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How to Make QWISO Extract
QWISO (quick wash isopropyl alcohol) is a versatile and potent cannabis concentrate made from as little as 5 grams of bud. Keep reading for a simple step-by-step guide you can follow at home.
Contents:
Want to make a potent cannabis concentrate with several household items? Well, now's your chance, thanks to QWISO, a fast and efficient way to produce cannabinoid-rich extracts.
What Is QWISO Hash?
First, let's start with the basics—what exactly is QWISO? The acronym stands for “quick wash isopropyl alcohol” because, you guessed it, QWISO involves “washing” cannabis buds with isopropyl alcohol to separate trichomes from plant material. Once you've washed your prized buds, the residue left behind is ready to smoke, vape, add to edibles, and more!
QWISO vs RSO
Rick Simpson oil is one of the most famous cannabis concentrates, and many people use his extraction process to make cannabis oils. As such, it makes sense to compare QWISO with RSO. So, which is better, which produces a purer extract, and which is easier to make at home?
- RSO: RSO typically contains more plant material (chlorophyll, waxes, etc.), takes longer to prepare, and uses a slow cooker to help evaporate the ethanol.
- QWISO: It's possible to get a purer extract with this method, as much of the unwanted plant material is left behind. A “first wash” QWISO extract will likely have a more pleasant flavour and aroma than RSO.
At the end of the day, it comes down to how much time you have, and how you want to use the extract. RSO renders just that—an oil that can be taken orally or sublingually, while QWISO extract is slightly more versatile.
How to Make QWISO
Now that you know what you’re getting into, it's time to cover the most important section—making QWISO. The good news is you only need a handful of items, most of which you probably have floating around your kitchen cupboards already.
How Much QWISO Can You Get From an Ounce of Weed?
It’s difficult to say precisely how much QWISO you’ll get, as there are a lot of variables in the extraction process. However, as a general rule, you can expect 0.5–1 grams of QWISO per 10 grams of bud, following the instructions outlined below.
Given that an ounce is roughly 28 grams, yields should be between 1.5–2.5 grams of QWISO extract. Of course, once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s possible to squeeze out more, especially if you opt for multiple washes.
Equipment to Make QWISO
- Buds: 10–20 grams is optimal
- Grinder
- Coffee filters (unbleached)
- Elastic bands
- Isopropyl alcohol (99% recommended; 100–200ml per 10g of flower)
- 1 or 2 sieves—for filtering chunky plant material (if using more than 10g, use 2 sieves; one smaller, and one as large as possible)
- Pyrex dish (deep enough to hold 1 litre)
- Small jar (up to 0.5 litres)
- Larger jar (0.5–1 litres should do)
- Small razor blade/scraper for gathering the extract
- Simple standing fan
- Sealable container (for storing your QWISO extract)
Part 1: 3 Hours Before Extraction
1. Make sure all containers (both jars and the Pyrex dish) are spotless and completely dry. You want them totally clean, as any unwanted material might get into the final extract, and you want them dry, as water evaporation takes way longer than alcohol.
2. Next, grind up all of your buds and place them into the small jar. Ground buds have a larger surface area, so it is easier to extract all the goods from them this way.
3. Then, put both the jar containing the ground buds and the bottle of isopropyl alcohol into a freezer for a few hours to make sure they're as cold as possible (don't worry, isopropyl doesn't freeze until roughly −89°C).
Note: Freezing is a crucial step, as it allows the trichomes to fall off the buds much easier, significantly improving the extraction process. Extracting without freezing results in smaller amounts of the final product.
4. Finally, prepare your larger jar to save time later. Take one coffee filter and put it into the opening of your jar, making a bag. Fold the filter's edges over the jar's rim, and secure it with a few elastic bands. If you're using more than 10 grams of bud, add a sieve on top of the filter paper.
Part 2: Extraction Process
Safety note: Isopropyl alcohol and its fumes are highly flammable, so it's strongly recommended to carry out the QWISO process in a well-ventilated area away from any open flames (that means no sneaky joints before, during, or shortly after).
1. Take the alcohol and the small jar containing the ground buds out of the freezer, then pour alcohol into the jar until all of the bud is submerged. Close the lid very tightly and shake it like hell for precisely 30 seconds. Longer might result in more chlorophyll extracted, giving the final product a harsher taste. Less might result in smaller amounts of the extract.
2. Grab your large jar (with the coffee filter and sieve in place) and slowly pour in the bud and alcohol mix. You want to wait until the mix has stopped dripping through the coffee filter; a process that can take up to an hour.
