How to do BHO extraction, Wax and pressing

BHO, Wax and Rosin Extraction Guide

Summary

• Material and equipment needed
• BHO Extraction: Step-by-Step Method
• Safety precautions for BHO
• Wax Extraction: Step by Step Method
• Security for the Wax
• Rosin Extraction (pressed resin): step-by-step method
• Safety precautions for Rosin
• Tips for improving performance and quality

🌬️ BHO (Butane Hash Oil) – This is a concentrate obtained using butane to extract the resinous compounds from the plant. It results in a very potent oil that can have different textures, from a viscous "honey" 🍯 type oil to a solid and brittle extract called shatter.

⚠️ The BHO requires good purification to eliminate any butane residue before consumption.

💡 However, there is a healthier and more taste-respecting alternative: D.M.E (dimethyl ether). This organic solvent, used in products like **MZ12X** or **Dexso**, allows for effective extraction while being purer and less harmful than butane 🚫🧪. D.M.E does not leave chemical residues if properly purged, and it allows for an oil with a more natural taste and truer to the plant's aromas 🌿👌.

🧈 Wax – The wax is a type of concentrate that comes in the form of a sticky and opaque wax. Its consistency is soft, slightly grainy, and it remains solid when cooled ❄️.

The wax is generally obtained through an extraction process similar to BHO, but with an additional processing step (extended purging or agitation) to induce the crystallization of the oil into a waxy texture.

🔥 Rosin – Rosin is a concentrate obtained without solvents, solely through heat and pressure. For example, dried flowers are pressed between heated plates (like a flat iron) to extract a pure resin 🌿.

The result resembles sticky sap, which can be more or less solid. The resin "rosin" is very popular because its production is simple, safe (no explosion risk related to gas) ✅ and the final product is free of solvents.

📝 (Note: throughout this guide, we will refer to "flowers" or plant material while avoiding overly technical vocabulary to remain accessible to beginners.)

🔧 Material and equipment needed

Each extraction method requires specific equipment. Here is the list of equipment required for each type of extraction:

🌬️ For BHO extraction (Butane Hash Oil) :

• 🌿 Raw material – About 20 to 30 grams of dry flowers, well-cured and rich in resin (the higher the quality, the better the concentrate obtained).
• 🧪 Butane solvent – Ultra pure butane gas bottles (without impurities). Plan for sufficient volume, for example ~400 ml of butane for 30 g of flowers for optimal extraction.
• 🔩 Extraction Tube – Cylindrical tube made of stainless steel or borosilicate glass, designed for BHO extractions. This tube must be able to be sealed on one end and equipped with a filter on the other end. An unbleached paper filter or a fine mesh screen is used to retain plant debris.
• 🥣 Collector container – Heat-resistant glass dish (like Pyrex) for collecting oil. Ideally, line it with non-stick baking paper (parchment paper or PTFE sheet) to facilitate oil collection.
• ♨️ Bain-marie – A large container (pot or pan) to hold hot water, serving as a bain-marie to help evaporate the butane from the mixture after extraction. A stove or hot plate is useful to keep the water warm (but not boiling).
• 🔪 Recovery Tools – A metal spatula or a blade (razor type) to scrape the oil, and possibly a silicone mat to handle it during the final purge.
• 🛡️ Protective Equipment – Insulating gloves (the tube will become very cold), safety glasses, and a filtering mask. It is also advisable to have a fire extinguisher on hand as a precaution.

🌕 For Wax extraction :

🧈 Same equipment as for BHO – The wax is obtained through a similar solvent extraction. Therefore, the same basic equipment as BHO is required: resinous flowers, pure butane gas, extraction tube, Pyrex dish, water bath, etc.

🧪 Purging Surface – Provide a glass bowl or a dish where the oil can rest for long hours. The wax requires a longer purge to form. Parchment paper can also be useful here.

🥄 Stirring tool (optional) – Some wax processes involve whipping (whipper) the oil during purging to help create a creamy texture. A small spatula or a metal dabber can be used to gently stir the warmed extract.

ℹ️ (In summary, if you can make BHO, you have everything you need for the wax. The difference will mainly be in the way you purge the extract.)

🔥 For Rosin extraction (pressed resin) :

• 🌿 Raw material – Well-dried flowers (or possibly dry hashish or kief). Here too, the quality of the plant directly impacts the quality and yield of the resin.
• 🧲 Heat Press – A dedicated rosin press made up of two heated metal plates between which the material will be crushed. If not, a simple flat iron (hair straightener) can do the job for small quantities. Make sure it has a temperature setting.
• 📄 Baking paper – Heat-resistant sheets of parchment paper, for wrapping flowers during pressing and collecting the resin that flows out.

🧰 Various Accessories – A spatula or a dabber to collect the rosin after pressing. Thermal gloves to safely handle the hot press 🧤. If you are pressing kif or hashish, small nylon filter bags (called rosin bags) can be used to contain the powder and prevent debris from contaminating the extracted resin 🛑.

⚗️ BHO Extraction: Step-by-Step Method

The extraction of BHO is a delicate process that must be carried out with method and caution. Here are the detailed steps:

🔹 Step 1: Preparation of the Material – Coarsely grind the dry resinous flowers (there's no need to reduce them to a fine powder). Fill the extraction tube with this crumbled material. Lightly pack it down but without over-compressing, to allow the solvent to circulate evenly. Attach a filter (filter paper or metal filter) to the outlet end of the tube to retain the plant particles. Once the tube is filled and sealed, place it in the freezer ❄️ for at least a few hours (ideally 24 hours). You can also put the butane bottle in the freezer at the same time – freezing everything improves the efficiency of the extraction by making the liquid butane colder and better able to dissolve the resin.

🔹 Step 2: Butane Extraction – Make sure you are outdoors 🌬️ or in a very well-ventilated area for this step (never indoors! 🚫🏠). Wear your gloves and goggles 🧤🕶️. Place the Pyrex dish under the outlet end of the tube (where the filter is), holding it a few centimeters below. Insert the nozzle of the butane canister into the top opening of the extraction tube. Press to release the gas: the liquid butane travels through the tube and washes the plant material, carrying the resinous oils with it. A liquid mixture of butane and oil then flows from the filter and drips into the dish. The tube will become very cold 🧊 (frost may form on its surface), handle it with a cloth or thick gloves to avoid cold burns.

🧯 Completely empty the butane cartridge at each pass, without interrupting the flow.

💬 Note: Depending on the amount of plant, it may be necessary to use several gas cylinders to extract everything.

🔹 Step 3: First purge (evaporation of butane) – Once no more drops are coming out of the tube, carefully remove it and leave the Pyrex dish outside 🌬️. At this stage, the liquid butane + oil mixture in the dish begins to evaporate on its own. Most of the butane will naturally dissipate in a few minutes ⏳. ❌ Do not approach with a flame or cigarette during this phase!

🔥 You can speed up the initial evaporation by placing the dish in a water bath: set the glass dish over a container of warm water (maximum 40 °C). The hot water underneath the dish will slightly heat the extract and help the butane evaporate faster.

⚠️ Make sure that the bottom of the Pyrex dish does not touch the boiling water (risk of cracking) and that no drops of water fall into the oil. You will see the liquid fizzing: these are the bubbles of butane gas escaping 💨.

✅ When there is only a thin layer of sticky oil left in the dish and the bubbling activity slows down, most of the butane has evaporated.

🔹 Step 4: Second Purge (Oil Refining) – Even after evaporation in the open air, the extract still contains residual butane that must be completely eliminated before use.

🧽 At this stage, the oil is thick and stable, so we proceed with a thorough purge. Ideally, place the oil (on its parchment paper or transferred to a silicone mat) in a vacuum bell jar placed on a heating plate at a low temperature (30–40 °C) 🕳️🔊. By applying the vacuum, the remaining butane will escape in the form of bubbles until it completely disappears.

💡 If you do not have a vacuum pump, at least use a heating plate set to ~40 °C: keep the oil at this temperature for a while (sometimes several hours) to finish purging the gases. In this case, gently stir the oil from time to time and watch for the appearance of bubbles that burst 💥.

☀️❌ Important : Work away from direct light to preserve the aromas, as terpenes are sensitive to heat and UV.

🔹 Step 5: Recovery and Storage – When no more bubbles appear and the oil no longer emits a solvent smell, your BHO is purged and ready ✅. Let it cool, then, using a metal spatula, recover the oil (which may be viscous or solid depending on its final texture).

🧴 Store the obtained concentrate in a small airtight glass jar. Keep it in a cool place, away from light and moisture, to prevent degradation or evaporation of the terpenes 🌡️💨. For example, keep it in the refrigerator in a well-sealed container.

💡 Storage tip: do not leave the BHO at more than 60 °C, or it may liquefy or lose quality 🔥.

⚠️ Safety precautions for BHO

❗ Always perform extraction outdoors or under extreme ventilation. Butane is a very flammable heavy gas: the slightest spark can cause a violent explosion 💥.

🚫 Keep all flames or sources of sparks away: do not smoke while handling, turn off the pilot gas of any stove, neutralize electrical switches (a simple click can ignite the gas). Turn off mobile phones 📱 and electronic devices 🔌 to avoid sparks or static charges ⚡.

🧤 Wear cotton clothing (avoid synthetics that generate static electricity) and equip yourself with insulating gloves, goggles 🥽, and a mask covering the nose and mouth 😷.

