Making butane hash oil (BHO) shatter successfully requires carefully balancing temperature, pressure, and timing. This concentrate is known for its clear, brittle texture and high potency. Through vacuum purging, you can effectively remove solvents to produce a potent and safe product.

Equipment Needed

Creating high-quality BHO shatter requires precise tools and equipment for a successful purification process:

1. Vacuum Oven: Provides controlled, uniform heating and vacuum conditions for effective solvent removal during purging.
2. Vacuum Pump: Reaches the low pressures necessary for solvent removal.
3. PTFE Sheet: Handles sticky concentrates with high-temperature resistance and chemical stability.
4. Stainless Steel or PTFE-Coated Trays: Durable, non-reactive surfaces for collecting BHO after solvent extraction and during purging.
5. Vacuum Hoses and Connections: All connections must be secure and airtight to maintain consistent vacuum levels. Use hoses that resist chemical interactions and physical degradation.
6. Inline Filter: Protects the vacuum pump by preventing extract particles or debris from being drawn into the pump system.
7. Vacuum Gauge: Monitors precise vacuum levels in the oven.
8. Lab-Grade Mixing Tools: Spreads extract evenly across trays to maximize surface area and improve purging consistency.

Safety First

When making BHO shatter, your safety and those around you should be the top priority. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Work in a Well-Ventilated Area: Butane is highly volatile and can accumulate, creating a risk of explosion. Always perform extractions in a well-ventilated room equipped with explosion-proof fans.
• Avoid Sparks and Open Flames: Butane is extremely flammable. Make sure that there are no sparks, open flames, or any potential ignition sources for butane. This includes cigarettes, lighters, and static electricity.
• Wear Protective Gear: Gloves, goggles, and long sleeves should be worn to protect your eyes and skin from butane and raw cannabis material.
• Emergency Preparedness: Keep a properly rated fire extinguisher nearby and train all operators on using it. Be familiar with the quickest way to exit your working area in an emergency.

Preparing to Purge

Start with a clean slate. Sterilize all your tools and surfaces with isopropyl alcohol. This helps prevent any contamination that could affect the quality of your shatter.

Before every use, inspect the vacuum oven for any wear or damage, such as cracks, seal degradations, or other imperfections that could affect performance. Clean the oven thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol and allow it to air dry completely.

Carefully transfer the BHO from the collection vessel to a PTFE sheet or silicone mat using a stainless steel or PTFE scraper. On a clean, flat surface, spread the BHO into a thin, uniform layer across the PTFE sheet.

Aim for a consistent thickness of about 1-2 millimeters. Keeping an even consistency helps with the solvent removal process and prevents areas of concentration that could affect the final extract. A thin spread on the PTFE sheet maximizes the surface area exposed to the vacuum.

Beginning the Purge

Turn on the vacuum pump slowly to reduce the pressure inside the vacuum oven. Avoid rapid pressure changes since these can disturb the extract or cause uneven purging.

The ideal temperature for purging BHO shatter typically ranges between 95°F and 110°F (35°C to 43°C). Staying within this range helps evaporate the solvent effectively without degrading the terpenes and cannabinoids.

Use the vacuum gauge to maintain a pressure range between -29.5 to -29.9 inHg. This ensures efficient solvent evaporation without degrading the quality of the extract.

The duration of the purge depends on the thickness and amount of the extract and the amount of solvent in the crude extract. A typical purge can last from several hours to a full day.

Watching the Bubbles

As you begin the vacuum purge and apply heat, watch for the formation of bubbles. This shows that the butane and other solvents are starting to boil off due to reduced pressure and applied heat.

Pay attention to the size, speed, and amount of bubbles. Vigorous bubbling suggests a high concentration of solvent is being released. As the process continues, the bubbling should gradually decrease in intensity and frequency.

Observe how the bubbles change over time. Smaller, slower bubbles typically indicate a decreasing concentration of solvent.

The bubbling should be consistent across the entire surface of the extract. Inconsistent bubbling can suggest uneven heat distribution or varying thicknesses in the spread.

As the bubbling slows down and only occasional bubbles appear, this often indicates that most of the solvent has been removed.

Continuously purging after the bubbling has significantly reduced can lead to the degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes. Watch for this balance to preserve the quality of your shatter.

Throughout the purging process, check the oven visually and through instruments to keep all parameters optimal.

Ending the Purge

As the purge nears completion, the intensity and frequency of bubbling will significantly reduce. This means that most of the solvent has evaporated. The extract should appear more stable and less reactive to heat and vacuum.

To prevent disturbing the concentrate, release the vacuum pressure slowly and carefully. Gradual decompression helps avoid the extract splattering or spreading due to sudden pressure changes.

Reduce the temperature of the heat source gradually, allowing the extract to stabilize. Sudden temperature drops can affect the texture and composition, so a controlled cool-down is essential.

Once the oven is at normal pressure and the extract is cooled, use non-reactive tools like PTFE or silicone spatulas to carefully remove the extract. Place the extract in a controlled cooling area where it can stabilize without disturbance.

Curing and Storing

After the vacuum purge, let the shatter cool gradually at room temperature. This step helps the shatter to solidify evenly without inducing stress that could lead to cloudiness or weaken its structure.

Inspect the shatter for clarity and consistency once the shatter has cooled and hardened. The product should be transparent and glass-like, without cloudy areas or bubbles.

Check for consistent thickness across the batch. Uneven areas may indicate issues in the purging process.

Transfer the shatter into airtight, UV-resistant containers immediately after cooling. This packaging helps preserve the cannabinoid and terpene profile by protecting the shatter from light and air exposure.

Store the containers in a cool, dark place. Optimal storage conditions help maintain the shatter’s potency and prevent degradation over time.

Making Solvent-Free BHO Shatter

Vacuum purging is key to making great BHO shatter. It’s all about the details: the right tools, the perfect settings, and careful watch over temperature and pressure. When you nail this process, you end up with shatter that's pure, potent, and snaps like a dream.