Criceolation
03-14-2012, 01:54 PM
I was able to capture images of my last two extractions using a USB microscope, though not the nicest one. And of course, there's a hair in every picture. I'm using 5 gallon Bubblebags and a washing machine. For the first extraction, I ran OG Cheese and Blueberry together in a Zipcro 220 micron extra large bag.
I feel I should mention that the first Zipcro I received was clearly damaged by the zipper during shipping. I waited about two weeks for the replacement, which as you'll see was a waste of my time.
My second extraction was almost identical to the first, from the type and amount of ice and water I used to the length and strength of the agitation. However, I did use Pink Lady and Hawaiian on the second run. I also used an XL Bubblenow bag instead of the Zipcro, and you'll see why.
Here's the 73 micron pull from the second extraction, using a Bubblenow filter bag:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/73UPLH.jpg
And here is the 73 micron pull from the first extraction, using a Zipcro filter bag:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/73UChzBry.jpg
Now of course we're running different strains, so maybe the color differences could be due to that. But when I looked at the 25 micron pulls, the difference in quality was undeniable:
25 micron w/Bubblenow- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/25UPLH.jpg
25 micron w/Zipcro- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/25UChzBry.jpg
I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to which is better based on these photos, but the real reason I bought a Bubblenow bag is that the Zipcro dumped big chunks of plant matter into my machine. When the batch was done and I was cleaning it down, there was a huge amount of large, wet leafy skiff all around the inside of my washer. The hash it produced is still usable, but obviously is greened up a bit. That by it's self is reason enough to buy a higher quality bag, but another major reason is that all that plant matter really gunked up my machine. I had to flush and run and flush and run like you would not believe to get all that plant matter out. I still worry that there are chunks of leaf stuck to and mildewing in the inside of my washer. It can pass 220 micron particulate or smaller, but if the bag you're using doesn't retain the skiff, your washer will need a serious overhaul.
Looking over these threads, you see again and again people saying, "I bought 'XXXX' bags and they made bad hash." Bad tools make for bad work. Spend the extra. Now here's the rest of my second extraction, Pink Lady x Hawaiian using the Bubblenow bag like it was meant to be:
120- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/120UPLH.jpg
90- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/90UPLH.jpg
73 (again)- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/73UPLH.jpg
45- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/45UPLH.jpg
25 (again) - http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/25UPLH.jpg
I also would like to open this thread up for questions or criticism regarding how I make or cure my hash. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope it was interesting if not informative.
I feel I should mention that the first Zipcro I received was clearly damaged by the zipper during shipping. I waited about two weeks for the replacement, which as you'll see was a waste of my time.
My second extraction was almost identical to the first, from the type and amount of ice and water I used to the length and strength of the agitation. However, I did use Pink Lady and Hawaiian on the second run. I also used an XL Bubblenow bag instead of the Zipcro, and you'll see why.
Here's the 73 micron pull from the second extraction, using a Bubblenow filter bag:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/73UPLH.jpg
And here is the 73 micron pull from the first extraction, using a Zipcro filter bag:
http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/73UChzBry.jpg
Now of course we're running different strains, so maybe the color differences could be due to that. But when I looked at the 25 micron pulls, the difference in quality was undeniable:
25 micron w/Bubblenow- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/25UPLH.jpg
25 micron w/Zipcro- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/25UChzBry.jpg
I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to which is better based on these photos, but the real reason I bought a Bubblenow bag is that the Zipcro dumped big chunks of plant matter into my machine. When the batch was done and I was cleaning it down, there was a huge amount of large, wet leafy skiff all around the inside of my washer. The hash it produced is still usable, but obviously is greened up a bit. That by it's self is reason enough to buy a higher quality bag, but another major reason is that all that plant matter really gunked up my machine. I had to flush and run and flush and run like you would not believe to get all that plant matter out. I still worry that there are chunks of leaf stuck to and mildewing in the inside of my washer. It can pass 220 micron particulate or smaller, but if the bag you're using doesn't retain the skiff, your washer will need a serious overhaul.
Looking over these threads, you see again and again people saying, "I bought 'XXXX' bags and they made bad hash." Bad tools make for bad work. Spend the extra. Now here's the rest of my second extraction, Pink Lady x Hawaiian using the Bubblenow bag like it was meant to be:
120- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/120UPLH.jpg
90- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/90UPLH.jpg
73 (again)- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/73UPLH.jpg
45- http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/45UPLH.jpg
25 (again) - http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc32/capriceman79/25UPLH.jpg
I also would like to open this thread up for questions or criticism regarding how I make or cure my hash. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I hope it was interesting if not informative.