Hey DGC!
I have a “significant backlog of material that needs processing” and I’m considering buying one of those small washing machines to make the process a little easier. I’ve made dozens of batches of bubble hash using my trusty buckets and stirring spoon, but I’ve never used a machine before.
Most people I see using a machine are using some variation of a 5 gal portable clothing washer. In most cases when I see a washing machine being marketed for hash making, it seems to be the same cheap plastic Chinese made washing machine being re-branded and sold to the cannabis market at a massive markup. 🙁
I recently found this cheaper machine and I’m considering giving it a try:
Bubble Bag Machine 5 Gallon Small Mini Compact Washer
it still seems sorta cheaply made but at least the price is pretty cheap too.
Any thoughts on machines for hash processing or on this particular model?
Anyone have a similar machine they really like?
Also,
after sieving, how do you dry your bubble hash?
I often hear others recommending drying on sheets of cardboard, but working in other industries has taught me that most cardboard is chemically treated with formaldehyde or other preservatives. (no thanks!)
I’m considering picking up some silk screens or maybe some unbleached butcher paper to dry on. Any thoughts on other affordable ways to dry a large batch of bubble hash while still maintaining top quality? (I can’t afford a freeze drier)
Thanks!
–Soup
I just picked up the Della mini (8.8 LB Capacity seems pretty powerful), a 220 micron bag to put the material in so when I drain it I’m not messing with excess plant material in my first few screens. A set of Ipomelo 5 Gal 8bag screens. Seem pretty heavy duty and have a nice bag to keep them organized when not in use. I’m working on storing up material to make my first batch. Wish me luck haha.
Also, “Follow the dart” YouTube channel has some good ole fashion hippy tutorials for making bubble. If you want to save $50-60 on the washer and you’ve got strong arms
Soup
I have that mini washer machine. Had it for years and have hundreds of cycles. There is a small leak that dribbles, no big deal. I would buy the machine alone. It’s available on Amazon. The bubble dude bags are garbage. Bubblebags from bubble man are great – go to http://www.freshheadies.com/store/home.php.
I process now with a vacuum freeze dryer and press into rosin than low temp whip.
The alternative is to lightly dry with blotting screen, cover gently with towel to remove excess moisture and freeze. Once frozen micro plane on glass, spreading thin and let dry for about 5 days. Do not touch when wet -The color will darken if you do. The finer you grade the better. Place in a pizza box or cover to protect from dust and contaminants while drying. Press into rosin or enjoy as is.
Tips
Each strain has different size heads however, I never keep lower than 45 micron.
When finished Rinse bags with cold water and dry. I sometimes tumble in dryer with no heat with bath towels and hang until completely dry. This is very important.
High quality from first wash. I do no longer than 5 minutes.
Keep sequential washes separate. I actually stopped keeping them.
Freeze material wet. No drying or curing. Within minutes of the cut for best results.
process up to 400 grams of wet trim in 5 gallon machine and bags. Can get 20 -30 gram return.
Do not attemp the above – Entertainment purpose only.
Hey Sticky,
What settings do you use on your freeze dryer??
Thanks for the great info guys! Nice to hear from someone using that actual machine.
I’ve been hand stirring small batches for many years so I’ve got a decent set of 5gal bags, I’m just missing the machine and 220 work bag to go inside it. I haven’t done a run in a while and I’ve got a backlog of old material to work through so I’m thinking its a good excuse to finally upgrade to a small machine.
Thinking I’ll probably get that “Bubble Bag Dude” machine + workbag set for 95$ unless someone here convinces me otherwise. To be blunt, all these washers kinda look like cheap plastic garbage to me but at least the bubble bag dude one isnt too expensive. And I’m really tired of stirring… lol
I’ve been drying the way you described (freezer + microplane onto glass) and getting good results so maybe I’ll just stick to that. I’m always looking to improve my methods and drying is still one part of my process I’m not quite satisfied with yet. Probably never will be satisfied. Jealous of your freeze drier for sure… lol
Regarding Bubbleman…. Are his bags really that much nicer? Whats different about them? Not to be a hater, but I’ve never understood why his stuff costs so damn much. They are literally 10 times the price of the bags I’ve been using.
