How to Make Your Own Live Resin Vape Carts
CBD live resin concentrates consist of crystals or diamonds of varying sizes that are suspended in a terpene rich sauce or wax. Some live resin concentrates can be used in vape cartridges as is, while others will need to be decarboxylated. If your live resin is full of large crystals and/or extremely thick, there is a good chance you will need to decarboxylate in order to end up with a smoother consistency that will not clog your cart.
There is one major issue that arises when decarbing live resin and that is terpene degradation. For concentrates that require decarbing, the following method can be used to separate the ‘terp layer’ from the cannabinoid layer of the live resin which will allow you to protect the majority of the terpenes from the heat of the decarbing process.
In a lab setting, you would reach for much more ‘professional’ tools, but considering the majority of us don’t have these at home you can use the following items which can easily be found online (amazon):
• 13mm x 100mm Test Tube w/ Cap
•An extra long dab tool along with a couple standard sized dab tools
•Luer-Lok Syringe w/ dispensing needle
•Glass Beakers - 100ml x 1, 50ml x 1. 25, 10, and 5ml beakers can be used to hold empty cartridges.
•MCT Oil
You will also need some equipment:
•Hot Plate, most induction cooktops with temperature control will work.
•Probe Food Thermometer w/ Needle Probe
STEP 1: Insert Concentrate Into Test Tube
If using a pre filled live resin syringe, simply dispense your live resin into the test tube being careful to avoid getting any on the sides. You want to get as much of it in the bottom as possible. A heat gun/hair dryer/heating pad can be used to get any off the sides.
If you are using concentrate from a regular concentrate jar, use a Standard Dab Tool to collect about 0.5g (you may use less or more depending on the stability of the concentrate) of concentrate and carefully place this onto the largest end of the extra long dab tool. Carefully insert this into the test tube and deposit it in the bottom. A heat gun/hair dryer/heating pad can be used to make sure all of the concentrate leaves the dab tool.
STEP 2: Heat the Concentrate to 160-170F
Fill the 100mm beaker with MCT oil. Place the test tube in this beaker. Place the beaker on your hot plate. Set the temperature to 160-170F and within a few minutes you will notice the terpenes separating from the cannabinoids.
The top layer is the ‘terp layer’ which you want to syphon from the tube using the Luer-Lock syringe. Avoid sucking up any of the smaller crystals from the cannabinoid layer. Set the syringe aside.
STEP 3: Increase Temperature to 240-250F
In this step you will decarboxylate the cannabinoid acids in the cannabinoid layer. During this process you can leave the test tube cap on, but be sure to remove it periodically to release any built up CO2. As the crystalized cannabinoids break down into their non-acidic forms, you will notice a bubbling action. You want to wait until this bubbling stops completely. You will be left with a clear concentrate. This process can take anywhere from 60-90 minutes.
STEP 4: Reduce Temperature to 160-170F & Reintroduce Terp Layer
Take the syringe containing the terp layer from earlier and carefully dispense back into the test tube. If you find it difficult to dispense you may use a heat gun/hair dryer/heating pad to loosen it up. Once you empty the syringe, pull the entire contents of the test tube up into the syringe and dispense again. Do this a couple of times to mix the terp layer throughly with the decarboxylated layer. Finally, dispense your now decarboxylated concentrate into your vape cartridge.
There ya go! Now you can make your own CBD live resin vape carts at home!
NOTE: if you would like to skip this complicated process you can usually get away with using live resin that isn’t full of crystals/diamonds. You can also purchase refillable cartridges and portable vape devices that are meant for vaporizing thicker concentrates.
