I was just about to embark on the Lextek AB extraction when I noticed that there was an 'update' to this tek, namely, The DMT Handbook. In this update it states that White Vinegar (Acetic Acid) was no longer considered appropriate due to consistently under par yields and that phosphoric, hydrochloric, or sulphuric acid were much more preferable.

Now I know I can procure these things on the internet, but I have approx 20 hours until the girlfriend returns home from Germany and things start to get a little tricky on the extraction front.

Does anyone know of any widely available suitable product that can be easily picked up from standard UK retail outlets?

Ime, vinegar works fine...never had a problem with it.

I'm in the US so I can't be sure, but muriatic acid (pool cleaning acid) is generally sold as a 31.45% hcl solution in hardware/pool supply stores.

Also...is there no way to discuss this with the gf? If you guys are sharing a roof I'd consider it a must...but it's obviously your life and discretion. I can't imagine having to be secretive about things like this with respect to my gf or close friends, but that's just me

I use white vinegar from Sainsbury's and it works great. Don't worry about using a different acid. Not sure why they say that in the tek but just look at the success everyone has on the nexus using vinegar. If you really really don't want to use vinegar, you can buy hydrochloric acid from any DIY shop. It is called "Spirit of Salts" and is normally 32% concentration.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the replies guys....

....I just pushed ahead with the white vinegar anyways. Had enough of the faffing around and decided just to roll with what I got.

I shall also use the leftovers from the acid cook and do a Lazyman STB extraction on that, just to see how much is potentially left behind with the white vinegar.

There is no probs with the gf regarding 'consumption' (she nips my head, but I dont lie to her about it), however I am not sure whether she would be quite so understanding regarding 'manufacturing'.

If you have done sufficient boils of the bark here should be very little left in the bark, might be an interesting experiment though. Not used Lazymans Tek, myself. I would probably try a more reliable STB if I was to bother.

The way things have gone, it is more likely that a straightforward Lazyman STB procedure will be the saving grace.

Earlier, when I was acidifying the solution, only a capful of vinegar gave me a reading on my pH meter (40 quid, newly purchased) of less than pH 4 (strange I thought). I tested the gunk again mid cook, again, pH 4. The pH meter was then cleaned and turned off, then when I go to use it again, it seems that everything is pH7. The cailbartion liquid, tap water, de-ionized water, I even stuck the damn poxy thing in the bottle of vinegar itself, which was also 'pH 7'.

So without litmus paper, I am now playing a guessing game with regards to the A/B extraction. I resisted the temptation to bounce the pH meter of the wall as I may try in vain to get a refund on it.

I shall complete this 2nd slow cook of the bark and then use the rest of the material to do a Lazyman STB extraction.

Yea, digital pH meters SUCK!!!unless you're willing to shell out a decent chunk o' change My plants suffered from a mild burn two grows ago due to an inaccurate pH meter :evil:

The only way I've found to get reasonable readings is to use the pH buffer solution frequently, store the diode in a small amount of it and calibrate it frequently...even then it's really only good for "ballpark" figures.

My common sense should have told me that one tiny capful of vinegar was not going to be enough to lower the pH of the 1000ml of water to pH4.....but it didn't and I believed the meter...until the next time it told me that every single fluid I tested was 6.89 (buffer solution, water, MHRB mix, Acetic Acid), then i got suspicious and relised that I had wasted time, MHRB, and money cos of a stupid p.o.s chinese made battery powered 'random number displayer' (cos that is its only use).

A good sticky to post on a site such as this one would be:

!!!! pH Meters: Unless you are planning on shelling out for a top quality pH Meter, stick to litmus paper or educated guessing !!!!

On the plus side, If my A/B has failed, then all the gunk should still be good for an STB extraction.......and I shall take the experience as a lesson learned.