How to Make Hash Oil with Butane

If you’re wondering how to make hash oil with butane, then you’re not the only one. A lot of cannabis growers are making the most of their crops by creating all kinds of cannabis products. One of these is hash oil. This oil is very potent, has loads of THC and because of its potent and simple form, you can use this to make all kinds of cannabis products. Let’s explore how this is made and the reason why butane hash oil is one of the most popular forms.

What is butane hash oil?

Butane hash oil is hash oil prepared using butane. It’s called BHO by most users and when this is prepared properly, it can be an enjoyable oil to use. This is available for sale, made by expert manufacturers but some users prefer to make their own BHO at home to ensure safety and purity. 

Many agree that preparing BHO is dangerous considering that you’re using a very flammable substance. If you’re not careful, you can end up hurt when making BHO at home. Therefore, we recommend that only experienced concentrate makers produce BHO. 

IMPORTANT

We made this guide to educate users of the process of making butane hash oil. We caution everyone who wants to use this guide to consider safety foremost. It’s useless to try to make hash oil using dangerous materials if you’re not around to enjoy it!

Is butane hash oil safe?

As we have said before, many consider this process of making hash oil dangerous because it involves the use of butane, a very flammable material. Butane is used to remove the marijuana cannabinoids from weed. When butane is applied, weed becomes a liquid mixture of marijuana and butane and this dangerous material needs to evaporate before it can be consumed as butane hash oil. This is when the process becomes dangerous as heat is applied to remove butane.

When it comes to consuming BHO, if the mixture is not evaporated properly, users might end up smoking the good including the bad materials (butane and other dangerous cannabinoids) as they make hash oil. This makes the mixture unsafe. 

When you compare side by side properly manufactured BHO and regular weed, BHO will be purer and more beneficial to health. Many hash oil makers also say that BHO must come with a certain amount of butane which is inhaled by the user; this is true even for properly manufactured BHO. If this is so, you are also smoking the same material that’s used as lighter fluid.

And of course, smoking anything (cigarettes, tobacco, and weed) is bad for your health and will never be as pure and as healthy as inhaling air. 

When you consider the safety of BHO with regards to the law, you should consider that not all states in the US and not all countries that allow legal use of marijuana support the use of BHO. 

Butane hash oil remains illegal in California despite the state openly accepting the use of medical and recreational marijuana. This means that you cannot possess BHO, you cannot make or manufacture it, sell it or use it. Possession of BHO is already a felony and hash fines are implemented to anyone caught with it. 

There are also no special regulations on how to make BHO and thus, this adds to the danger of making it. Most concentrate makers who perform home extractions wear very little safety gear. Also, most believe that they are safe in making hash oil as long as they don’t smoke while making it. This is of course a dangerous belief. 

Different types of BHO

BHO is also called butane-honey oil or butane-honey because of its consistency and color. And depending on the amount of heat, whipping and humidity applied to the concentrate, there are seven different types of concentrates. 

Shatter – this is the hardest hash oil and it looks similar to glass and can break just like glass as well. It has see-through characteristics just like glass. Shatter is composed of 80% THC and you must have a dabbing rig if you want to consume one.

• Wax – this is the favorite among concentrate users as it will never shatter or crumble however, don’t hold it too long using your bare hands. The consistency is similar to budder or some kind of thick, sticky glue. 
• Budder  – this is known as the purest BHO with 99% purity and 90% THC. The name was derived from butter because it has the consistency of butter.
• Crumble – this type of BHO was produced by purging at a very low temperature for a long period. Because of the low temperature, the concentrate will crumble and this is where it has derived its name. 
• Sap – this type of BHO has the same consistency as sap from a tree. It is sticky but can be rolled up in a ball. Don’t drop this as it can attract dirt. If this happens, you won’t be able to smoke it properly and it won’t be very pure anymore.
• Oil – oil is a thick liquid that is contained in easy to use cartridges. Some licensed manufacturers make hash oil and every version may have different levels of consistency, color, and packaging.
• Pull and snap – the name of this BHO comes from the sound it makes when it is pulled. Pull and snap is perfect for dabbing as it is easy to handle and use                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

How to make hash oil with butane at home?

