Whoop! Lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu!!!!!!!!!!1

WOW, have things sped up around these here parts!  Enough so to bury the tattered old Graywolf, so please bear with me as I dig out.

Some really exciting stuff has been going on, in addition to the usual yuk a minute climate at the pharm!  Tickling my fuzzel anyway!  Hee, hee, hee, snicker, snark, snort..........

Not even sure where to start, I am so far behind:

Dr Fischedick's lecture was as sell out and a resounding success, as he both enlightened and charmed us.    He has also agreed to assist Skunk Pharm in our terpene research, so we couldn't be more pleased.  Our good fortune that he is conducting his post doctorial studies so handily close!!

Sadly our professional film crew fell apart at the last moment, so we punted with available equipment and volunteers to at least record the lecture.

Fortunately Sara came to the rescue for filming and is also putting together the edited DVD of Dr. Fischedick's lecture, plus she will be advising us on what equipment to buy/rent for the rest of our movies we have planned.

We are pleased to announce that we have reached agreement with Dr Robert Melamede for our next lecture on the Endocannabinoid System, and are firming up the exact date and getting lecture hall nailed down.

Process development:  Hee, hee, hee, look at the pictures of Joe's latest wax pictures, working with cryogenic extraction temperatures, with a vacuum oven finish:

I would show you the pictures of the purdy extractions that we did especially for High Times magazine, but my camera card lost its mind that day.   Fortunately their photographer got some later shots for an article that is scheduled to appear in March.

JY Ndustries loaned the Pharm a DIY SCFE CO2 extraction system, and we've been having our way with it.  So far we have been able to produce aromatic extractions, which is one of the things we wanted to establish.  Thank you JYN!

BHOgard and Skunkpharm have agreed to meet on the field of onions with seconds, to establish which design does what better.  We are still working out the details of which like sized machines to compare and the exact date, but some time early next year those haunting questions should be answered.

Eden Labs has graciously consented to sponsor said shoot off, where we will also be able to test the speed of the Caresaver against the CPS TR-21, Appion, and Haskel.   Hee, hee, hee, a triple whammy!

Holy Shit, look at this photo sent by the proud new owner of the first manual Mk V Terpenator prototype, of his second mixed trim run.  Return was just over 12%, for 277 grams:

As you can imagine, he is dancing  jigs between shoveling out the collection pots, and we are continuing to tweak the test sled to get the most out of it.  I've ordered silicone heat blankets for the columns, replete with digital self learning controls, which should make a huge impact, and will also add a feature I subsequently created for the Mk IVA, which allows the columns to be recovered separately from the collection pot.

Here is a picture of the Mk V headed out the door to its new home, which shows its 304SS stainless rolling frame, which provides shelves for the pumps and supply tank.

The automated Mk V beta test sled is complete, except for minor tweaks and final wiring.  I managed to tear a rotor cuff, so haven't been doing any wrenching for a couple of weeks, but have a plan in motion to finish the unit shortly.

PSI, the automations electronics supplier, just had a chip programmed to replace the current PLC, which will drop the overall electronics cost almost $500.  We have both also found solid state relay suppliers at about 20% of local prices, which will also reduce costs.

Unwilling to lose the Mk IV number sequence, just because the first design was an abandoned chimera of miscellaneous parts, I created the Mk IVA.

I originally conceived the Mk IV in an attempt to increase the evaporation surface area using available 6" sanitary spools, before the larger sized sanitary spool pieces were readily available.

I scrapped the project when they became available, but have decided to open it again with the Mk IVA designation, which rises from the ashes of the chimera, so we've dubbed her the Phoenix.

And what a double gorgeous thang she is to behold, with welded manifolds, dual sight glasses, digital temperature control of the columns, and digital readout of the temperature in the collection pot puddle, as well as other refinements.

The Mk IVA Phoenix is based on a 10" X 12" sanitary spool and can run from 2" to 4" columns, up to 36" tall.  I dropped the parts off at the machine shop Sunday, with the delivery promised this week, after which it is off to mah favorite welder.

Both the Mk IVA and the Mk V can run up to three recovery pumps at once, and are the precursor to the Mk VI, running a bank of columns, with multiple collection pots.

The Mk IVA is about the largest Terpenator that you can still manhandle like a Mk IIIA, but I am also designing an optional stainless cart for the pumps and tank, etc.

Lu, lu lu lu, lu lu lu lu lu lu lu lu, Skunk Pharm Research, and Cascade TEK, have agreed to a joint R&D program to develop the ultimate vacuum oven for processing cannabis.  We collectively made a wish list and Joe will start testing a R&D prototype after the first of the year.

Cascade TEK supplies vacuum ovens to NASA and has an impressive R&D lab in Hillsboro.  Alas, these ovens are out of the ma and pa home market, but should be the archetype for vacuum ovens used in commercial applications, and set the new standard for the industry.

Along similar lines, we've been blessed with a digital MCS67 stirring hot plate from Cat Scientific for testing, as well as a X120 Homogenizer. The stirring hot plate all but whistles your choice of music and gives you a backrub, while executing your instructions.

We are awaiting arrival of the homogenizer, and wish to test it making emulsions of oil and glycerin for e-cigs, amongst other things.

Skunk Pharm Research has started conducting private classes for hire, in addition to our public offerings, and have trained several dispensary groups thus far.

Lastly, Skunk Pharm Research is also adding SkunkWurx, a consulting service.  While we don't sell the equipment that I design, SkunkWurx offers the project management service to have any of it built.

We will arrange to have units like the Mk IVA and Mk V built by manufacturers that we've set up, on a cost plus management fee basis.

Our last 2013 class is in December, which is when we will announce next years class schedule.  As some of the classes were grossly over booked and some were under booked, we will try to present more of what is overbooked , rather than try to cover everything.

The classes have been a roaring success, with attendees from as far away as Alaska and the east coast, not to mention Canada.  One of the best parts, is the networking, as well as the new information brought to the classes by the students, some of which are highly advanced.