APEKs Supercritical CO2 Extraction Equipment - reviews?

[BubbaG]

Hi all,

I'm going by their service center to demo this machine on Monday. Does anyone have any knowledge of quality, consistency, aroma, etc....

Thanks for any help.

 

[BigFarmAZ]

I have worked with gear from APEKs, EdenLabs, and Waters. For the money, APEKs make fine equipment, can't go wrong. I have a closed loop BHO blaster from APEKs that has never let me down. We are working with a new outfit out of Penn. that are developing a machine that can separate THC and CBDs and isolate terpines, pretty freakin cool!

 

[BubbaG]

Thanks man. I've heard of the tech to pull separate cannabinoids , word is that piece of equipment goes a half mil. You hit the nail on the head with the "for the money" comment. Apeks is definitely cheapest, but looks like good gear. We're going to do a side by side run with the SC CO2 machine vs the terpenator with butane. I expect the terpenator to win, but I hope not by much :-)

 

[We Solidarity]

C02 oil sucks unless you're making edibles or just eating it raw. It's also really good in vape pens but i've never really been a fan of those things...

 

[stickyfing3rs]

I tried some of the hummingbird co2 oil, I thought it tasted pretty nice. Tasted more like buds then the oils I'm used to.

 

[Texas Kid]

Your still looking at $65k-$75k for an entry level Apeks unit and about $130k for one that you can really get into some real production with...cheaper than Eden Labs setup but still expensive...Co2 oil does look weird also..not like BHO..Evolabs or 710 out here can be found all over out here...I like te sealed loop system from ETS "Extraction Tek Solutions", you can run N-butane , ISO Butane, and propane on the same system for under $20k

Solventless Ice-o-lator full melt wax is what I see these days that I really really like..bubble hash to the next level

 

[Herb Forester]

Apeks just released a 1/2lb unit for (a mere) $30k. I'm looking into JYNdustries, although a totally different animal.

 

[BubbaG]

Your still looking at $65k-$75k for an entry level Apeks unit and about $130k for one that you can really get into some real production with...cheaper than Eden Labs setup but still expensive...Co2 oil does look weird also..not like BHO..Evolabs or 710 out here can be found all over out here...I like te sealed loop system from ETS "Extraction Tek Solutions", you can run N-butane , ISO Butane, and propane on the same system for under $20k

Solventless Ice-o-lator full melt wax is what I see these days that I really really like..bubble hash to the next level

Thanks sir. Yes, I have their price list.... gulp... I can afford it, if it's what I really need. I expect lower grade quality form CO2 than our butane hash, but the Colorado Springs fire Marshall will allow CO2 and no new butane will be allowed for who knows how long down here. I feel I can market CO2 edibles better than those made with solventless hash, but what the market really wants is extract for dabs.... if it can't produce a reasonable dab, then I can't do 60K.

I have heard that the Emotek machines are ETL rated now... anyone know if that's the case? If so, I might get one of those past the FM.... still would have to do the enclosed exhaust hood I expect. Their website lists ISO and other nice attributes that give me confidence in the soundness of the machine, but not any UL or ETL rating that I can find.

 

[Texas Kid]

Last I heard around the campfire was that Emotek seals and pressure vessels were not rated to a high enough pressure to pass the muster with the local Fire Department standards but they may have done something in the interim to remedy that issue....I still like the ETS version if I was chosing between Emotek and ETS local boys....the Co2 stuff I have been seeing from Evolabs looks nasty, like brown Nutela globs...I would try and make edibles out of solventless hash, way better as strait dabs, especially when rolled or pressed out to a sheet..super clean full melt with a ton of the terpenes and aromatics preserved plus the color is sexy as hell

 

[BubbaG]

Thanks for the info. We are polishing our bubble skills also, using frenchies method.... which I can't leave alone.... I'm like Tim the tool man always trying to soup something up..... most times ends up a flop.... I consider it a victory if there are no visible scars :-)

We fully intend to make high grade bubble and there is definitely a market, but the yield is awful IMO, especially with bud runs... could be my skill level is not up to par too though on that. Breaks my heart to bubble up nugs knowing how lousy they are going to yield....

 

[stickyfing3rs]

Maybe your already doing it but I always freeze nugs then crush em gently before making bubble. Seemed to really improve my yields getting as much surface area as possible

Thanks for the info. We are polishing our bubble skills also, using frenchies method.... which I can't leave alone.... I'm like Tim the tool man always trying to soup something up..... most times ends up a flop.... I consider it a victory if there are no visible scars :-)

We fully intend to make high grade bubble and there is definitely a market, but the yield is awful IMO, especially with bud runs... could be my skill level is not up to par too though on that. Breaks my heart to bubble up nugs knowing how lousy they are going to yield....

 

[Texas Kid]

Matt Rize thats the guy that I really looks like he is on his game....Nikka T is no joke either

https://www.youtube.com/user/mattrize1

 

[We Solidarity]

I tried some of the hummingbird co2 oil, I thought it tasted pretty nice. Tasted more like buds then the oils I'm used to.

hummingbird brand ain't bad, I can def speak to their skills :)

 

[nastiestnate]

why only a few places offering ethanol hash? and its very all across the board with types. i got some hash cube thing made via etoh

cheap and bypass the butane and beats co2(and after purging most store bought shatter-could be material specific?)do three washes and use third run for edibles like gw talked

going to seek out humming bird now. ive had some co2 oils that shocked me(tasting awful)after having dabbed organa labs off and on. i keep an o pen round and that thing is awesome for what it is.

 

[BubbaG]

Yeah, I hear you on organa labs, I had some of their product early on and that's what gives me hope for CO2. His straight CO2 sap was pretty good tasting and very handy for pens being in a nice fat syringe that was easy to deal with.