Yes, you can make butane hash oil at home BUT you must be an expert to perform it. We recommend that you partner with an expert extract maker if you have no idea how to do it or this is your first time. 

PLEASE don’t rely on video tips. If you make a mistake, even a small one,  may cost you your life. 

TAKE NOTE

Butane is very flammable and thus, all extractions should be done outdoors. Manufacturing BHO indoors can be very dangerous because your house can catch on fire. And even if you are working outdoors, make sure you wear safety gear and have a fire extinguisher nearby.

Some special precautions

Remember the following before you start collecting items to use to make butane hash oil:

• Follow the steps to make BHO carefully, never overlook any step and safety precautions.
• Wear proper safety attire. Use gloves and a lab gown or coat. Use eye shield or eye protection. 
• Use correct/proper materials and never use low-quality equipment because these can be very dangerous. 
• Work outdoors or indoors BUT in a safe, properly ventilated space. You must never be near flammable materials like curtains, paper decorations, wallpaper, etc. 
• Use good quality, trusted butane products. Never rely on poor quality, dented, opened, or questionable-quality butane cans. Buy only from reputable suppliers.

Things you need to make butane hash oil

Now you know the precautions of making butane hash oil, consider the following equipment you need. 

Butane – Is any type of butane safe?

As we mentioned earlier, you must consider using only safe butane cans. There are two types of butane: isobutane and N Butane. You may have seen other types of butane however, these may be products with propane mixed with the butane. 

Isobutane is cheaper but can be more dangerous and more hazardous than N Butane. This is why BHO makers prefer N Butane despite the costs. N Butane is also safer to health as it does not leave any kind of residue that may be consumed by the user. You will get purer results when you use N Butane to make BHO.

Where to buy good quality, pure N Butane? You can only buy canisters of N Butane from gas supply companies. This is not available in retail outlets. Consider the following reliable companies that manufacture N Butane: 

• Cora
• CTC
• Colton
• Colibri
• Calor Gas Match
• Davidoff
• Dunhill
• Fackelman
• K2
• Lucienne
• Newport
• Nibo
• Sarome
• Supergas
• Unilight
• Ventti
• Win

If you have a can of N Butane with an unknown brand, check for safety and quality first. To do this, spray a large amount of the butane on the surface of a mirror and wait for 10 minutes. If you smell any kind of foul-smelling odor then don’t use this to make your BHO. 

And when buying N Butane, consider preparing a dozen or more cans for your project. it’s better to have extra butane than to run short as you’re making concentrates at home. 

What marijuana can you use to make butane hash oil?

After preparing the butane cans you will now need to consider the kind of weed that’s best used to make BHO. As a rule, the better or higher the quality of the marijuana you will use the best quality of the concentrate you will produce. Consider the following:

• Use whole buds – these buds need to be fresh, very recently dried must pass through an extractor. 
• Grade A oil is accomplished using one extraction while grade B is produced after a second extraction where newly ground dried buds are used. 
• Never mix your weed. Prepare BHO using one type of weed or a strain of cannabis and then, make another extract using other cannabis strain.
•  Do your research, check the different effects of the type of cannabis you wish to use. Naturally, potent weed creates potent BHO.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

How to make butane hash oil?