👥 Never work alone: in case of a problem, it is crucial that another person can help or call for assistance 🚑.

🧰 Prepare all the necessary equipment in advance so that you don't have to improvise along the way. Once the extraction has started, you must be able to focus on handling safely 🧠.

❗ Finally, keep in mind that the solvents used (butane, etc.) and the extracted liquid should never be inhaled or consumed as is. Do not "test" the product until it is perfectly purged ❌🫁.

🧈 Wax Extraction: step-by-step method

The extraction of wax is actually a variation of the BHO described above. It starts by extracting an oil with butane, then it is transformed into opaque wax through appropriate processing. Here are the specific steps to obtain wax:

🧪 Example of "Wax" type concentrate: its waxy texture is opaque, crumbly, and sticky.

🔹 Step 1: Initial Extraction – Perform a BHO extraction as in the previous section (Steps 1 to 3). You should obtain a golden oil extract in your Pyrex dish after the initial evaporation of the butane. At this stage, stop the purging process before vacuuming or long heating: we will take advantage of the fact that there is still a bit of solvent left in the oil.
⚠️ Important: even if we do not fully purge right away, please follow all BHO safety guidelines. Always work outdoors and without flames, as the oil still contains butane.

🔹 Step 2: Slow purge to form the wax – To obtain the wax, the trick is to let the oil stabilize and crystallize slowly. There are two techniques, and you can even combine them:

🌀 "Rest" Method (Natural Crystallization): Leave the dish containing the oil in a well-ventilated area at room temperature for about 24 hours. The remaining butane will evaporate very gradually.
Then, place the dish in a temperate and dark place and wait another 24 hours without touching it. During this time, the extract will gradually change in texture: it thickens, becomes opaque, and small crystals may form. It is this natural crystallization over two days that will give the characteristic waxy consistency of the wax.

🌀 "Whip" Method (beating): This variant involves stirring the warm oil to incorporate air and encourage the formation of a whipped texture. After the initial evaporation of butane, when the oil is still slightly warm in a water bath, take a dabber or a small metal spatula and stir the extract vigorously. Whip it until it becomes opaque and resembles soft caramel. Then, let it rest for a few hours to finish hardening. This method can speed up the production of a wax or wax type wax. Be careful not to overheat during the process (around 40 °C max) to avoid degrading the aromas.

🔹 Step 3: Harvesting the Wax – Once the extract has been transformed into wax (whether by prolonged resting or whipping), you should have an opaque, amber-yellow substance with a soft or brittle texture. It is time to harvest it: with a metal scraper, scrape the wax formed on the paper or at the bottom of the dish.
Gather it and store it in a small airtight glass jar, preferably packing it down a bit to eliminate air pockets.

🔹 Step 4: Storage – Just like BHO, store the wax obtained away from heat, moisture, and light ☀️💧. Use a well-sealed container to prevent oxidation and drying out. The wax tends to "dry out" if exposed to air, which can make it more brittle and less aromatic over time.
📦 Stored properly, it will keep its strength and flavors longer.

🛡️ Security for the Wax

💧 Rosin Extraction (pressed resin): step-by-step method

Rosin extraction is the simplest and safest, ideal for a beginner. It requires no chemical solvent: heat and pressure are enough to make the resin ooze from the flowers.

📸 Resin extraction by pressure (Rosin) : under the effect of heat and pressure from a press, the resin melts and flows out of the plant material.

🔹 Step 1: Preparing the Flowers – Take your flowers that are well dried. If they are too dry (crumbly), it may be helpful to slightly rehydrate them (for example, by keeping them for 1 day with a small piece of damp paper or a terpene shield in a closed jar) to reach about 60% humidity.
Slightly damp flowers often yield better rosin. Break the buds into small pieces to facilitate extraction, or form a small homogeneous bundle.
🧃 Optional: wrap the material in a special rosin filter bag (especially if you are pressing kief or hashish, this prevents plant impurities in the finished product).
Place the flower or the bag in the center of a sheet of parchment paper, which you fold in half like a sandwich 🥪.

🔹 Step 2: Press Settings – Preheat your press to the desired temperature. Generally, a range of 90 to 110 °C is suitable for pressing flowers.
🌡️ Plus lower the temperature, the higher the quality of the product (rich in aromas, light in color) but the yield will be slightly lower. Conversely, a higher temperature will extract more oil, but at the expense of terpenes and the color, which will be darker.

🌡️ To start, aim for around 100 °C and adjust according to the results. If you are using a straightening iron, set it to medium (often ~150 °C on consumer devices, as they do not have fine adjustments) – be aware that this is a bit hot, so press for a shorter time in this case.

