Sorry haven`t read tek cos don`t wanna download any zip files, can you copy/paste (just the text bits) on the board into this thread please ?
DON`T think that making solution of Na2CO3 or even NAHCO3 is necessary.
Both not dissolving well in water so what ILPT does is:
Heat the acidic or neutral solution of harmalas salt up to 80-90 C and then start to add very slowly SOLID (finely powdered) carbonate or bicarbonate.
Precip. form in matter of seconds and settling down in matter of minutes
Those ain`t strong bases as NaOH is, so they wan`t overlap pH localy or dramaticly increase temperature localy like solid NaOH would.Therefore they wan`t spoil anything in the product.
It`s only benefical as one doesn`t rise ammount of total water in final solution. Especially with harmaline is wise, not to use too much water when freebasing, as harmaline is slightly soluble in water.
One can`t control pH until the solution cool down but pH control is not necessary if one have a sense for the freebasing.
ILPT used pH meter(papers) only once. Since there he just eyballing and it does work perfectly.
It`s like with cooking (baking). Good cook (baker) never weighing,just eyballing and it`s always fantastic. Just like my mum, lol.
Bless