Sorry for the long post...

Hello fellow Nexians. Long time reader, first time poster. I have a few questions which I'm sure have been asked and answered many times over in various ways. Hopefully you all can offer some more wonderful input.

A couple years ago I attempted my first extract, with less-than-optimal success. I found Vivin's tek on Mycotopia and did a poor-man's version of it on approxomately 40g MHRB. I wound up with a very small amount of yellow earwax. I did feel effects, but very minimal. I'd like to think that reasons for this included predictable variables such as:

(litmus paper instead of digital PH meter, ronsonol instead of hp&v, no freeze precip, regular flame on ashbed in pipe for administration)

After discovering this awesome forum and doing some more research, I've decided to do another extraction (hopefully) with the help and input of this enlightened group. I have a few preliminary questions before I begin this undertaking. I came across 1kg of MHRB along with some items which should make for a better comprehensive experience:

(higher quality lab equipment and materials, torch lighter, Glass Vapor Genie)

but I was wondering about a couple things...

1. Which tek should I use? I am still leaning towards Vovin's because I am meticulous and patient by nature, and because I care about quality first and foremost, but I am questioning this because Vovin himself claims that he doesn't use his own tek. I am reasonably familiar with all major teks, and it seems A/B done with MHRB, HCl, NaOH, HP&V and freeze precipitation will give me the greatest (best AND most) bang for my buck. AM I WRONG?

2. What is the optimal amount of MHRB to use per extraction? I have decent glassware and plenty of time but after a gradual stepping up process, is there a plateau I should reach with only one 500ml seperatory funnel? Also, since Vovin wrote his tek, have better proportions or measurements for an A/B extraction been found (ex. smaller volumes of naphtha, different PH levels)?

3. Are there any variations that have been discovered recently of which I should definitely take heed (ex. necessity/non-necessity of defatting, better way to clean out the lye, anything else I have not thought of, etc.)?

4. Lastly, I plan to post incremental updates with photos of this process. Is this recommended/encouraged? If so, which forum would be the most appropriate for such an endeavor should I need help or advice?

Thank you so much for reading, and thank you even more for helping an under-experienced traveller. Any and all advice is welcome and appreciated!

Hi, and welcome to the nexus. I am going to say how I would do it.

1. I always do STB never tried A/B and do not feel like ever doing it really. But many people here only do A/B so its really up to you. It looks like A/B produces cleaner crystals but you can always re-x it if you need to.

2. I use 100g of powdered MHRB , its also good amount for beginner to start with. Or even less 50g

3. The ratio for mixing bark, water and lye doing STB is 1g to 15ml to 1g , always wash the pulls with sodium carbonate twice and once quickly with water

4. people here love pictures and you can only post in welcome area at the moment so post it there in General Extractions Help or Open Discussion. Once you become full member you can post your tek in DMT EXTRACTION section

5. Good luck my friend and do not forget to upload your hard work

I use noman's stb tek every time I extract dmt...I'm almost positive there isn't an easier tek...good yield(always at least 1%), VERY pure finish product, very few steps.

I use 100g of bark each time and always get back at least 1g of dmt from it.

Other teks may yield slightly more, but this one works very well every time and it's sooo simple.
But still I would reccomend making yourself familiar with many different teks before making up your mind.

Good luck!

Thank you smokerx and JuremaSpaceship... this is the kind of feedback I am looking for. I am all about ease but still want as much PURE product as possible. It looks like Noman's STB is the most widely used and respected. If I choose to use it, I suppose I need to find the best recrystalization process. Any suggestions other than the ones I have found in the various teks?

Thanks again!

If you follow the instructions closely there is really no need to reX in my opinion...

I have only ever gotten pure clear/white crystals (from the first 3-4 naphtha pulls) from nomans tek and I have never felt the need to recrystalize.

The best advice I can give you for getting a pure finished product...combine your first 4 pulls into a jar.double decant into a clean jar that will be your freeze precip container (This way you can be sure there is no brown plant matter goo in there just clear naphtha) your first 4 pulls should come out pure white after about a day in the freezer.

I generally leave the "mud" to sit for a few days before I do my last pulls out of it to make sure I got out as much as I could,
The crystals from the last few pulls may be yellowish/off white. I have smoked dmt that was yellow and it seemed to be fine, but of course you could reX if you want extra insurance.

good looking out, JuremaSpaceship... I think I will probably do both and compare.

thanks again for the help