3. Once all of the alcohol has drained through into the jar, pour a small amount of alcohol over the buds (for good measure), before carefully removing the elastic band and very gently squeezing the coffee filter (with buds inside) to wring out the last of the infusion.
4. Place the lid on the jar with the infusion (you don't want dust or other contaminants to ruin the extract).
5. Now, you can either discard the buds, or place them back into the original small jar and repeat the process for a second wash (you'll probably want a few more jars for this, as you don't really want to mix different washes).
If you decide on a second or even third wash, you don't need to shake the mixture vigorously. You'll only end up with a greater ratio of plant material, so take it easy on your buds instead.
- 2nd wash: 1–2 light shakes
- 3rd/4th wash: 1 swirl
Part 3: Evaporation Process
Once extraction is over, you'll have a jar filled with a greenish liquid. You might ask, where exactly is my extract? Because the trichomes are part of the solution, separated from the plant material while you were shaking, the next step is removing the alcohol to leave behind a cannabinoid-laden residue.
1. Pour the contents of the infusion jar into the Pyrex dish. Then, add a little extra alcohol to the jar, swirl it around, and add that to the dish to make sure you don't leave any trichomes behind.
2. As alcohol fumes are flammable and slightly toxic, leave the alcohol to evaporate in a garage/basement/ventilated area. The evaporation process can take between 12 and 24 hours.
3. To help keep the fumes under control and speed up the process, set a fan to blow into the liquid at the lowest setting.
4. Once evaporation is complete, and there is not even the slightest trace of any liquid on the plate, grab your razor blade, toothpick, and chosen storage container.
5. Scrape up the resin from the surface of the Pyrex dish with the razor blade, before using a toothpick (or dab tool) to remove the gathered material from the blade into your container.
That's it—done! Just clean up, and you're finished making QWISO extract. You should now have some golden and sticky cannabis concentrate not too dissimilar to rosin hash or wax.
Why Is My QWISO Black?
If your final extract comes out looking like tar, chances are a few things went awry during the extraction process. Here are a few troubleshooting tips:
- The “shaking” part of your first wash should last no longer than 30 seconds. In some cases, people even advise against shaking for this long, instead sticking to 20 seconds. The idea is to loosen the trichomes just enough for them to separate from the plant material.
- If you opted for several washes, every subsequent wash is more likely to contain plant material, and thus will be darker. Also, be aware that combining multiple washes will increase the presence of plant material, and therefore the darkness.
- Don’t use heavy force while the buds are in the coffee filter. Some people like to lightly pat them to speed up the process, but this can lead to plant material entering your infusion. Similarly, don't squeeze the coffee filter too hard at the end, as this will undoubtedly result in a darker mixture.
QWISO: Frequently Asked Questions
Still got concerns about QWISO? No worries! Below you'll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
QWISO: Frequently Asked Questions
- 💨 Can you dab QWISO?
- QWISO is ideal for dabbing, given its abundance of cannabinoids and terpenes. Just be sure to use a dab tool, as the extract is incredibly sticky.
- 🍰 Can you eat QWISO?
- Edibles are another great choice, but you'll need to add a small amount of QWISO extract (up to 1 gram) to some cannabutter and bake your edibles at a low temperature.
- 🚬 Can you vape or smoke QWISO?
- Many vaporizers have capsules or accessories to facilitate vaping QWISO extract. If you're smoking, drizzle a small amount along the length of a freshly rolled joint for an extra buzz.
- 👨🏻🔬 Can you press QWISO?
- There’s no need to press QWISO, as the extraction process relies on the binding nature of alcohol to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from plant material. Just make sure to give the solvent plenty of time to evaporate.
- 🍯 How to store QWISO?
- Moisture, humidity, excessive heat, and direct sunlight can all damage your QWISO, degrading its potency and quality. Place your extract on a small amount of parchment paper and store it in a glass container with an airtight lid in a cool, dark, dry place.
Is QWISO Safe?
While it's difficult to estimate the exact potency of your extract, it's definitely going to pack a punch. As such, it's best to experiment with a small amount first, especially if you've never done dabs or used a vaporiser before.
As for the extraction process, there's no doubt it's a little safer than most extraction methods, thanks to the lack of heat involved. However, isopropyl alcohol is still a highly flammable substance, and you should treat it with respect. As long as you take the necessary precautions, there's no reason not to give QWISO extract a go. If you've got any spare bud, trim, or kief kicking about, what are you waiting for?
DisclaimerExtracts, concentrates, and oils used for dabbing are among the strongest cannabis products available. Proceed with caution when using substances high in THC. Start with low doses and slowly increase over time to build up a tolerance to the compound.
Remember: Set and Setting will help you deal with various situations.
Stay Cultivated.
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