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skunkpharmresearch
Screen Name:
skunkpharmresearch
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City:
Portland
State:
Oregon
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USA
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Blog Articles Created

118 articles

Blog Comments I've Made

2548 comments
    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Washington State Emergency Rule on Flammable and CO2 Extraction

      "All of the explosions certainly does have the regulatory folks stirred up in the Land of WA, and they do appear to be attempting to drive the point home with a sledgehammer, but Washington is not the only state up in the air over BHO explosions and developing regulation. I’m currently trying to cut through the morass in WA, OR, NV, and CO, and it isn’t pretty. The states trying to figure out how to regulate the fire/safety issues is just one aspect of where things are headed. I recently attended a training session that included NIOSH Industrial Hygienists, as well as high level occupational safety and health officers from the United Food & Commercial Workers representing cannabis industry workers. With legalization, comes regulation and the cannabis industry will be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century when it comes to worker safety. We are expected to meet industrial standards for worker health and safety. I've also been involved in the investigation of a New Mexico lab explosion, which was using a closed loop system, but had inadequate ventilation to accommodate a release that occurred anyway. That has brought to the forefront, the question of how much ventilation is required to keep releases below 25% of LEL and does the room have to be NEMA 7 Div 1 Class 1, or can it be Class II until the HC sensor goes off, at which time ventilation increases and electrical is shut off. The investigation has of course brought to the forefront that many of the system designs are such that they are above 25% of LEL when opened at the end of the cycle, so one possible outcome is that those systems not using an inert gas to perform backfill/purge cycles prior to opening, may be required to add that feature. The issue is expanding from certification of not just the central hardware, location, and installation to meet ASME/NEC/NFPA, but certification of the worker training (manuals), as well as the manufacturers QA procedures, as part of the combined package. We will always have systems in operation that don't keep up with the growing requirements, but it isn't just the fire marshal with building code violation that responds to things that can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong. There are injury, legal, civil, and financial concerns. As far as Fire Marshals second guessing Registered Professional engineers, they both are ostensibly looking at the same regulation document, so the issue is typically resolvable. I employed ME PE’s most of my professional career and we often found errors at peer review meetings and more than once had the plans checker at the county put their finger on a mistake that we all missed. My own experience has been more of out of state fire marshal’s desperately digging for more information on what to look for when both doing an inspection, and when first responders show up in case of an emergency. Sadly, my own proactive efforts to enlist the local fire marshal in helping develop our own industry standards met failure, when he said he would get back to me after talking to the city attorney, but never did. In the absence of our own well thought out industrial standards addressing public concern, they are being set for us. Soooo, what to do, what to do, if we wish to participate in the regulated market place???? Since we have limited control on the standards that are being imposed on us, what WolfWurx, Inc did in response, was assuage their concerns by giving them what they want. We designed a system meeting NEMA 7, Div I, Class I and an extraction enclosure providing 100 cfm per square foot of booth face area, so there was no debate from the PE’s or Fire Marshals. It has a pneumatic Haskel recovery pump, and we added a pneumatic Vaccon high vacuum pump, and hot water pot and column heating, with no electricals in the room beyond millivolt/amps from thermocouples. Our design already included nitrogen to render the chambers inert before opening them, so no other changes were necessary. With all the bright minds on the problem, I can’t wait to see what all solutions arise!"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Emulsifying Vegetable Glycerin and BHO for E-juice by Steve Gold

      "If you have three phase power, get a three phase motor, but Eaton makes a 7 1/2 hp rotary screw compressor with tank and dryer for under $7K that keeps up, and Chicago Pneumatic makes an economical one. We've had good luck with Portland Compressor off Sandy in Portland. Despite needing 40 SCFM at 100 psi, in our application, you only need about 25 scfm at 50 psi to run our process, so a 7 1/2 hp screw compressor should work. The 7 1/2 hp Eaton that we ran, kept the air at 81 psi, and the 10 hp Chicago Pneumatic kept it at 110 psi, while running unloaded part of the time."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Emulsifying Vegetable Glycerin and BHO for E-juice by Steve Gold

