What's new

Mk IV A Phoenix Terpenator

Gray Wolf

Gray Wolf

A Posse ad Esse. From Possibility to realization.
Mentor
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Chonkski said:
Hey gueys, got a few questions that have indeed been discussed before but is a little lost in all the clutter.


So first of all, I finally ordered a 100# recovery tank. I'm currently using the 50# with around 7 lbs of butane in it. I was going to just recover from the vapor port of the 50# straight into the 100# tank, I'll just apply heat to the 50#(?).. How much tane do you guys typically keep in your 100#tanks?

'Tis the season, so I have alooooot of trim from a twister. Water leaf and all just mixed right in of course. Which brings me to my next personal question. What is you're guys' preference of process when it comes to duff like this?

And also regarding the duff, Should I perhaps just run a single pass (shower from the top) and dump it just to keep a efficient production times?

I know a lot of what I'm asking is purely preference which I have plenty of. I'm just looking for some other perspective than my own. I have no one else to bounce ideas off of, so I fiend for spitballing sometimes I suppose.

One last thing.. For those of you using MKiv's or mkV's, do you have difficulty emptying the 4"x36" columns? Should I still just use my 125psi compressor like I do for my 1-1/2" columns?
Click to expand...

About 40# and less than 48#.

100# X 80% fill X .601 n-Butane Specific Gravity = 48.328#.

With the top rinse feature, I prefer to flood the column from the bottom to insure uniform wetting and dump it as soon as it overflows, rinsing from the top as it dumps. Our 4 X 36" column floods in less than a minute.

If you are looking to high grade the material, you can simply rinse from the top, but stop short of full extraction.

We don't have enough air volume to clear a 4" column in the pharm lab, but they are easy to clear just poking them with a stick and using our hands, though we also use an 48" electricians self feeding auger bit in a battery operated drill, which has had the outside sharp edges radiused with a grinder, to protect the tubes.

We can clear a tube at the fab shop using a 1/2" air hose, but it is pretty loud and messy.

It would be easy to lay a pneumatic cylinder on its side and use it as a ram to clear columns into a collection bin without mess, or a huge air receiver/compressor.
 
Last edited:
Chonkski

Chonkski

Member
Gray Wolf said:
About 40# and less than 48#.

100# X 80% fill X .601 n-Butane Specific Gravity = 48.328#.

With the top rinse feature, I prefer to flood the column from the bottom to insure uniform wetting and dump it as soon as it overflows, rinsing from the top as it dumps. Our 4 X 36" column floods in less than a minute.

If you are looking to high grade the material, you can simply rinse from the top, but stop short of full extraction.

We don't have enough air volume to clear a 4" column in the shop, but they are easy to clear just poking them with a stick and using our hands, though we also use an 48" electricians self feeding auger bit in a battery operated drill, which has had the outside sharp edges radiused with a grinder, to protect the tubes.

We can clear a tube at the fab shop using a 1/2" air hose, but it is pretty loud and messy.

It would be easy to lay a pneumatic cylinder on its side and use it as a ram to clear columns into a collection bin without mess, or a huge air receiver/compressor.
Click to expand...


Thank you GW.

As far as emptying my columns go, it looks like it will be a bit more difficult than just using the compressor. Guess I'll be finding out next week. Using an auger bit has always seemed a little extreme for me, although it's not like the compressor is very quiet or gentle either..

I will run exactly the way you suggested, it was actually kind of what I was planning as well.

I know I had a few other things I wanted to bring up, but I can't think right now. I need to medicate and relax for a few hours and I'm sure they will come to mind.

Seasons greetings btw! Hope everyone is busy:biggrin:
 
J

jpdnkstr

Member
Just want to thank GW, for all of your knowledge, and dedication over the years, I am in the process of building a Mk. III, and will of course search for the proper thread to discuss(just joined at wolfwurx), until then.... Happy(and safe) extracting everyone!
 
Chonkski

Chonkski

Member
Thank you much!

One thing I am worried about, is the fact that I'm not using column heat. Nor am I even using two recovery pumps.. I'm worried about enough butane being left in the column to be ignited by the drill
 
icdog

icdog

Member
Interesting point, I usually let mine sit for awhile but emptying, also the drill bit is pretty long. Interesting point though.
 
Gray Wolf

Gray Wolf

A Posse ad Esse. From Possibility to realization.
Mentor
ICMag Donor
Veteran
Chonkski said:
Thank you much!