I have tons of respect for Bubbleman and I’d love to support him by buying his gear, but I have a really tough time paying $200+ for a set of bags when I’m over here making full melt with my $20 bags. And whats with all these hash people re-branding $75 clothing washers and selling them to their fellow growers for $300?
I’m all for supporting the OGs and the legit people in our community doing the innovation, but I’ve never understood WTF is up with those markups.
Soup
I stopped hand agitations long ago. Good to hear your siding with the machines. Come with me if you want to live.
Bubble dude 220 working bag is ok. I have it. Don’t use it. However, I’ll stop there, his bubble bag set is subpar.
I have the bubble dudes bags and amazon bags and the original bubbleman bags, etc . The bubbleman bags are the last bags you will need. You will only buy more when you upgrade to the 20 gallon. Oh btw get the original and not the standard.
Bubbleman bags are worth it. I guess I’m a princess. I don’t think this is a markup for profit, they are quality. Yes, expensive – $350 for 8 bag set.
What’s the difference – the stitching, the silk screen, the canvas. The water proofing is accomplished by the material itself and by the tight stitching, the way they dry faster. The dye they use on the bags – cheap ones use dioxins in the coloring processing. Cheap bags use bps and bpa in the water proofing. Expensive doesn’t mean better but in this case it does.
Pure Pressure process bubble hash to rosin on a commercial scale, they use the original bubbleman bags.
Good luck with your decision.
Change of subject – rosin
Cage Dabpress on Amazon is a quality product – the 3 x 5 or the 3 x 7. Use with Dake 10 ton press. Pickup press in person from Grainger – no shipping cost. IMO – i prefer stainless steel platens for hardness and durability, but these are anodized aluminum and kick ass for personal use.
Once aluminum pit or deform your yield will suffer and you will be sad. First you will not know why. They warp slowly. The higher heat conductivity of aluminum on such a small surface area is not that beneficial. The manufacturers say it is because the profit margins are higher and it is easier to mass produce.
Peace
Sticky! Thanks for your detailed responses and all the great tips!
Makes sense about the bubble man bags. Everyone I’ve talked to who has a set seems to really like them. I hope to someday be able to afford a set. Probably stickin with my cheapo 8 bag set for the foreseeable future tho…
Thanks for that great tips on the rosin presses too. Definitely heading that direction next when funding allows. 🙂
Man, I bought the cheapest Chinese machine I could find and it works like a charm! I like to dry on parchment paper.
So I ordered the $95 machine. It arrived yesterday and it seems Amazon sent me the $150 kit with the bubble bags and other stuff by mistake.
Free bubble bags! Whoo Hoo! lol
Hey soup how did it work out?
I’ve made a few batches with the “bubble bag Dude” washing machine and it works fine. Its definitely a little rougher with the material than I would be stirring with a spoon, but keeping the wash time short seems to compensate for that. Overall I’m happy with the machine. Seems fairly identical to a lot of the more expensive machines.
Still haven’t found a set of cheap bubblebags that I like, (or saved up to buy some nice ones.) I did discover one of my cheap bag sets has a bag that’s mislabeled as the wrong microns, so I guess that’s another reason to be cautious using cheap bags.
Still working out my procedures for scaling up. I have limited freezer space and it’s been kinda tricky working out all the details to process everything while still fresh. Had a bag of material go bad in the freezer since I wasn’t able to process it quickly enough. Seems like a vac sealer for vac packing material before freezing would be a really nice tool to have.
Also realizing how nice it would be to have a freeze dryer. Drying bubble is always the hardest part in my experience… sure would be nice to just shovel it into a machine and let it do all the work….
Anywhoo… still learning and working out my process, but progress is slow since time and money are limited. Kinda frustrated by feeling financially limited… but not much I can do about that at the moment. Just kinda doing my best to learn what I can with what I’ve got. 🙂👍
Not sure if there was an update on this somewhere else. Wondering how it works?