      "I haven't tried the four cylinder CMEP-6000, but understand that the CMEP-OL was designed after it. So far we are pleased with its performance, but haven't crashed it yet and pulled a head to see what it looks like inside after a summer in the field, with multiple operators. If it is the same design and quality as the pump we are CMEP-OL we're testing, its worth investigating further, and if someone will send us one to use and abuse, we will be happy to put it through its paces and report back."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Emulsifying Vegetable Glycerin and BHO for E-juice by Steve Gold

      "Morning Tim! An Apion G-5 works, but isn't rated for flammable refrigerants and Apion management has made it clear that they want no part of our market. We are still in the middle of seeing how long it takes us to break our CM EP OL test pump, so its longevity has yet to be determined, but the CM EP OL is the only electric oil less pump that I am aware of, rated for our purpose today. With such a huge market window, that will no doubt change with more off shore offerings, as well as domestic manufacturers looking for ways to tap into the demand. The only time proven oil less pump that I'm aware of this gorgeous morning, is still the Haskel pneumatic, but it is an even larger investment bite to swallow. Peace, GW"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Emulsifying Vegetable Glycerin and BHO for E-juice by Steve Gold

      "I saw the pictures posted, and it is hard to do an analysis from a distance, so am only offering observations and guesses until I do an analysis. The glazed cylinders and deposits look exactly like some of the pumps I've seen that ingested cannabis oil and had been run hot and dry. No oil less piston pump will tolerate that. We just moved our test unit to the fifth lab for trials without any complications, and before passing it on, I alcohol swabbed the intake and discharge ports between three and four, to see if it had been compromised. So far none of ours labs have done so. We will tear ours down when it does fail, and do both a personal failure analysis, as well as use a certified forensic lab to identify any accumulated substances. At that point I will be in a better point to comment."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Emulsifying Vegetable Glycerin and BHO for E-juice by Steve Gold

      "CO2 is a much smaller molecule than Butane and thus far we are not getting any discharge from the fail safe port between the two seals on the EXT-420. When we do, we will rebuild the pump. Good point on indoor leaks. We recommend indoor running, only in a properly set up extraction room, which has an HC alarm and ventilation capable of keeping any leaks below 25% of LEL."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Haskel EXT-420 and 59025-3 Maintenance and Rebuild

      "Valid point, but we left the butane safety part intact. It was the open blasting part we took out, and I see numerous examples on line on how to shoot butane through an open column, so don't see us as adding much. I also note that open blasters are most likely not pre-distilling their butane, so leaving MO behind in the concentrates. I just think it has been demonstrated that there are enough certifiable idiots/sociopaths among us to endanger society with open blasting, and it is time for us to move on and either extract BHO in a closed loop system, or buy it from professionals who do. There is also QWET and other delightful concentrate extraction methods, if you can't afford $500 to build our own Lil Terp passive closed loop system, which is big enough for personal use. Commercial extractors who need greater capacity shouldn't be in the game if they can't remove the MO by predistilling, and at the price of butane, are at a cost disadvantage to their competitors who recycle their butane. Venting large quantities of butane to the atmosphere, also adds to smog and given the acknowledged ecological damage oil drilling causes, should be conserved to minimize the need for more drilling. Peace, GW"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Haskel EXT-420 and 59025-3 Maintenance and Rebuild

      "We really don't feel responsible for their genetic bad luck or gambles with death after being educated, but are greatly concerned about the poor brothers and sisters living next door, innocent children, fat little puppies, and kitty cats, whom get dragged in to the sometimes catastrophic results. I was blow away to see a a report of someone doing it inside a vehicle, with a two year year old child in the back seat. It didn't say whose kid, so don't know if they also had flawed genetics as well and infant mortality would be a merciful end. What we do know is that it is out of control, regardless of whether it is ignorance, flawed genetics, or sociopathy and we founded Skunk Pharm Research, LLC to help the community, so don't wish to support those things pernicious to it. GW"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch The DIY Rotary Evaporator by Siskiyou Sam

