distinction:
http://www.lenntech.com/library/fine/absolute/absolute-nominal-filters.htm

Amazon.com and ebay are good sources for little pieces of cheap metal mesh screen for dry sieving kief, but amazon in particular offers nylon and polyester (polyethylene) mesh in 12" x 12" and 12" x 24" sizes for a few dollars (actually the prices change every week on amazon) in the following sizes:

250μ
210μ
200μ
190μ
180μ
165μ
160μ
150μ
149μ
132μ
130μ
125μ
120μ
115μ
110μ
105μ
103μ
100μ
90μ
85μ
83μ
82μ
80μ
74μ
73μ
70μ
65μ
64μ
60μ
58μ
54μ
50μ
48μ
40μ
37μ
36μ
35μ
33μ
31μ
30μ
28μ
27μ
25μ
22μ
20μ
17μ
10μ
5μ
1μ



...and some others I skipped/missed. On the website the polyethylene screens are labeled as "polyester mesh", nylon is simply "nylon".

Multiple applications for the mesh material. The resistance to abrasion of nylon mesh surpasses that of polyethylene (polyester) mesh. The polyethylene mesh has greater resistance to acids and organic solvents than the nylon mesh.

You want to use polyester mesh instead of nylon with water filtration because the holes retain there rated size better (explained more later in this thread).

 

[Psuper]

Does anyone know if Shwagg Baggs brand of bags is still around? and is there a link?
I spent a lot of time on looking at retailers of bags and never came across a site selling there bags.

 

[Psuper]

I'd also love to hear any reviews of these Sprung Bags from folks who have seen or used the more expensive brands like Bubble Bags or Boldt Bags (my fave).

I'd love to hear someones side-by-side comparison.

 

[David762]

Kudos, Psuper!

Collating and sharing all this information took quite a bit of work. Thank you!

 

[Psuper]

ice hash

ice hash

....friendly bump.

 

[Vorsprung]

This is my kind of thread - informative, useful information!!

One thing I'd like to add -- the abrasion resistance between nylon and poly mesh is nominal. In reality, nylon is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) whereas poly is not. When working in microns in a wet environment I'll take poly over nylon every time to ensure consistent micron size. Moisture absorption in (nylon) monofilament could quite possibly change your 45u to an effective 25u.

 

[schmoe]

Really helpful! Thanks!

It used to be easy to search icmag with google. That doesn't seem to work anymore for me. Wish it was easier to find great threads like this one!

 

[Chunkypigs]

Hi all, I just ordered some different mesh sizes from amazon in 12 x 12 sheets, i had not found this thread yet. can anyone direct me to a good homemade thread showing a good filtering system? I'm growing for personal medical use, 1500w, small quantity, thanks, cp

 

[Psuper]

Hi all, I just ordered some different mesh sizes from amazon in 12 x 12 sheets, i had not found this thread yet. can anyone direct me to a good homemade thread showing a good filtering system? I'm growing for personal medical use, 1500w, small quantity, thanks, cp

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=4044080&highlight=mesh#post4044080

This one, from Graywolf, is great.

If pouring a smaller amount of hash-laden water through you can secure the square of mesh inbetween two same-sized wire-mesh colanders.

Pour the water through gently and slowly, maybe over the back of a spoon.

Rinse screen with cold water from a spray bottle or hand-pumped spray bottle to rinse debris through as well as to consolidate the hash into a single spot.

 

[spurr]

Here is a source for bags I have used for poppy-opium extracts, and brewing aerated compost tea. They a bit pricey but much cheaper than bags marketed to cannabis growers! They are washable (the 1 micron seemed to be overkill and is slooooow to filter). I think they nylon monofilament mesh should stand up well to make water hash; I would not suggest using the polypropylene felt version.


Filter bags that you can buy one at a time, 7" mouth x 32" long:
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/1485/Filter-Bags-With-Poly-Ring-Mouth/filter bag/0

• FB300 (300 micron filter size) ~8 per bag
• FB200 (200 micron filter size) ~ $9 per bag
• FB100N (100 micron filter size) ~$10 per bag
• FB75 (75 micron filter size) ~$11 per bag
• FB40N (40 micron filter size) ~$21 per bag
• FB20N (20 micron filter size) ~$22 per bag
• FB10N (10 micron filter size) ~$52 per bag
• FB5N (5 micron filter size) ~$54 per bag

