After trimming the cannabis buds there is often plenty of trim, stems, and left-over plant material that would otherwise go to waste, but all of it can be used to create wax. These parts of the plant still contain trichomes and plenty of valuable cannabinoids and terpenes.
The process of creating BHO wax begins with grinding up the flower or excess trim. Next, the ground plant material is packed into a tube. Tubes made specifically for making BHO wax can often be purchased at headshops or online, however, PVC or metal pipes with sealed fittings at the end are also commonly used. In large scale commercial labs, BHO wax is made with specialized hydrocarbon extraction equipment.
With all the plant material packed securely inside the tube, liquid butane solvent is forced through it. The butane solvent extracts all the active compounds in the raw plant material. This highly concentrated extract rich in cannabinoids and terpenes is then expelled from the end of the tube.
CBD BHO Wax Created by Professionals
While BHO wax can be extracted from stems and leaves, it is much better to use premium-grade bud. The butane hash oil extraction process strips the resin glands, or trichomes, from the plant material. The plant material is left behind, and you are left with a highly concentrated and potent wax.
Theoretically, BHO wax is a great idea. Non-polar solvent is run through the cannabis. As it works its way through the plant matter, it dissolves the resin glands on contact. The best part is, chlorophyll and other undesirable plant matter is left behind. When the process is finished, the butane hash oil wax is collected in a container.
Finally, the collected wax is left to sit or placed in a vacuum oven so the solvent can be evaporated. The end product is clean and potent wax rich in CBD and terpenes, with no nasty solvents or residues left behind. That is, when it is created by professionals who have done it right.
The reality is, making quality CBD BHO Wax involves expensive equipment and expertise to get the job done correctly. The following are a few techniques used by professionals. We do not recommend attempting any of this at home, it is extremely dangerous.
Butane Extraction Methods
When it comes to cannabis and hemp extraction using butane, there are two methods. Open extractions, or “open blasting”, and closed extractions, also known as “closed loop”.
Open Blasting
Open blasting was the original extraction method used for BHO wax. A stainless steel or glass tube is filled with cannabis or hemp material, and butane is then passed through the tube. This results in a thick yellow-orange, oil that comes out the end of the tube. The solvent is then evaporated from the oil. Once the oil has been purged of the solvent and dried, it becomes usable wax.
Obviously, there are some issues with open blasting. With nothing to contain the solvent, there is always the risk of an explosion. Not only this, but it is also one of the most wasteful ways to extract cannabinoids.
Closed Loop
A closed-loop system is a much more efficient and much safer method of extracting cannabinoids because there is no way for the solvent to leak. The solvent is placed in a pressurized tank that is attached to an extraction tube containing the plant material. Everything is kept within the extraction system, hence the term “closed-loop”.
While this is a much safer method of extraction, it is necessary to check the equipment routinely. This also contributes to the higher cost of this extraction method, which usually limits its use to the professionals.