      "Which passive system takes 2 to 3 hours to operate, and under what conditions? I ignore most of the hubris on line by those who are ill informed or have a secondary agenda, because they aren't about facts, they are personal attacks like this one, which I have little patience and no time for. If you were better informed, you would know that long ago I submitted my designs for third party peer review and certification that they met ANSI/ASME, to lead the industry in that direction. If you didn't have a secondary agenda and were not in collision with the standards that I've outlined, I'm not sure what the purpose of this conversation is, beyond a personal attack? If you can't meet those standards, I suggest you get out of the game now, because regulation will put you out of any legitimate business. GW"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch The Generic Terpenator Operators Manual

      "It is certainly true that oil less pumps don't last as long under vacuum, because they are running with little lubricant on the piston seals and have little gas flow to carry away the heat generated. The crumble is usually a hydrate, which needs water, and dry nitrogen helps lower water content by drawing away the molecules with them as they exit."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch The Generic Terpenator Operators Manual

      "Diluting the 25% butane atmosphere present at -22" Hg, with nitrogen, both further dilutes it and shields it from the 21% oxygen content in the atmosphere, when the pump discharges it. Ostensibly, a vessel that has subsequently been evacuated to -29.92" Hg, and again backfilled with nitrogen so that it can be opened, has little residual butane left to ignite when the vessel is opened."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Clearly you have an agenda, so how you see "it", holds little water on this site, which sticks to the actual facts. If you want more respect, stick to the facts yourself. Until then, your adolescent innuendos only demonstrate to the readers your sociopathic mentality. A mentality that will say anything to try and make a point, even if it isn't true and innocent bystander like Austins family are hurt. In truth, the Terpenator design is certified by a 3rd party registered professional engineer to meet ASME, and clearly you are not an ME PE, or you wouldn't continue to talk like the village idiot. I don't have to infer your extractor isn't certified and can't be, for two reasons. The first is that nothing I've said should be an issue for you unless you are selling unsafe equipment. The second is that I just pulled up your site to see what you are offering, and so know there is no way you will be certifying it. If that is not so, now is the perfect time to put up or shut up, and show me to be a liar. All it takes is actual facts vis a vis social media BS. Austin's death had nothing remotely to do with Terpenator, and though a student and personal friend to us all, there is no business relationship between SPR and Terpp Extractors. A cherished friend, of whom I was supportive, because I experienced him as pure of heart, but not in business with. How nice in the absence of information, to be conveniently able to pull enough data out of your dank dark nether regions to make a frontal assault on this site, with nothing of substance. It speaks loads for your character and credibility, as well as how far you will go regardless of the collateral damage. I rest my case on the sociopath observation! Since I am in contact with Austin's father, and other members of the Terpp family, it is also clear your perspective is diametrically opposite theirs. In the vernacular, you are totally full of "it." You can choose to try and arrogate for the dead, without being contradicted due to their lack of voice, but not for the living with impunity. While you continue to peck pitifully at tearing down my reputation via social media, I steadily meet the requirements of the regulated market with my designs, leaving no room for wiggle room when you try to prove that you shouldn't have to. While you moan and snivel that worker safety rules are unreasonable, I help educate NIOSH Industrial Hygienst whom are developing the work place safety rules OSHA will be enforcing, so that they are reasonable. How arogant to try and paint a uniquely interpreted picture of someone my age! Are you so intellectually challenged as to not recognize that my corporate and public history is a matter of record. Lawrd knows I would change some of it, if I could, but alas it is engraved in the stone of history, so may I ask how you plan to do so? Do you feel so entitled that you think you get to pick and choose what safety issues you address once you have an employee. Alas if that is so, you are going to be sorely disapponted, because existing laws are clear that they have the right to expect to return home to their family safely and you have to provide working conditions that exhaust all engineering avenues in attempts to make it so. Your financial ledger or business plan is of no consequence. So what is it going to be Chris with Isolation Extractors? Are you going to continue to snivel and whine on social media, wetting your pants and grasping for straws, or are you going to belly up the bar and address what takes be in business once the smoke and bullshit artists are gone? GW"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Austin's death had nothing to do with our machines or this industry. It's not our place to talk about how he died. Your distasteful comments about the death of our friend and colleague; speaks volumes about your character. Joe"