We started the extract run today and will pick it up tomorrow. We used very good material and I asked the guy to baby it and pull every trick he knows to get the best product. Expecting a 10-12% yield. Smoke report tomorrow or the next day.

I appreciate the help guys. The Waters folks have made contact and I plan to speak with them tomorrow, but I don't think that will be my direction. What I'm told is that the Waters machine has a faster cycle time, but it decarbs the product due to extraction temps. Not good if you're looking for something dabable.

 

[BubbaG]

I learned a fair amount about CO2 extraction this week.you guys probably already know this stuff, but in case this can help someone, here it is:
- True supercritical CO2 extractions are relatively poor yielding for some reason so Apeks suggests performing the extraction at 1,200 psi which is in the high sub-critical range. Expected yield is 10-12%, so fairly comparable to solventless hash.
- CO2 extraction of this sort ( I.e. Keeping the temps low enough to avoid decarboxylation vs. Waters tech which runs at temps that give you a decarbed product) gives you a return with multiple consistencies running the range from a very dry, desiccated looking production the upper separation chamber to a lump of caramel looking consistency.
- CO2 extract does not come out of the machine ready to use. Much of the product has significant moisture and will require baking or simple evap of some sort to get it dry enough so it doesn't sound like bacon on the nail.
- The hash in the pic below is pretty aromatic, very light and fluffy and is full melt on a nail. Processing methods are being experimented on consistency - suggestions are welcome.
-Dabs pretty nice. Taste is solid, aroma is good, potency definitely there in comparison to bho

And the last thing I learned lol
-Always be prepared for an inspection from the Denver FD. We were met at the door going to pick the hash up by a seriously tough FD captain who stopped by for a surprise inspection of Apeks place.... dumb fucking luck right? So while my partner and the engineer wrestled the extract out of the machine, I had a thirty minute discussion with her about medical marijuana. She started out pretty condescending, but she actually came around some when I called her on her comments as to "the typical mmj stoner" ... that wasn't exactly her words, but close enough. I gave her a few things to contemplate.... I've worked for 22 years in facilities that the Fire Department consider some of their most dangerous environments that they have to enter due to combustibles and high pressure retaining equipment. I think she was kind of surprised.

 

[Flashthunder]

Eden Labs has much faster run times (4 hours vs 12 hours). Higher yields due to the reduced surface tension cohesion of SCFE. The pumps never break, and they have a great knowledge of the industry. A company I consulted with ended up going to Eden to request that they fix their Apex system, pumps were breaking so often and yields were so low they weren't making money. Since then they have purchased another Eden system in addition to the retrofit. If I had the cash I would avoid Apexs like the plague. Waters is just big pharma trying to get in on the green rush.

 

[BubbaG]

Eden Labs has much faster run times (4 hours vs 12 hours). Higher yields due to the reduced surface tension cohesion of SCFE. The pumps never break, and they have a great knowledge of the industry. A company I consulted with ended up going to Eden to request that they fix their Apex system, pumps were breaking so often and yields were so low they weren't making money. Since then they have purchased another Eden system in addition to the retrofit. If I had the cash I would avoid Apexs like the plague. Waters is just big pharma trying to get in on the green rush.

Well.... since Eden never responded to my RFQ, or maybe they did lol..... there was a few days where I was being spammed by a robo-dialer with a Pakistani sounding (no-offense, what it sounded like to me and I work with engineers from India and Pakistan regularly) voice that kept asking for the Owner but would hang up when I'd ask who's calling.... nah I don't think that was them :-p

4 hours huh? I'm curious, bro, cause what you are saying sounds too good to be true to me.... I expect I know what the deal is though... what temperatures does the Eden equipment run at?

 

[Flashthunder]

Well.... since Eden never responded to my RFQ, or maybe they did lol..... there was a few days where I was being spammed by a robo-dialer with a Pakistani sounding (no-offense, what it sounded like to me and I work with engineers from India and Pakistan regularly) voice that kept asking for the Owner but would hang up when I'd ask who's calling.... nah I don't think that was them :p

4 hours huh? I'm curious, bro, cause what you are saying sounds too good to be true to me.... I expect I know what the deal is though... what temperatures does the Eden equipment run at?

Something like 110f. The difference between the companies regarding run times is that Eden pumps liquid co2 whereas Apeks is pumping gas. Liquid is denser than gas, therefore higher flow rate.

 

[BubbaG]

So, I am in the process of getting my APEKS machine set up and have a few complaints about their customer service but I get that they are a rapidly growing company though. regardless, when you pay 69K for something you expect a reasonable level of service and information that I just haven't got from them.

Granted I was a little green and naive going into it but if they just gave you all the information up front then the customer would avoid many pitfalls. Right now I've got everything set up only to find my phase converter isn't bringing the voltage high enough to compensate for the start up voltage drop created by the compressor. so, now I'm dealing with 3 companies to get this resolved...Apeks, Ingersoll Rand (compressor), and Kay Industries (phase converter). When the compressor tech showed up to start it up and there was problems he said that is ALWAYS the case. What? Thanks for the heads up Apeks! Needless to say I'm a little frustrated but anxious to get rolling.

Peace!

I hear you man. You probably really won't like to know (if you don't already) that the pump that makes the whole thing go, i.e. what the compressor is pushing, has to be rebuilt every 1500 hours? Not totally sure on that number, but I do believe they are coming out with a retrofit to do away with the big ass compressor and the pump won't require near as much maintenance.... of course that'll cost you I think it was 20K is what the service engineer told me. They definitely need to go another route than the current compressor.... nice piece of equipment, but the motor load curve on it must be too much for most commercial wiring jobs.... I'm not sure if it'll run on 3 phase 208v, but I bet if it does you will have problems with the compressor tripping the service with anything short of 480v 3phase service.