One thing I am worried about, is the fact that I'm not using column heat. Nor am I even using two recovery pumps.. I'm worried about enough butane being left in the column to be ignited by the drill
Click to expand...

If you pull to -29" at the end of the process, there is not enough butane to ignite.
 
Chonkski

Chonkski

Member
Ok so I got all the tane I have into my 100# tank and it's only about 13lb which it's a little early for me to be able to do the math on, I'll be honest, I have a hard time with the equations.

I believe I will need about 4 more cases of lucienne to have enough to adequately run the 4"x36" column, does this sound correct?
 
Terpp

Terpp

Member
Chonkski said:
Ok so I got all the tane I have into my 100# tank and it's only about 13lb which it's a little early for me to be able to do the math on, I'll be honest, I have a hard time with the equations.

I believe I will need about 4 more cases of lucienne to have enough to adequately run the 4"x36" column, does this sound correct?
Click to expand...

A 4" x 36" column empty will hold 8.92 pounds (22.4 Cans) of butane.

In order to get a complete wash and soak for the next run you will need double the column capacity.

So in your case 8.92 * 2 + 2 = 19.48lbs for a run. I like to add a pound or two on top of what I need so I won't have to refill for a while.

You can use the column calculator on our website to help determine how much butane is needed.
 
Chonkski

Chonkski

Member
Terpp said:
A 4" x 36" column empty will hold 8.92 pounds (22.4 Cans) of butane.

In order to get a complete wash and soak for the next run you will need double the column capacity.

So in your case 8.92 * 2 + 2 = 19.48lbs for a run. I like to add a pound or two on top of what I need so I won't have to refill for a while.

You can use the column calculator on our website to help determine how much butane is needed.
Click to expand...

Thanks terpp!
 
Chonkski

Chonkski

Member
So I just ran the 4"x36" tube for the second time today and boy is it fun! Now I see a brand new side to these systems. I'm going to need a bunch of additions, like adding column heat and figuring out a better way to keep my water bath heated.

Perhaps Brisk Heat is my best choice for both?

I also need to find a way to quickly load and unload columns easily. Although, this is always something that needs improvement. Im still afraid of using an auger because I am not adding column heat right now, so there has been small amounts of butane left when I open the columns up.

Any of you guys willing to share some updated tips that I haven't already read on these threads are greatly appreciated! We are all constantly improving, after all.
 
icdog

icdog

Member
How long did the recovery take with that tube? You didn't use heat yet? How full do you think the recovery pot was?
 
Chonkski

Chonkski

Member
icdog said:
How long did the recovery take with that tube? You didn't use heat yet? How full do you think the recovery pot was?
Click to expand...

The first time the run took about 1hr 45min from start to -22"HG

I used water from 75° that kept getting chilled down to 55° before I would add more.

I bottom fed the column once with some overflow, let it recover a bit, then dumped and let it recover a bit. I then sent a shower through it until it ran semi clear and that's all I'm going with this mass.

I believe the collection at its fullest got to around halfway, or a little more"
 
Pangea

Pangea

Active member
Veteran
So I flubbed a crucial part of my glacier tanks order.

I accidentally ordered the 1.5"NPT x 1.5"TC when I should have order the 1"NPT x 1.5"TC for the vapor recovery port coupler connection.

I have not yet purchased the 1" half coupler so could still switch it to a 1.5" half coupler for welding onto the lid for the recovery port. Any input on any reason to not do this?

I also forgot to purchase a 2"x6" TC spool for the welded T below the column, and only purchased one .5"FNPT x 1.5"TC when I need two, doh.

I have a spare 2"x12"TC Spool but figure that is to long to use as a welded t, would look weird.

List updated for corrections.
 
Pangea

Pangea

Active member
Veteran
So my month old order from Glacier is still not complete, just need the 2" TC heavy duty ball valve, and they still do not have an ETA.

Does anyone know of a solid source for a 2" TC heavy duty ball valve.
 
Pangea

Pangea

Active member
Veteran
Thanks for looking out, im so close, yet still so far away :p

I'd seen the economy valve at BH, just am not sure if it is up to grade.

Glacier has a similar economy valve, and a more expensive bulkier "encapsulated" BV and has "heavy duty" in the description, its $150.

The quick clean BH valve has no image and a weak description " This is a pretty cool valve..." so am hesitant to use it or believe it is a comparable alternative. Its also half the price of Glacier, which leads to more doubts...

I have a feeling that individual orders from Glacier may be on the back burner compared to the many businesses they supply who are building extractors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Latest posts

Top