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "No explaination necessary. They aren't rated for R-600, nor do we promote them as such. We promoted only the Haskel at the time I wrote this, but the CMEP-OL specificially built for our industry has tested well thus far, so that may change."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Pressures in a passive system should range between about a -10" Hg using alcohol and dry ice, or up to about 45 psi using 110F water and an ice bath. To meet ASME, it would have to meet 135 psi. I would not use a tubular sight glass where it will be full of liquid and locked between two valves, or where subzero temperatures are going to be involved."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Much better news is that the CMEO-OL is now available and does meet our process certifications and requirements. A little early to rejoice, as it is lacking time in the field, but has so far stood up to commercial use in the field."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Release valves are not 100% reliable, so ASME requires it, but doesn't rely on them. ASME also requires a vessel to withstand three times the load, and 10/12" sanitary spool systems don't. At about 100 psi, a 12" lid starts to deflect and lift off the seals."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Subzero is a local company, but I haven't checked out their latest and greatest, so I will take advantage of one of their open houses and do so, before having an opinion or comment. I do know they offer the TRS-21, as that is where partner Joe got his two and who he is dealing with on warranty issues, which they've honorably stood behind. I also know that they offer the Haskel, whom they get from the same distributor that we get ours from."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "Sanitary systems pressure ratings are based on their closures, hot the spools themselves. In is easier to get a consistent good seal with a bolted high pressure clamp, vis a vis a hinged toggle bolt, and by the time you get into the 10 and 12" clamps, even the high pressure clamps are only rated at 150 psi at 70F and 100 psi at 250F."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "We like the 2054 for our ovens, an AC vacuum pump for initial evacuation, and a Haskel recovery pump on our extractors. Here is information on the Welch pump. http://welchvacuum.com/collections/laboratory-vacuum-pumps-oil-free-pumps/products/part-2054b-01 . I would have to see a picture of your BHOgart to have any thoughts on its safety. We are testing a CM EP OL certified for R-600/600A, which so far has met our requirements and continues to put in it's hours in a production lab without incident. I will be posting a thread on that shortly."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "USE A WELCH CHEMICAL DUTY FAST DRY PUMP PEOPLE!!!!!!!! MADE IN THE USA. ALL WETTED PARTS ARE MADE TO HANDLE HARSH SOLVENTS. PUMPS ARE ACTUALLY MADE TO BE USED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATIONS. We actually do use the Welch Chemical duty pumps in applications where they work. In this case they don’t. HOW STUPID ARE YOU TO USE A HVAC PUMP FOR A CHEMICAL/FOOD GRADE APPLICATION? AND PEOPLE ARE ON HERE TALKING ABOUT SAFETY, LOL YOU CRACK ME UP. How is the Haskel contaminating the solvent it reclaims and how is it unsafe? HOW DO THOSE CHINESE MADE SEALS AND PLASTIC PARTS TASTE IN YOUR CONTAMINATED BHO FROM YOUR GARBAGE PUMP? PROBABLY CAN’T TASTE IT BUT ARE PROBABLY GETTING CANCER AS I