MzGrowItAll
New member
I am trying to decide between a 5L and a 2L (5 being my preference, I think) Across International is the brand I am looking at. I dont know enough to say which I would like better a dry ice or a chiller. What are the biggest differences I would expect to see between them?
I was hoping someone with more experience could help me find something that will meet my needs without needing to upgrade in a year.
Reality Check: I may be too optimistic thinking I will ever need to upgrade. I dont know that either.
At this time I am self taught on a 5lb CLS from BVV and think I have what it takes to go from there.
I have a nice little 2L short path system set up (I can provide pics if someone would be willing to make sure I did it correctly.)
I was supposed to get a course with this purchase so I was not left fending for myself like I was when I bought my CLS from a local supplier.
I found out after I travelled down to get it that the course was cancelled, and then to top it off, if I wasn't so full of questions, I would have left without carbon or ethanol for the winterization or glycol for my chiller.
I did have enough unanswered questions to get the impression the guy, nice enough and all, while he owned the company was more of a salesman and not someone who has actually run a system. He kept telling me I could get that information from the internet.. Lets hope he was right about that.
So needless to say I dont feel I can depend on him for an accurate breakdown of my needs. I would have been all over one when I went down but there were none in stock. and when I called to ask about the dry ice version he was unaware there was one. So I am here, hat in hand.
I currently have a decent amount of mystery oil BHO from when I first got my CLS mixed in with a mix of ethanol at a rate of 10/1 sitting in my freezer. I was missing the stirrer and a couple of o-rings so my Shorty just sits looking pretty ATM.
I think I have put together enough to fill my 1L limit in my 2L shorty once the ethanol is removed via rotovap, I was of the mind to go down once daily and give it a shake a day while it sits in the freezer I figured it cant hurt while I wait for the system to get up and running.
Which leaves me shopping around for a rotovap and leaning towards a 5L. It is what Mr. Salesman told me that I would need to recover the ethanol when I asked him about it, I did text and ask him about the one I was looking at from Across International and he is now telling me that size might not be enough for me and I might want to upgrade already. How would I know.
I dont want to be taken for a ride and I am hoping that maybe someone can toss me a few links to help out or can give me some sage advice so I can make an informed decision. I read a lot when doing my research as I am sure many do on here, but while I have a general idea I need some real detail.
It is killing me cause I can go to Amazon I can buy 3 5L for almost the same price as one 2L. My mind tells me to buy them and flip the others to pay for the one I use allowing me a system for free.. I would love that... But what looks like a good deal might not be, so before I waste money on a foolish purchase I would like to know what it is I actually need.
I can probably muster up 1 kg every two/four weeks for distillation. I would prefer to sit down all at once and get it dealt with in one event. Saving up my runs until I had enough for a second run.
Questions
(Unrelated to the Rotary part)
-Should I run my fluid through my Buchner funnel more than once since I have nothing better to do? IIRC i read this somewhere, necessary?
-What is my carbon ratio?
-When do I add carbon? Do I put it in at the same time
as I put in the ethanol to winterize? Or after?
Shake it and filter it and it is ready to be put in the RV OR put it back in freezer after I shake it then filter it or ???
-Anyone want to see my setups to tell me what I have done wrong?
I currently have my ethanol/Mystery oil BHO sitting in a 20L water bottle in my freezer.
-Is this okay?
-I know there is a max level for the 2L shorty, but, is there a minimum? I am thinking of 2 or even 3rd (if needed) runs.
-Can I use the plant fats in my lotions/soaps? Lip Balms?
-Is Across International a good middling brand?
As for the rotary evaporator
-Is a manual lift difficult to use?
-Is a power lift going to make or break my day?
-Is the dry ice system going to slow my production line down if I am doing about 10 L of liquid to be RVapped at a time?
-Could anyone give me some of their recovery times and how they recover their ethanol.
-Is the glassware proprietary or standard across the board?