Making butane hash oil needs an expert hand. Consider the following materials as well:

• Butane cans (10-oz can) a can of butane is used for every ounce of marijuana. 
• Extraction tube – made of glass with open ends. You can buy this from a laboratory equipment shop or an online shop.
• Pyrex dishes – a medium-sized dish and a large dish
• Heating pad – electric-powered or battery-powered heating pad
• Scraper 
• Container to place the final product
• Hot water
• Safety gear – gloves, mask, safety goggles, lab gown, fire extinguisher, and fans

Instructions

Prepare your weed properly

You can’t just use marijuana from the cannabis plant. You must prepare it well to create good quality hash oil. It starts with drying your buds and plant parts well. Drying time can vary from a few weeks or more depending on the amount of moisture your plants have during harvest time. It’s a must to avoid watering and applying fertilizer or supplements days before harvest time.
Dry your buds separately from the plant parts. Maintain low humidity inside the drying area to prevent the development of molds and mildew inside the room. You can tell that your buds are properly dried when these crumble when you take a small part.
When your dried buds are ready, place these in a small container and place in the refrigerator for a day. Placing weed in very low temperatures can help you extract terpenes better. Take the cold weed out only when you’re about to use them.

Place your equipment outside.

As we said before, consider safety. Place the cooking materials outdoors. Butane has a heavier weight than air and this will naturally remain on the floor. Only a spark or any unwanted electrical activity can easily activate butane. Use an even table that has enough space to accommodate all your supplies and equipment. 

Place a small piece of cheesecloth at the end of the extraction tube.

This is the end of the tube where the extract should pour out. Secure the cheesecloth with some string or rubber band. This will ensure that the weed remains inside the tube. 

Fill the extraction tube with dried marijuana.

Take the cold weed out of the fridge and slowly place this inside the extraction tube. Place the weed in but don’t pack it. Packing weed can make it hard for butane to move through the dried weed. 

Place the butane on the other end.

Time to extract the weed. Place the tip of the butane can on the other end. Pump the butane in the tube. Hold the tube down so that the extract will flow out of the screened end. The extract will flow out in just a few seconds. Keep the tube down. 

Slowly allow butane to flow through the extraction tube.

A Pyrex dish should be available at the bottom of the tube to catch the extract. The liquid is gold-color to dark brown. It will flow continuously as you pump butane in. Remove the butane can when you notice that the extract flow has stopped. This means that you’re done.

Evaporate the liquid mixture.

Place hot water in the larger Pyrex dish and place the smaller Pyrex dish inside. The heat from the hot water will cause some of the butane to evaporate. Replace the water in the tray if it becomes cold. Do this as long as you see bubbles forming on the extract. The presence of bubbles means that there is still a butane that needs to escape the liquid. 

Purge butane using an electric heating pad.

Despite the absence of bubbles in the liquid, there’s more butane trapped in the extract. You must remove all traces of butane to produce a pure and safe BHO. To further remove butane, place the Pyrex dish on top of a heating pad. Place the heating pad set to low. Use a razor or a metal scraper to spread the liquid to help butane escape. Do this as long as it takes to help remove butane. Experts flip the extract once when they purge.

Check for the presence of butane.

Now, this is another dangerous thing and should be done cautiously. If after you have purged the extract for a long time and you’re unsure if there is still butane, hold a flame or a lighter over the extract. If you find any flame then this means there is still butane.

Store the finished product inside an appropriate container.

Place the finished product inside a colored glass container (amber-colored glass containers will do). Use a razor blade to ensure that you’re scraping everything. Place the container/containers inside your fridge for 48 days. This process is known as winterization and this is done to make the BHO smoother. Winterization also removes all waxes and plant lipids that were also extracted by butane. If you skip winterization, you will end up smoking these irritants leading to various types of pulmonary conditions. 

How to keep your butane hash oil longer?

The best place to keep BHO in good condition for a long period is to refrigerate it. Keep the extract inside a container preferably a colored container to protect it from light. Take note that light degrades cannabinoids and thus, you need to protect 

Questions and answers about making BHO

Why is butane hash oil very strong?

You may find BHO with 90%+ THC and this is due to the cannabinoids and terpenes becoming concentrated as the oil is manufactured. This leads to the oil becoming very potent. If this is your first time to consume BHO then we recommend that you use this with caution. 

Is CO2 oil better than BHO?