TYPE. PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES…..GEEZ. Don’t know, tests never show any to be present. We also use US made valves and seals, as well as US made pumps rated for their purpose. I WORK FOR AN INDUSTRIAL RUBBER DISTRIBUTOR AND DEAL WITH PUMPS AND DIFFERENT RUBBERS/POLYMERS ALL DAY EVERY DAY. FOOD GRADE APPLICATIONS AND FABRICATIONS AS WELL. So proud for you. It would be more impressive to offer concrete facts, rather that capitalized “shouted” opinions and creditials. I HAVE A CUSTOM EXTRACTOR I BUILT THAT IS ALL FOOD GRADE AND 100% EXCELLENT RATING FOR ALL SOLVENTS USED. WHY IN THE HELL WOULD I WANT TO RUIN ALL THAT WITH A HVAC PUMP? Define HVAC pump? The Haskel is simply a pump that also works in that application. I ALSO AM A DISTRIBUTOR FOR DIXON VALVE AND QUICK COUPLING. I’ve used Dixon, but switched to American made AT, after noting Made in China cast on the side of a 2” sanitary valve. ONE OF OUR MANY VENDORS. AMERICAN MADE AGAIN. THE QUICK DISCONNECTS I USE ARE FROM THEM AND ARE 316 SS AND HANDLE 10,000 PSI. THEY ARE QUALITY. THEY DO NOT LEAK. YOU BUY SHEET YOU GET SHEET, TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT. PARKER IS AS WELL BUT I WOULDN’T BUY THEIR IMPORT/CHINESE STUFF FOR THIS APPLICATION. BALL VALVES IN ANY SYSTEM ARE GARBAGE. DUE TO THE DESIGN WHEN YOU CLOSE THEM YOU GET A SMALL AMOUNT OF RESIDUAL LEFT IN THE VALVE. USE PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE NEEDLE VALVES. HANDLE EITHER 10,000 OR 6,000 PSI. ARE 316 SS AS WELL. MUCH BETTER CONTROL OVER YOUR SYSTEM AS WELL WHEN BLASTING, SOAKING, POWER WASHING, IN LINE DEWAXING /WINTERIZING, AND/OR RECOVERING. Yet with an abysmal CV, slow to open, and hard to clean for sanitary use. OH YEA MY SYSTEM DOES ALL THOSE FUNCTIONS AS WELL. WAY BETTER THAN ANYTHING I HAVE YET TO LAY EYES ON. ALSO DEIGNED TO EASILY DO ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1/2 OZ TO 50 LBS PER RUN. YES YOU HAVE TO CHANGE OUT A FEW PARTS OBVIOUSLY BUT ONLY THE COLLECTION AND BLAST CHAMBERS. MY SIGHT GLASS HAS 1/4? GLASS AND WAS HYDO TESTED FOR HALF AN HOUR AT 150 PSI. I USE NEEDLE VALVES ALL OVER MY SYSTEM. PRETTY MUCH AT EVERY MAIN POINT AND ON EVERY TANK. I COULD EASILY REMOVE IF I WANTED AND NOT LOOSE A THING AS FAR AS FUNCTIONALITY. ALWAYS BEEN LESS WORRIED ABOUT IT COLLAPSING IN INSTEAD OF BLOWING OUT ANYWAY. ALL WELDS WERE DONE BY A CUSTOM SS FAB SHOP AND POLISHED BACK TO FOOD GRADE LEVELS. MY COST AND I GET STUFF CHEAP AS A DISTRIBUTOR WITH PUMP……… JUST OVER $6K. OK ONE LAST THING AND ILL CHILL. IF YOU USE PTFE OR ANY THREAD TAPE, PLEASE STOP. YES THE TAPE ITSELF IS PTFE AKA TEFLON AND HANDLES BUTANE FINE. BUT GUESS WHAT PTFE IS NOT STICKY. THE ADHESIVE USED ON THAT PTFE TAPE IS GUESS WHAT. WAIT FOR IT…………SILICONE. GARBAGE. YOU WILL PROBABLY GET LEAKS EVENTUALLY IF YOU ARE USING THIS. THE ONLY OTHER PTFE TAPE I AM AWARE OF THAT DOES NOT USE SILICONE AS AN ADHESIVE USES ACRYLIC. NOT THE SAME ACRYLIC YOU ARE PROBABLY THINKING OF EITHER. LIKE WHAT LIGHTERS ARE MADE OF. NOT THAT. ALSO I CALLED SEVERAL MANUFACTURES AND IT DOES NOT HAVE A RATING FOR BUTANE. THIS IS BECAUSE NO ON HAS EVER TESTED IT. SO IT MIGHT BE OK. I USE A NON-PTFE FOOD GRADE BUTANE AND SOLVENT SAFE PIPE PASTE. IT’S BLUE. CAN’T REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE COMPANY OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD. GOD BLESS HAPPY BLASTING THE HOLY GRAIL BY CATALYST We actually do use the Welch Chemical duty pumps in applications where they work and are working with Welch on pump development. In this case they don’t make a pump suitable for