If someone wanted to get a price break they can buy the same type of bag (nylon monofilament mesh with ring keeping mouth open) in larger and smaller sizes, with various micron sizes available, from bio-diesel companies at 25 bags per pack (until cost goes down considerably for 25 bag packs). Bio-diesel filter bags should will work well for water hash extracts. http://www.filterbag.com

 

[Chunkypigs]

thanks both for the links and info! Spurr can you point me to a good aerated compost thread? i've been mixing it up with no bag and just flushing the sediment after using but it is a real mess.
thanks again,
cp

 

[Psuper]

Here's a pic of a 36 micron size mesh that Iam using as a pressing/drying screen:

Only a few dollars from Amazon, as i mention above, and 12" x 24".

Here's how they come packaged:

 

[pinecone]

Please contribute any sources/sizes I may have missed, also, someone shoot me a link for Shwaagg Baggs brand, I couldn't find a site for there bags and don't know what sizes they offer.

I've got an 8 bag Shwaagg Bag set that was purchased 6 years ago. I'll post the sizes in a bit.

Pine

 

[pinecone]

Shwaagg Bag 5-gallon Set

#1 - 210u
#2 - 185u
#3 - 158u
#4 - 129u
#5 - 74u
#6 - 48u
#7 - 32u
#8 - 23u

I do a 30 minute hand stir with a spoon and just use the bags in bold. I've tried using more a few times, but I never get anything out of 185u-129u and do not like what comes out of the the #6, #7, and #8 bags.

Pine

 

[Psuper]

Shwaagg Bag 5-gallon Set

#1 - 210u
#2 - 185u
#3 - 158u
#4 - 129u
#5 - 74u
#6 - 48u
#7 - 32u
#8 - 23u

I do a 30 minute hand stir with a spoon and just use the bags in bold. I've tried using more a few times, but I never get anything out of 185u-129u and do not like what comes out of the the #6, #7, and #8 bags.

Pine

Great post! And thanks for the information; I don't think they're sold anymore (?) but I was interested to know anyways.

 

[Psuper]

This is my kind of thread - informative, useful information!!

One thing I'd like to add -- the abrasion resistance between nylon and poly mesh is nominal. In reality, nylon is hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) whereas poly is not. When working in microns in a wet environment I'll take poly over nylon every time to ensure consistent micron size. Moisture absorption in (nylon) monofilament could quite possibly change your 45u to an effective 25u.

A BIG thank-you for sharing the information. I kindof missed this when you first posted it but definately understand.

I didn't know that the nylon monofilament reacted that way; the info is much appreciated.!

Iam going to update one of my above posts to mention that it is the poly mesh that is wanted with water filtration.

 

[Gray Wolf]

Great post! And thanks for the information; I don't think they're sold anymore (?) but I was interested to know anyways.

Thanks for sharing bro! Having boetian tastes, I still love smoking the initial 150 micron cut and to my eternal damnation and discredit, I never use more than two sizes for my bubble.

In practice, a 150 micron monofilament bag for the first cut and a 75 micron for the second. Everything except the prime 75 micron is used for oil.

I also do a final strip of the material using other processes, as trying to extract it all, using ice water, only beats just too, too much inactive plant material into the mix and makes it harsh.

Interestingly, though I have gotten raves from the 75 micron cut, I also do from the 150 micron cut, and have volunteer patient testers standing in line for anything that passes the 75 micron bag.

All gooood shit and much more effective medicinally than the original bud that it came from! Also way easier on aging lungs..........

 

[decarboxylator]

I'm doing a test right now with Steep Hill Lab. We are looking at different strains using GC/MS. And comparing each bags cannabinoid profile. It was a bitch using all the bags, but I'll report the data here asap

 

[Psuper]

Thread Updated and Accurate as of June 2011...

Here's a list of some of the filter bag companies out there:

Ice-O-Lator

DropBags

Payload Bags

Sprung Bags

Neato Bags

BubbleBags/Fresh Headies

Kootenay Bubble Refinery

Buddhabags/ Probags

Boldt Bags

Trash Bags (same maker as Boldt Bags)

420 Bags

HydroHippy

WackyWilly

Crystal Catcher Herb Bags

Hashbag.com ("Extraction Bags")

Weedbags (from ResinExtractor)

GrassCity.com ("Pollen Extraction Bags")

VirtualSunHydroponics.com ("Herbal Ice Extracts Bubble Kit")

Trichome Bubble Hash Bags