🔹 Step 3: Resin Pressing – Place the paper containing the flower between the plates of the preheated press. Apply strong pressure gradually.
If it is a manual press, press harder and harder during the first few seconds. With a flat iron, apply all your weight or use a clamp to compress. Maintain the pressure for about 20 to 30 seconds.
🎧 You may hear a slight crackling: these are the trichomes melting and the resin flowing. You should see a golden liquid appearing that spreads around the flower package, between the sheets of paper.

🔹 Step 4: Rosin Collection – Release the press and carefully remove the paper. ⚠️ Be careful not to burn yourself, the plates and the paper are hot.
Open the parchment paper: inside, the crushed plant material will have released sticky oil. With the spatula/dabber, quickly collect the still warm resin by scraping it off the paper.
"It sticks in filaments to the tool, which you will place in a small glass container. If part of the resin has hardened on the paper while cooling, you can heat it slightly again (with the flat iron at a distance, or by placing the paper for a few seconds on the turned-off hot plate) to soften it and peel it off more easily."

🔹 Step 5: Re-pressing and storage – You can fold the pressed flower and press it again to extract a final bit of juice, although this second pressing yields a lower quality rosin (darker, less flavorful).
"Once your extraction is complete, place the collected rosin in a small opaque glass jar preferably. Like other concentrates, keep it in a cool place away from air to preserve its aromas 🍯❄️."

🛡️ Safety precautions for Rosin

🔥 Burn Risk – The plates can reach over 100 °C. Wear thermal gloves and be careful when handling the paper or hot plates. Do not touch the freshly released rosin with bare hands: it can stick to the skin and cause a burn.

✋ Pinch Risk – A press exerts strong pressure. Keep fingers away during pressing to avoid pinching or accidentally crushing yourself. If you are using a makeshift system (like a flat iron clamped with a vise, for example), ensure that everything is stable and that no objects can be ejected by the pressure.

💨 Ventilation – Even without solvent, heating organic materials can release odorous vapors. It is recommended to work in a well-ventilated area, if only for your comfort (the released terpenes have a very strong smell).

🪵 Stable surface – Install the press on a flat and stable surface that can support the force applied. A sturdy work surface will prevent any dangerous tipping when you apply pressure.

🧼 Cleaning the Plates – After use, wipe the heating plates (once cooled) to remove any resin residue. A clean plate ensures even pressure and prevents accumulated resin from burning during future uses.

💡 Tips to Improve Performance and Quality

To achieve the best possible results, here are some general tips applicable to all extraction methods:

🌿 Quality of the raw material – Use flowers of the best quality available, well-dried and cured. Plus the starting plant is rich in trichomes, the more abundant and potent the concentrate will be. Poor quality materials (or too moist in the case of BHO) will yield disappointing results.

🧽 Equipment Maintenance – Keep equipment clean. Clean the BHO extraction tube after each use (once aired out, it can be rinsed with isopropyl alcohol to dissolve residues, then dried). Similarly, regularly clean the plates of the rosin press and any tool that has come into contact with the resin. Clean equipment prevents off-flavors and avoids accidents (for example, a clogged screen could cause dangerous overpressure).

🌡️ Controlled Temperature – Whether for purging BHO or pressing rosin, temperature control is crucial. Do not exceed the recommended temperatures: for BHO, stay around 40 °C max during purging to preserve the aromas; for rosin, find the right balance between yield and quality (around 100 °C).
🎯 Investing in a small laser thermometer can be useful for monitoring your work surfaces.

⏳ Patience and meticulousness – Don't rush the steps. For example, in BHO each purge phase takes time – it's better to wait a little longer than to rush and retain residual butane.
🕰️ For the wax, the key is often to let it rest long enough (several hours, or even a day) for the texture to form correctly.
📈 In rosin, feel free to experiment with different pressing times (20 s, 30 s, etc.) and to test a second press to scrape a few extra percentage points of yield.

📓 Recording Parameters – When you start, get into the habit of noting your parameters and results: amount of material, temperature used, duration of purging or pressing, yield obtained, appearance of the final product, etc. This will allow you to refine your techniques.
For example, you may find that at 90 °C the rosin is superb but the yield is low, while at 110 °C it is darker but you have more of it. You will then be able to make an informed choice about the setting that suits you.

🛡️ Safety first – Finally, never forget that safety takes precedence over performance. It is better to lose a tiny bit of performance (for example, by avoiding re-pressing a flower that has already been crushed if it puts you at unnecessary risk) than to seriously injure yourself.
⚠️ Strictly follow the safety instructions for solvent extractions – no extract, no matter how successful, is worth putting your life in danger.

✅ By following this step-by-step tutorial and applying these tips, you are putting all the chances on your side to successfully extract high-quality BHO, Wax, and Rosin.
Don't hesitate to progress at your own pace, to properly maintain your equipment, and to stay cautious.
🍀 Good extraction safely!

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