our extractors. How is the Haskel contaminating the solvent it reclaims and how is it unsafe? Don’t know how Chinese made seals and plastic taste in our BHO, because tests have never revealed any to be present. We also use US made valves and seals, as well as US made pumps rated for their purpose. So proud of your employment position and hope it’s paying you the big bucks. It is more impressive to the audience if you present concrete facts, vis a vis capitalized (shouted down at us) opinions, and qualifications of your credentials. Define HVAC pump? The Haskel is simply a pump that also works in our application. I’ve used Dixon, but switched to US made AT, after noting Made in China cast on the side of a 2” sanitary valve. Needle valves are excellent for metering, but typically have an abysmal CV and are slow to open, besides being hard to clean in sanitary applications. You make some good points, and propound your opinions loudly, but do not appear to have done much homework before shouting down at us."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "JD uses an RG6000 for testing his machines. He doesn't actually run a Terpenator or put much work on the pump. The only pump he will sell you with his machines is a Haskel pneumatic. He will not accept the liability of selling you an unrated pump. The problem with the Promax, Diablo, or Appion is that they are all designed to recover mostly liquid and some occasional vapor. They are "oil less" because they take lubricant from the liquid refrigerant stream and use an air cooled condenser to turn vapor to liquid. They have "O" rings and slip rings on the pistons to allow this to happen. In the Appion they are vulcanized rubber and LDPE respectively; which if you check Cole Palmers compatibility chart, aren't suitable for Butane. Some have replaced these seals with Viton "O" rings and Teflon slip rings with limited success. Because Butane vapor will make it past these, not because it dissolves them but, because of how matter is never really solid on a molecular level. Once past the pistons it is now exposed to the motor, clutch and fan. None of which is shielded from sparking and often will because the clutch heats up under vacuum load. So, as the Engineer I spoke with at Appion so eloquently explained, fan + flame = jet turbine. He has seen more than one instance of this scenario cross his bench. So it's not a what if it blows, it's a when. One thing I don't like about the Promax specifically, is the crappy gauges, I want a little better resolution from a critical component. The reason I have found the TR21 to be such a success is because they stripped all that crap off. They designed it to work with vapor like a vacuum pump and sealed the main bearing so it can be used with flammable refrigerants. It doesn't need to be cooled and they say specifically not to cool it. The vapor needs to be chilled before it enters your tank because the output temp is around 175F. I use a 3/8"x 20'stainless coil that is easily made for under $200; in a cooler with regular ice. The MT69 is not made for Butane and will eventually clog and or leak."

    • Profile photo of skunkpharmresearch Booming BHOtards The Explosion of Explosions

      "I only spoke on machines I have used and parts I wouldn't want to use because they are unsafe. The majority of the problems I mentioned could be fixed easily and some of the solutions are cheaper. Like removing the quick connect; a valve and JIC/flare fitting is cheaper. Not as cool looking though."

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