Refrigeration Help

[blacklist666]

I give up. I own a $250.00 Mini-Fridge. I haven't bought a temperature thermostat yet, but would like a recommendation on a good one. I am at the stage of just procuring supplies. I have researched the temperature desired (-20C?) in order to get my product to crystalize. Live in a box, so space is a consideration. I have researched extensively on non-commercial refrigerator websites for specifications on temperature ranges for the freezer compartments, and all information is suspiciously absent. I know laboratory freezers are available, but want to only spend $500.00 on a used one if possible, but I want the best value possible. I don't want to have to purchase dry ice in order to supplement the mini-fridge I have. I am curious if there is any difference between a stand-alone freezer, a freezer chest, or if there is one brand of freezer / refrigerator that for the price gets into the -20C range, and also curious if -15C would do the trick. Time is not a problem if I can freeze the product within 48 hours, however I am willing to wait 3 day.

Here is my ideal setup:

Small footprint (will only be turned on when needed)
-15 or -20C temperature range (Or what should it be?)
Hopefully cheap, but willing to get specialized equipment. Hopefully only spend $500.00

The question arises: Has anybody been able to get a mini-fridge to work with Norman's Tek?

(I will get naphtha down to as little as possible)

Perhaps a Tek someone can recommend for somebody stuck with a min-fridge?

(This is assuming I remove all ice from freezer, and turn temperature down to coldest setting in order to minimize humidity, but if I use a sealed container, would extra freezer ice help product to cool quicker?)

What is a good long term reliable "strong freezer" (So to speak) to buy as a good investment on a budget?

 

[Carrierwave]

You are going overboard. Any refrigerator freezer worth half a crap is going to crystallize DMT for you. Also if you are "get naphtha down to as little as possible" then you might as well go for a full evap. You also don't want your product to cool quicker, you want a slower cooling process so that the crystals form more slowly and thus theoretically trap less impurities in their structure. The difference between -15 C and -20 C is never going to make a noticeable difference.

 

[blacklist666]

Ah, thank you Carrierwave! So my recently purchased mini-fridge should do the trick! It seems to get soda almost frozen in less than 30 minutes, so I guess I'm set to go! (Considering what you've said)

What about a temperature thermostat? Is one necessary regardless in order that I should post my maximum cold temperature, or should I disregard doing so as you deem it unnecessary?

 

[blacklist666]

Since I have a mini-fridge opposed to a traditional refrigerator, should I consider freeze precip.. how long does it usually take? (SWIM don't wanna go to bed:) - FAQ - All your basic questions and answers - Welcome to the DMT-Nexus where they say to take it out, and put it back in to get large crystals, or just leave it in for at least 17 hours?

 

[blacklist666]

Will I be required to do a full evaporation no mater what? What other options if any will i be left with to finish the Tek?

 

[blacklist666]

I suppose my whole concern is SWIM tried to do a full evaporation, and the end result always comes down to a waxy white substance, (that is yummy good!) yet I'm really wanting to get it into crystal form as an end result. Does anybody foresee any problems doing so, or am I overly concerned?

 

[Carrierwave]

Definitely do not need a thermostat. I don't understand your question about being required to do a full evaporation. My point was that if you want DMT there is no reason to spend up to 500 dollars on a freezer because a tek asked you to do so, when you can just evaporate and still have perfectly acceptable DMT. Since you have evaporated and now want to freeze precipitate, never mind that comment.

I've owned mini fridges in the past and in my experience they do not have actual freezers in them. One door, one compartment. A full sized refrigerator has a fridge lower, and freezer upper, or side by side. That full size is what my comment about 'any fridge worth half a crap' pertains to.

It makes sense to me to supplement a mini-fridge with dry-ice in order to freeze precipitate DMT. I would have no hesitation about doing this. You absolutely have to use a sealed container in any freezer. Air tight. Mason jars with metal lids work fine, or ordinary pasta sauce jars you can recycle for use. Those rubber ring 'sealed' mason jars for jams or whatever do not work at all.

If you want to be impractical and have awesome lab equipment for the sake of perfection I totally understand that motivation and mostly support it.

 

[blacklist666]

You addressed all my questions, and some I didn't bother to ask!

Awesome! I appreciate your insight, knowledge, and information. Now I can go forth without hesitation. I just wanted to make sure I had the right information. I am trying to do this once (In buying equipment) just to insure I'm not missing anything first time. I'll get right to work, and let you know how it goes first time extracting! =)

 

[ShaggyK]

As an alternative, perhaps dry ice can be used? Someone once suggested to me that buying a cheap insulated cooler and a ~kilo of dry ice could be the perfect way to freeze precip on a budget. For someone like my friend, it accomplishes the task of being cheap and keeping naphtha out of the freezer which contains food.

Just have to be careful because the naptha might freeze as well.

 

[blacklist666]

Will keep that in mind! Now the question becomes: Which path should one take: Purchase dry ice, or make it themselves & if so, how; otherwise where does one buy dry ice?

 

[Carrierwave]

otherwise where does one buy dry ice?

I've bought it from Raley's chain of grocery stores. It is $1.60/lb and sold in 4-5 pound blocks, I think I paid 8 dollars for one if memory serves. One block will last for 24-36 hours. Make it yourself, haha that's funny. I originally bought dry ice to keep the naphtha out of my freezer as well, it worked just fine. The brand is like 'Penguin' or something to that affect.

 

[1shot2]

Ive found that when freeze preciping in a mason jar after it snows ,keep the jar as still as you can and decant most of the naptha off leaving crystals and a small amount of solvent.tThen I take a sheet of glass about the size of a sheet of paper or larger and pour the crystals and remaining solvent onto the sheet of glass and let it evap there and scrape up when all is dry.Also some spice will stick to the bottom and sides of the jar,use some of the decanted naptha to wash/scrape the sides of the jar and pour that onto the sheet of glass to recover all the spice....

Also Ive found that once the spice and naptha are poured onto the sheet that you can tilt the glass slightly and just the solvent will roll off the glass and can be collected. here is a pic.

 

[1shot2]

I like this better than baking dishes^^^



lateley Ive been trying recrystalizations with bestine in a small bowl covored with a cd and placed in a large ziplock bag that has drierite(calcium sulfate)(acts as a desiccant) in it to suck up the liquid,(the drierite is in the bag and the bowl just sets on top of the drierite,the cd helps keep the evaporation slow)I tell you it makes pretty beautiful clear shards

 

[Jin]

you don't need to buy a new refridgertor or anything
the small fridges should do the job exceptionally well

swim'd got a refridgerator thats a little bigger than a mini-fridge , however swims refridgerator does not even function properly and still gets the job done well , you should have no problem

have a safe extraction :d ,