The Solventless Lab

At FireBeards, "The Lab" is the heart of our craft where traditional methods meet careful use of modern technology to extract the purest expressions of cannabis. Here, precision and patience blend to transform meticulously farmed trichomes into premier solventless extracts.

The Craft of Solventless Extraction

Solventless extraction respects the natural essence of cannabis, eschewing chemical solvents in favor of physical methods that rely on water, temperature, and pressure. This approach not only ensures a cleaner product but also preserves the plant’s complex bouquet of cannabinoids and terpenes.

Ice Water Hash:

Utilizing ice and water, this gentle process separates the brittle trichomes from the plant material.

1. The frozen flowers and sugar leaves are submerged, rested and agitated in ice-cold water, causing the trichomes heads to break off and sink to the bottom of the vessel. I want to be very gentle to minimize plant contamination.
2. The water is then drained and the heads are seived through a stack of fine mesh bags with specific microns openings so that the heads can be collected in specific sizes. Most usable heads fall between 45u and 160u, but the highest quality might only be found in 90u-120u, depending on cultivar and phenotype.
3. These seperated heads must be rinsed thoughly with ice cold reverse osmosis water to remove impurities and contamination. This step is often overlooked or rushed and is one of the best chances to clean up the hash.
4. After collection the wet hash must be dried as quickly as possible to prevent mold or spoilage, I ultilize a freeze dryer for this step. The hash is deep frozen and then put under vaccum. Then the hash is gently heated to just above freezing and the water sublimates (goes from a solid to a gas without becoming liquid between). This method is effiencent and fast, preserving maximum terpenes

Rosin Pressing:

Following drying, the hash may be ready as a full melt hash, which has its drawbacks and benefits (see the Dab Bar for more) or I may choose to process further into "Live Rosin" the fastest growing cannabis product and the most user friendly solventless dab option.

1. To do this, I take specially designed "Rosin Bags" made of fine mesh of specific microns, smaller than the heads collected. I fill a 25u bag with several grams of hash. I then put that bag into another bag, for strength to prevent blowouts.
2. These nested bags are then placed in a parchment pouch and are vaccum sealed to help remove oxygen and to preform the hash into a slab. I prefeer to let the hash bags stay under vaccum for at least a couple hours
3. The rosin press is preheated to temps between 155-185F, depending on phenotype and other variables. After everything is warm the bags and parchment can be placed on the press
4. The press warms the hash for the first 30 seconds and then pressure is slowly and carefully increased over the next 2 minutes
5. The oil is squeezed out of the heads and the waxy cuticle and lipids are filtered out by the bag. The oil has a golden appearance and is quite beautiful.
6. The rosin is collected and jarred up with tight fitting lids to wait for packaging or additional steps to cure the rosin and influence the texture.

Post Processing:

Following the press, you have a rosin product that is ready and delicious. Though it dabs great and is many folks preference, it less than stable and requires careful handling to maintain quality. Jam Tech, cold cure, diamonds and other techniques attempt to preserve the integrity of the rosin while increasing stability and user friendliness. Solventless carts and edibles are other products that can be made with rosin opening up the wonder of solventless to those who don't dab or simply want another expererience.

• Cold Cure is a FireBeards favorite for texture. The rosin is soft and dabs easily, it looks wet, is oh so terpy and hits a bit smoother than fresh press. The tehcnique is to leave it alone in a sealed jar and then whip it up after the terpenes seperate out.
• Jam Tech is a warm cure done in a sealed jar. When done right this texture is something special, with some of the most appealing jars on the market using jam tech (especially when combined with cold cure). Firebeards is still experimenting with this technique and texture. I can't wait to release some once its dialed in.
• Mechanical serperation using addional presses can seperate THC-A from the liquid terpene. This is sometimes called diamonds and sauce and is a fun texture. I think its a little rough on the terps so FireBeards is not planning on additional research.
• Solventless rosin can be decarbed (heated until THC-A converts to THC so the oil can remain viscous) and loaded into into carts which can be used on standard 510 battery "pens". This process is hard on terpenes but there is some exciting new tech that helps mitigate it. The quality of cart hardware contiues to be an issue. I will continue research & development on this popular option, but am only want to release carts that meet my very high standards.
• Solventless edibles are the superior edible. The full spectrum expereince of a single cultivars entoutage effect is unmatched in vaping or edibels. Firebeards hopes to partner with other Minnesota Micro-Businesses to colaborate on both delicious solventless edibles and low calorie infused MTC oil capsules.

Commitment to Quality and Purity

In the Firebeards Lab, every variable is carefully controlled to preserve the quality of our extracts. From the temperature settings during rosin pressing to the timing of each batch, I focus on harnessing techniques that enhance and showcase the plant and quality of the grow rather than redefine the natural profiles of our cannabis.

Craftsmanship and Technology

My approach combines deep-rooted craftsmanship with selective use of technology to maintain consistency and quality. By integrating modern techniques where they can enhance outcomes without compromising the artisanal integrity of the process, I ensure that each batch of solventless extract reflects the highest standards of purity and efficacy.

Grow Room

Discover the journey from seed to plant. Learn about my organic, soil-grown cultivation methods.

Dab Bar

Experience the pinnacle of cannabis consumption. From dabbing to edibles, discover your perfect match.