By Max Sargent


Cannabis Concentrates: Shatter And Wax

Shatter and wax are two examples from a family of products known as cannabis extracts or concentrates. Cannabis extraction technicians endeavour to separate cannabinoids and other essential compounds from the green plant material they are derived from. Ultimately, the goal is to create a “concentrated,” clean, and highly potent final product. Of the numerous constituents isolated from plant matter, THC and CBD are perhaps the two most notable. However, terpenes, fats, omega acids, and phyto proteins can all be liberated with the extraction process.

  • What Is BHO?

There are several different types of concentrates, including hard hash, oils, budders, charas, and nederhash, among others. These all result from several different types of extraction methods. There are both solvent and solventless approaches to extractions. Carbon dioxide (CO₂), propane, pure hydrocarbons, alcohol, steam and cold pressing make up some of these techniques. Shatter and wax are types of extracts produced most often through the solvent-based method known as BHO or Butane Hash Oil.

Butane acts as the solvent which dissolves the essential oils and other soluble compounds. The plant material and other membranes that hold the resins are left behind as waste. Unlike hard hash, which is essentially compressed trichomes that retain their membranes and sacs, BHO strips the oil from the trichomes, leaving behind cellular membranes and other organic reservoirs. This results in what is considered one of the “purest” forms of concentrate.

  • How Are Shatter And Wax Made?

Matured and cured flowers and trimmings are packed into a tube. Then, butane is forced through the tube. In effect, the butane strips the cannabinoids and other desirables from plant matter. The butane is then purged and left to evaporate. This process is extremely important as butane residue is not exactly the healthiest thing to ingest. Depending on terpene profile, type of solvent, evaporation method, temperature, and post-processing, BHO will produce varying hues of concentrate with varying physical consistencies.

Shatter vs Wax: Is There a Difference?

Shatter is a translucent sheet that often dries to a toffee-like hardness when the butane evaporates. It is not mixed or agitated to create a new consistency. Sometimes, it will be viscous like cold honey and called “sap.” Other times, it is called “pull and snap” and has a consistency in between liquid and solid, just like taffy.

Wax is semi-solid and opaque, resembling hair wax or cream colored ambergris. Wax is formed when the evaporating mix is agitated. The resin molecules do not settle symmetrically into the glass-like lattice of shatter.

Of course, genetics play a large role in determining the overall result of an extract. Regardless of which solvent is used, strain is still of the utmost importance.

Shatter vs Wax: Is There a Difference?
  • Good Wax vs Bad Wax

Cannabis wax should be soft, crumbly, and opaque. But as with all cannabis products, you can get good wax, and you can get bad wax. How can you tell the difference?

One of the most immediate ways to judge the quality of wax is by its color. Generally, darker colouration means that a wax is of poorer quality than, say, a light amber wax. However, while this can be used as a rule of thumb, it is not a firm rule, and top-quality wax can sometimes be dark.

So, the most failsafe way to judge the quality of your wax is to try it. A pure concentrate should taste clean and delicious, with the terpenes singing in harmony. A poor-quality wax will have a dirtier taste, closer to smoking. And after the flavor, of course, the effects should give you the greatest indication of quality. Clean, potent highs are what you should expect from a top-shelf wax.

  • Good Shatter vs Bad Shatter

Similar rules apply for judging the quality of shatter. First, it should be translucent and even. More so than with wax, impurities will be obvious with shatter. If you see anything trapped in the gorgeous amber, then it’s likely not the highest quality. Likewise, when light shines through it, it should be a delicious golden color.

As with wax, both the flavors and effects of a good-quality shatter will be clean, strong, and very pure. With experience, you will easily be able to judge the quality of both weed shatter and wax.

What Are the Different Types of Wax Dabs?

Shatter and wax aren’t the only two types of concentrates. There are actually quite a few, each with their own nuances and particularities. The more common are:

Oil dabs Sugar wax dabs
Budder dabs Crumble dabs

While all are similar, slight variations in extraction method, how the solvent is evaporated, and other factors lead to concentrates of different consistencies and temperaments.

How Are Shatter And Wax Used?

Wax and shatter are two styles of the same substance. The concentration of cannabinoids is consistently high, ranging up to around 90%. Both can be used in the same fashion by dabbing or vaping. Although, wax is usually easier to handle when it comes to dabbing. Both, however, will enhance a joint or bong of weed tenfold. Even still, wax and shatter can be gently heated and infused into edibles.

Concentrates are a rapidly expanding, legitimate industry. Gone are the days of dangerous extraction processes in garages and backgardens. An educated and discerning market is being catered to with the best quality products. Laboratory equipment and modern extraction technology is resulting in some of the finest cannabis products to have ever existed.

How Are Shatter And Wax Used?
  • How to Dab With a Wax Pen

Dab pens and wax pens are becoming more common. But you might be wondering, what is a wax pen? Moreover, is there any difference between dab pens vs wax pens?

Despite their similarities, dab pens and wax pens are slightly different.

A wax pen is like a traditional vape pen, but, shockingly, specifically designed to vaporize waxy concentrates. Working at higher temperatures than vape pens, they melt and then vaporize the concentrate, allowing it to be inhaled, and allowing you to enjoy the rich effects and flavors of your top-quality cannabis wax.

Dab pens are similar, but specifically designed for hard concentrates, such as shatter. They melt the concentrate onto a coil, where it is vaporized and rendered ready for your lungs.

Using either is simple. Though every brand differs slightly, it involves loading your concentrate into the chamber, choosing your temperature, and allowing it time to vaporize. Then you just have to get high!

How to Make Shatter Wax at Home

Making weed shatter wax at home is pretty simple, so long as you’ve got enough bud and you’re willing to put in a little effort.

Equipment

Making shatter requires a few things, and none (apart from the kief) are too hard to come by. Here’s what you need to make shatter at home:

  • Kief
  • Hair straighteners
  • Baking paper
  • Oven gloves

Kief can be collected in various ways. Perhaps the simplest is using a grinder with a kief catcher, or otherwise moving bud across a fine mesh screen and collecting the trichomes that fall through. More comprehensive methods can also be used, such as cold water extraction. Whichever you choose, you’ll want a fair bit if you plan to make a good amount of shatter wax.

Equipment

Directions

The steps are few and simple:

  1. Pour your kief onto the baking paper; try to keep it in a square shape.
  2. Fold the baking paper tightly over the kief in a square. If necessary, hold it with tape and trim the edges. Then, wrap in a second sheet.
  3. Turn on the hair straightener. Once it’s hot, clamp down over the baking paper hard and hold for about 10 seconds. Use your gloves here; you don’t want to burn your hands.
  4. You’ll notice a honey-like substance has seeped from the inner kief parcel into the outer. This is wax. Gently unfold the outer layer and leave it to cool. Once it’s dry, scrape it off, and you have yourself some homemade shatter wax!
  5. Wrap the inner parcel again and repeat the process. It’s likely that not everything was extracted the first time round.
  6. Using a dab rig or a wax pen, enjoy yourself!

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: