Some Equipment Questions

[amor_fati]

1. What kind of tubing is safe for siphoning naphtha or lye solutions? I've seen vinyl and polyethylene around; if not one of these, what material is safe?

2. What is the best way to grind MHRB? I've used a coffee grinder, but it's very messy and mine broke it's blades and eventually burned out. Manual coffee grinders perhaps? What's worked for people here?

3. Where could I get transfer pipettes (basters are far too messy), besides ordering them? As in, what kind of stores or what sections of stores are they usually found in?

 

[hamhurricane]

if swim were swiy, he would get pre-powdered bark. the yields as most def higher, no inhaling purple bark dust etc. virtually the same price, is their a reason anyone does NOT do this?

 

[endlessness]

3. Where could I get transfer pipettes (basters are far too messy), besides ordering them? As in, what kind of stores or what sections of stores are they usually found in?

SWIM found pipette in 2 kinds of stores: surgery/medical material stores, or chemical supply stores..

also another option is syringes, found in pharmacies and so...

 

[amor_fati]

The only vendor I really trust does not sell pre-powdered.

I've had rotten luck with syringes, I think my best bet over here would maybe be a farming supply store.

 

[Sinewave]

I know a guy who uses big 100ml syringes (no needle). Seems to work pretty good.

 

[acolon_5]

I personally use nasal asperators. The kind for infants. The ones I have used won't dissolve in naphtha and there is a lot more control than a turkey baster and a lot more volume than a syringe.

 

[amor_fati]

Managed to find some glass medicine droppers at walmart; not quite what I was looking for, so I'll just have to stick to the few pipettes I already have for now. I did manage to find some vinyl tubing for nine cents per foot.

 

[Viracocha]

you can use a garden mulcher to break your bark down enough in preparation for the coffee grinder treatment. By 'enough' i mean it shouldn't damage your grinder blades

if you want a pipette or other chemistry wares simply call up a science / chemical supplier and make an order. They won't come hunt you down unless you order diethylamine or similar schedule 1 substances. I've had no problem ordering 99% sulphuric acid and fumaric acid. Depending on process you can actually remain completely anonymous

Pre-powder is probably your best option. Ask around (on www.thenook.org also) for trusted vendors, a lot of people are ordering pre-powered with fine results

I've found no problems with any of the tubing i've come across for siphoning (hot naptha and NaOH solutions). The tubes don't damage, they just get soft, but if you're worried just snip off an inch segment and let it sit in massively high pH solution and another in naptha overnight - see if there's any degredation but I bet there isn't.

Turkey basters seem to be an art, one which i'm yet to master. They suck imo message as fuck and how do you get them not to dribble? Siphoning is OK - just be clean and smart about it. Give yourself some good length so you don't risk getting the shit it your mouth (lye burns lips fast). A vacuum aspirator is easy enough to get and a much better option

 

[DrParadox]

I've had no problem ordering 99% sulphuric acid and fumaric acid. Depending on process you can actually remain completely anonymous

Sulphuric acid is a List II chemical in the US. One site says they require a copy of a driver's license in order to order it.

Overall, I suspect that in the US (ground zero in the war on drugs + 9/11 + Patriot Act + etc.) one should be a bit more weary than in more civilized countries.

 

[acolon_5]

Turkey basters seem to be an art, one which i'm yet to master. They suck imo message as ---- and how do you get them not to dribble? Siphoning is OK - just be clean and smart about it. Give yourself some good length so you don't risk getting the shit it your mouth (lye burns lips fast). A vacuum aspirator is easy enough to get and a much better option

This is exactly why I use the nasal aspirator. There is no drip back, the tip is very fine and can easily pull of 1/10" of solvent without disturbing the base layer. It is extremely easy to handle and give the user a lot of control. The one I have does not degrade at all with toulene, naphtha, or even xylene. I can't say the same for the poor turkey baster I used a few times.

I'd be awful careful of buying any watched chems in America. You can rest assured if you arouse any suspicion you will get a knock on the door by some men with shiney black shoes.

If you keep the orders VERY small you should be ok. Why would you want sulfuric acid when you can use phosphoric or HCL without arousing any suspicion? Also the phosphoric acid I use is food grade, is dirt cheap, and does a wonderful job pulling out alkaloids really quick.

I learned my lesson about Siphoning. A mouth full of lye juice and a mouth full of naphtha has completely convinced me that it just is not the way to go. I don't do large extractions and keep my NP solvent pulls as small as possible for maxium saturation. It takes more pulls, but keeps me from having to evaporate liters of hydrocarbons in the air (of my home nonetheless).

 

[DrParadox]

I learned my lesson about Siphoning. A mouth full of lye juice and a mouth full of naphtha has completely convinced me that it just is not the way to go.

Ick!

You can buy inexpensive ones from hardware stores that have pumps to get it started (but, OTOH, I guess you then have to worry if the solvent/base will attack the pump (probably rubber)).

 

[Spock's Brain]

Absolutely just get a seperatory funnel... no need to bother with syringes/turkey basters to seperate layers! A sep funnel is indespensible!!!

 

[amor_fati]

Hmm, I'm considering the nasal aspirator, but somehow, they're harder to find than I would've thought. The mulcher is a bit too bulky, loud, and inefficient for my purposes--I'll just stick to my hands and the coffee grinder for now. From my experience, siphoning simply requires skill and method and significantly reduces the chances of spilling during transfer. A true chemistry separatory funnel would be amazing, but makeshift version can get messy. How reactive are freezer bags? I've used those for similar purposes with much success.

 

[rellik]

naptha doesnt melt ziploc bags from what ive seen

 

[acolon_5]

Hmm, I'm considering the nasal aspirator, but somehow, they're harder to find than I would've thought.

Try any pharmacy anywhere for a nasal aspirator. The ones with the long snout are best. They will be with the children's care stuff. Ask at the pharmacy desk if need be...they'll point you in the right direction.

A seperatory funnel will work wonderfully, but they are not cheap.

 

[amor_fati]

I can certainly see the advantage to using aspirators, seeing as how they're one solid piece (at least the ones I would probably use). They'd be an ideal substitute for the mouth in kick-starting a siphon as well.

 

[Viracocha]

lol

Mesc sulfate - sulfuric acid

 

[amor_fati]

Oh yes, the aspirator works wonders. It's best use is to pull that last little bit of np off the tbe basified (while taking some of the basified with it) and transferring it to a separatory-funnel (a chianti bottle), from which I tend to siphon and/or use a smaller, proper pipette (of which I have few, but now have a potential supplier). Thanks for the tip, acolon! I think I'm forever free of the ever-so-troublesome turkey baster.