Noob with a few ?'s before getting started..

[dictator]

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who participates here for such an informative forum! OK, so i've decided to use the Marsofold tek for my first extraction. I have 1 lb. of shredded MHRB on the way from (deleted) products. My plan is to basify the MHRB juices in a 1 Gallon jug to a pH somewhere around 13 - 13.4. Here's my first question:

1. Will i be better off separating this into 3 equal parts and using 100ml of naptha for each pull, or should i just follow the tek verbatim and put 250-300ml into the jug and extract that way? Also, regardless of what i decide would it make sense to do another naptha extraction and save the 2nd pull in another container/dish (less pure?). The only reason I mentioned seaprating the MHRB/lye solution into 3 equal parts is because i've read that doing it that way will increase yields. Let me know your thoughts on this.

2. I plan on putting my naptha pulls into 2 separate glass baking dishes (or 1 if i only do one pull). Should i let the naptha evaporate down a bit before putting it into the freezer? Or should i pop them directly into the freezer?

3. Now this is probably the question i am most concerned with.. After the dish/dishes are in the freezer for a few days, do i pour the remaining naptha through a coffee filter into another container and just evaporate whatever is left on the dish (hopefully with lots of crystals). Do i just evaporate the dish in a cool dry place?

4. Should i attempt to put the naptha i poured off from the dish back into the freezer to attempt to collect more crystals?

Thanks for your help.. I'm sure i'll have more questions along the way...

-d

 

[Noman]

I deleted your supplier name since we've been getting a little nervous about that sort of thing.

1 - I have no idea. You should divide your solution in half and extract half Mars' way and half your way and compare the yields. Then you'll know - and so will we.

2 - Not a bad idea unless you're sure the solvent is saturated. You certainly won't lose anything. Again, you could compare.

3 - Yes, but after you pour off the naptha, the dish has to be recovered and allowed to come up to room temperature before evaporating to avoid getting condensation on your alks.

4 - I doubt you'll get anything. Save it for your next extraction or use it to light the barbecue.

 

[dictator]

Thanks Norman! I appreciate your input..

1. Good idea.. However, it'd probably be a good idea for me to procure a scale before attempting a comparison.. Perhaps on my next try I will do a side by side comparison.

2. As long as I'm not going to lose much, if anything, I will evaporate the naptha pull a bit before putting it into the freezer

3. Just to be clear.. As soon as i pour the remaining naptha from the dish, I should put the plastic wrap immediately over the glass baking dish while it comes up to room temp?

4. Thanks for clarifying.. Is it safe to assume that most, if not all, of the crystals will adhere to the glass baking dish and the remain (if any) will be caught by the coffee filter?

Thanks for the answers, I'm a lot more confident after reading your answers and I'm sure I'll be even more confident once I get an extraction under my belt..

-d