I would GREATLY appreciate any Sage Advice that anyone would consider tossing my way.
Seriously Thank you. It is a big purchase and I want to make the right choices.
I was hoping someone with more experience could help me find something that will meet my needs without needing to upgrade in a year.
Reality Check: I may be too optimistic thinking I will ever need to upgrade. I dont know that either.
At this time I am self taught on a 5lb CLS from BVV and think I have what it takes to go from there.
I have a nice little 2L short path system set up (I can provide pics if someone would be willing to make sure I did it correctly.)
I was supposed to get a course with this purchase so I was not left fending for myself like I was when I bought my CLS from a local supplier.
I found out after I travelled down to get it that the course was cancelled, and then to top it off, if I wasn't so full of questions, I would have left without carbon or ethanol for the winterization or glycol for my chiller.
I did have enough unanswered questions to get the impression the guy, nice enough and all, while he owned the company was more of a salesman and not someone who has actually run a system. He kept telling me I could get that information from the internet.. Lets hope he was right about that.
So needless to say I dont feel I can depend on him for an accurate breakdown of my needs. I would have been all over one when I went down but there were none in stock. and when I called to ask about the dry ice version he was unaware there was one. So I am here, hat in hand.
I currently have a decent amount of mystery oil BHO from when I first got my CLS mixed in with a mix of ethanol at a rate of 10/1 sitting in my freezer. I was missing the stirrer and a couple of o-rings so my Shorty just sits looking pretty ATM.
I think I have put together enough to fill my 1L limit in my 2L shorty once the ethanol is removed via rotovap, I was of the mind to go down once daily and give it a shake a day while it sits in the freezer I figured it cant hurt while I wait for the system to get up and running.
Which leaves me shopping around for a rotovap and leaning towards a 5L. It is what Mr. Salesman told me that I would need to recover the ethanol when I asked him about it, I did text and ask him about the one I was looking at from Across International and he is now telling me that size might not be enough for me and I might want to upgrade already. How would I know.
I dont want to be taken for a ride and I am hoping that maybe someone can toss me a few links to help out or can give me some sage advice so I can make an informed decision. I read a lot when doing my research as I am sure many do on here, but while I have a general idea I need some real detail.
It is killing me cause I can go to Amazon I can buy 3 5L for almost the same price as one 2L. My mind tells me to buy them and flip the others to pay for the one I use allowing me a system for free.. I would love that... But what looks like a good deal might not be, so before I waste money on a foolish purchase I would like to know what it is I actually need.
I can probably muster up 1 kg every two/four weeks for distillation. I would prefer to sit down all at once and get it dealt with in one event. Saving up my runs until I had enough for a second run.
Questions
(Unrelated to the Rotary part)
-Should I run my fluid through my Buchner funnel more than once since I have nothing better to do? IIRC i read this somewhere, necessary?
-What is my carbon ratio?
-When do I add carbon? Do I put it in at the same time
as I put in the ethanol to winterize? Or after?
Shake it and filter it and it is ready to be put in the RV OR put it back in freezer after I shake it then filter it or ???
-Anyone want to see my setups to tell me what I have done wrong?
I currently have my ethanol/Mystery oil BHO sitting in a 20L water bottle in my freezer.
-Is this okay?
-I know there is a max level for the 2L shorty, but, is there a minimum? I am thinking of 2 or even 3rd (if needed) runs.
-Can I use the plant fats in my lotions/soaps? Lip Balms?
-Is Across International a good middling brand?
As for the rotary evaporator
-Is a manual lift difficult to use?
-Is a power lift going to make or break my day?
-Is the dry ice system going to slow my production line down if I am doing about 10 L of liquid to be RVapped at a time?
-Could anyone give me some of their recovery times and how they recover their ethanol.
-Is the glassware proprietary or standard across the board?
I would GREATLY appreciate any Sage Advice that anyone would consider tossing my way.
Seriously Thank you. It is a big purchase and I want to make the right choices.