CO2 hash oil is extracted using CO2 which is a gas that’s present in the atmosphere. CO2 is also a naturally occurring gas and thus is safe in moderate concentrations. This is the main reason why this type of concentrate is far better than butane hash oil. 

Is it safe to vape BHO?

As we have discussed before, there are many types of BHO and only a few can be vaped. Usually, liquid and oil-based extracts may be vaped while solid to semi-solid extracts are very difficult to vape. These are consumed using a dabbing rig instead.

Can you cook with BHO?

No, you cannot cook BHO or eat it because even the purest BHO may still contain butane. Butane is very toxic and dangerous to consume. You may suffer from poisoning when you use this type of concentrate to make edibles. Consume BHO using a dabbing rig only.

Is it safe to eat BHO?

It is not safe to eat BHO! Despite having names related to food like honey, crumble, oil, butter, or wax, you cannot eat these as these may still contain butane. This is a dangerous chemical that can be very poisonous when eaten or consumed.

How to prevent rubber-tasting BHO?

You will only be able to taste the finished product by consuming a small amount. Use a dabbing rig. If you find that it tastes like rubber, turn the heat of your dabbing rig down. This will help make the taste more flavorful.

What is BHO extraction?

BHO extraction is the entire process of applying heat as well as pressure to the cannabis plant material. It starts by placing and packing dried weed inside a glass column and blasting weed with butane. The extract is boiled to remove the solvent and this is purged and whipped to get the desired outcome.

How much butane to use per ounce of weed?

It is difficult to say how many butane canisters you need to make BHO. Most experts recommend that you continuously spray butane inside the glass column or until the extract that comes out of this tube has a clear appearance. 

How to tell if the BHO is done purging?

There is no special technique to tell if your BHO is already done purging but here are some hints: 

If the appearance of the BHO extract remains or it remains as a crystalized sponged form then the butane has completely purged. But it still looks like paste or glue then you’re far from it. Apply low heat and cook the extract longer until all the butane has been completely removed.

Here are some things to consider: purging can take hours to days. Generally, purge from 1 to 1 1/2 hours per gram of butane hash oil. So for 10 grams, it can take you 10 to 15 hours!

Can you use coffee filters instead of cheesecloth?

Yes, you can use coffee filters instead of cheesecloth to strain the extract. But, make sure you use several filters and not just one as this may not be enough to strain the plant parts.

Do you need to whip your BHO?

Whipping is a term for mixing the BHO as the butane is purged. This is done to move the extract and to help the butane purge faster. Using a razor or a nail is common but some users use their hands to whip the extract. The longer the extract is whipped, the more it will change inconsistency. It will turn from a see-through oily substance to a waxy one.

Why is some BHO has a gooey consistency?

Some BHO has a gooey consistency but if you don’t want a gooey or runny BHO, you can change it by purging it longer or by winterizing it inside the fridge. The longer the extract is purged and the longer it stays inside the fridge, the more solid it becomes.

How to prevent sugar particles from accumulating?

Sugaring of your BHO happens when the temperature is too high or it’s very humid. To prevent this, keep your stash of BHO inside the refrigerator or the freezer if you plan to keep it longer.

Why does BHO become waxy?

Waxing is also the same with sugaring and usually, it’s due to high humidity inside the room. This humidity can make your oil turn to wax. To avoid this, place the BHO inside the fridge. Use a piece of parchment paper, preferably unbleached parchment paper to wrap the BHO slab before placing this inside the fridge. 

How long can BHO remain inside the fridge?

You can keep your homemade BHO or store-brought BHO inside the fridge indefinitely. You can only take a small portion to dab and return the large slab in the freezer. It won’t turn bad as long as you keep the fridge in stable temperature and humidity.

Conclusion

BHO is one of the purest and the most potent forms of concentrate but making it should be entrusted to professionals. If you’re still wondering how to make hash oil with butane then the best way to do it is to partner with a reputable concentrate maker, never attempt to make concentrates using flammable substances at home.