Improving BHO consistency

[mtbazz]

I've tried to make BHO probably a half dozen times so far using an o'kief tube.

The end product smells great and tastes great, but it is just so sticky and gooey that it is difficult to work with. I usually just end up smearing it on wax paper, freezing it, and breaking off frozen pieces when I want to smoke some.

Is there anything I can do to improve the consistency of my BHO?

 

[Gray Wolf]

I've tried to make BHO probably a half dozen times so far using an o'kief tube.

The end product smells great and tastes great, but it is just so sticky and gooey that it is difficult to work with. I usually just end up smearing it on wax paper, freezing it, and breaking off frozen pieces when I want to smoke some.

Is there anything I can do to improve the consistency of my BHO?

Describe your process?

 

[mtbazz]

Describe your process?

Since I follow the instructions on that came with the okief tube to the letter, I'll describe my process after running the butane (Vector) through the tube.

After the butane cannister is empty, I place the corning ware dish containing the flow-through in a pan filled with hot water to boil off the butane.

I than place the dish on my stove, (which is set to low) to drive off more butane, generally leaving it on there until I no longer see bubbles being formed, than take the additional step of leaving the dish on a heating pad overnight just to be sure that I have driven off any residual butane.

Generally what I am left with is a sticky gooey mess in the pan that scrape off with a metal spatula onto wax paper that than goes in the freezer.

 

[Gray Wolf]

Since I follow the instructions on that came with the okief tube to the letter, I'll describe my process after running the butane (Vector) through the tube.

After the butane cannister is empty, I place the corning ware dish containing the flow-through in a pan filled with hot water to boil off the butane.

I than place the dish on my stove, (which is set to low) to drive off more butane, generally leaving it on there until I no longer see bubbles being formed, than take the additional step of leaving the dish on a heating pad overnight just to be sure that I have driven off any residual butane.

Generally what I am left with is a sticky gooey mess in the pan that scrape off with a metal spatula onto wax paper that than goes in the freezer.

Without looking at your oil, I would guess you are providing enough heat to partially decarboxylate it. Decarboxylated oil is of lower viscosity than its original acid form.

 

[mtbazz]

Without looking at your oil, I would guess you are providing enough heat to partially decarboxylate it. Decarboxylated oil is of lower viscosity than its original acid form.

aha...that would make sense.

Would it best to skip the heating on the stove and just leave it on a heating pad set to low for 24 hours to drive off the remaining butane?

 

[Gray Wolf]

aha...that would make sense.

Would it best to skip the heating on the stove and just leave it on a heating pad set to low for 24 hours to drive off the remaining butane?

Worth trying! Just keep the total heating to a minimum, regardless of how you do it, if you want to minimize decarboxylation.

 

[FatBlunt420]

i do a hot water bath to purge my butane out.
safest way, no flame. and it doesnt take long.

also, whipping some kief into your oil will make it something we call "budda" it will change to a more buttery and less oily form.

 

[AVCS]

Would a vacuum purge help here? Or does the increased pressure lower the boiling point accomplishing the heating we are trying to avoid?

 

[Gray Wolf]

Would a vacuum purge help here? Or does the increased pressure lower the boiling point accomplishing the heating we are trying to avoid?

A vacuum purge will help.

It will purge fastest if the cannabis oil is molten (~180F) while under vacuum.

 

[smokum420]

GW, is there a chart that references the acquired temperature to vacuum reading that makes sense to a "non" scientific mind ?

Thank-You for your many very informative inputs throughout this sub-forum (my mainstay). Much of it wayyyy beyond my abilities of comprehension, however snippets have provided great interest to me.

VapeOn,
smokum

 

[Duckmang]

A lot of it has to do with the buds that were extracted in the first place. Case in point is a ShishkaberryXAK that we did a whole plant extraction with. When purged and at room temp, it was very runny. When frozen on parchment paper it only partially solidifies and remains a very sticky gooey mess. Counterpoint: a Hawaiian Thai trim extraction that once purged made a nice block that could be handled with bare hands at room temperature. It boils down to what you started with will have the most influence over what you finish with.

 

[Gray Wolf]

A lot of it has to do with the buds that were extracted in the first place. Case in point is a ShishkaberryXAK that we did a whole plant extraction with. When purged and at room temp, it was very runny. When frozen on parchment paper it only partially solidifies and remains a very sticky gooey mess. Counterpoint: a Hawaiian Thai trim extraction that once purged made a nice block that could be handled with bare hands at room temperature. It boils down to what you started with will have the most influence over what you finish with.

Excellent point! There is a wide variance by strain, using exactly the same extraction techniques!

 

[Gm421]

Or you could whip into "Budder"

check out you tube for "how to make Budder"

 

[juicepuddle]

Or you could whip into "Budder"

check out you tube for "how to make Budder"

Many say that budder degrades at a much faster rate then unwhipped oil. Just thought this should be stated so someone with little to no knowledge could benefit from it.

If you like budder whip it up when your ready to consume it, do not make budder to store for a long time. This is what I have read many times, however do not know science behind it and cant prove it, just had to throw it in there!

 

[jump117]

the cannabis oil is molten (~180F)

Funny that the melting point THCA (~180F) is practically equal to the boiling point of ethanol 78°C, 172°F.
In terms of temperature, this equates vacuum cleaning with cleaning with ethanol.