Since their emergence onto the market, vaporizing THC oil via vape pens has been one of the most popular methods of consumption. The innovative mixture and advanced technology leveled up the traditional lighting up techniques. Now, cannabis consumers have the pleasure of puffing on the pure, potent oils of cannabis flower, without the smell, or process to do so. But there is one glaring negative to consuming THC vape pens frequently – it can be quite costly, which is exactly why so many cannabis connoisseurs are learning how to make THC oil for vape pens themselves. If this sounds like a skill, your wallet could definitely benefit from, keep reading. We’ve simplified the process to DIY your own vape pen juice, to harness the benefits of the consumption method more affordably.
How To Make THC Oil For Vape Pen
If you’ve ever purchased a vape pen to use THC for anxiety or THC for pain, you know they average around $50 per ½ gram. So, if you’re a frequent user, the habit isn’t very cost-effective. To still gain the benefits of THC in vape pen form, you can follow the steps below to make your own.
How To Make THC Oil For Vaping Step by Step
To begin, gather the following supplies. Then, follow the steps below.
- 6-7 grams of flower or 1 gram of any cannabis concentrate (i.e., rosin, hash, distillate, shatter, wax)
- Two glass jars (freeze for 2 hours before you begin to extract)
- Strainer and cheesecloth
- Baking sheet
- Stainless steel pot
- Thermometer (cooking or candy type)
- Aluminum foil
- 5 mL Dropper bottles
- PEG400 (blend like EJmix if available) or PG/VG (propylene glycol/food grade vegetable glycerin)
- Everclear or any high proof food grade alcohol (At least 190 proof, and NOT rubbing or isopropyl alcohol!)
- Preheat your oven to 220 – 225 F (105 C), as the first step to making your own THC oil involves slowly heating up your bud. Cover your baking sheet with foil, and lightly break up your flower onto the sheet.
- Bake for approximately 30 minutes or until the buds are dry, and begin turning a shade of golden brown.
- Put the material in one of the jars, that has preferably been frozen before beginning. The cold temperature promotes the detachment of cannabinoids and terpenes from unneeded fats and lipids.
- Pour the alcohol over the flower in the jar, completely submerging it. Swirl the mixture by moving the jar from side to side, but not too much as to agitate the material. Place the jar back into the freezer while you prep your next step.
- Cover your second jar or a large glass measuring cup with your cheesecloth. Pour the mixture from the first jar into the second jar, and squeeze lightly to remove as much liquid as possible.
- Now you’ll work to purge the alcohol from the liquid. If possible, open a window in your kitchen or turn on a vent fan. Fill your pan with about 4 inches of water, and place it on the stove. Set the burner to medium heat until the water reaches 160℉ (71℃). Then place your mason jar of liquid into the pot.
- Let the jar simmer for approximately one hour, stirring occasionally.
- Once the alcohol has evaporated, it’s time to add your thinning liquid – either the PEG400 blend or PG/VG. 20-25 MG of these liquids is usually recommended, but you can eyeball as you go for the ideal consistency. Just be aware, if you’re using PG/VG, the more you add, the harsher your hits will be. To increase your potency per hit, use as little of your thinning agent as possible to achieve the desired viscosity for vaping. If you’d like to flavor your THC oil for vaping, this is the step to do it. Just ensure you’re using a food-grade type of flavoring, and add in small amounts to avoid an overpowering taste.
- Next, you’ll fill your empty vape cartridges. If you’re only filling one vape cartridge at a time, we’ll discuss how to store the bulk batch below. Use your eyedropper to fill your vape cart, and voila! You’re ready to vape your own homemade THC oil.
This method, using the recommended 6-7 grams of flower, should produce approximately 25 ML worth of THC oil for vaping. To store, keep in a cool or dark area (38-65 degrees F / 3-18 C). The refrigerator is ideal, but avoid the freezer to degrade any of the delicate cannabinoids now contained in the THC oil. The mixture should keep for up to five months from making it.
Making THC Oils For Vape Pens: Warnings
Of course, heating high-proof alcohol is dangerous when not done safely. You’ll want to make sure that you approach this step with caution, and keep windows open if possible. With that said, be aware that when making THC oil for vaping, the process will create a pungent odor. Just like smoking, THC would too. So if you’re in an area where cannabis isn’t legalized, or have less than friendly neighbors you may want to consider this before beginning.
How Much THC Is In A Vape Pen?
What’s nice about purchasing THC oil vape carts is the manufacturer has done the testing for you and can tell you exactly how much THC is contained. Unfortunately, with the DIY method, you’ll have to do some calculations and estimating on your own. Luckily, the formula does produce an approximate amount of THC so you can more accurately dose each cart, and per dose.
How To Calculate How Much THC Oil In Vape Pen?
To calculate how much THC is in the oil you’ve made for your vape pen, you’ll just need to complete a simple formula. That’s the same as figuring out the levels of THC in edibles, too. First, you’ll need to determine how much THC is in the strain of the flower you used to make the oil. You can use our handy THC percentage chart here, or if purchased at a licensed dispensary, the package should note the amount.
It’s also crucial to know how many cups of liquid that your THC oil ended up being. Once you have those estimates or exact numbers, you’ll complete the following math –
- Divide your THC % by 100
- Multiply that answer by 1000
- Multiply that answer by the number of G’s used in the mixture
- Divide that answer by the number of carts that the oil can make to equal your per cart THC %
As an example, we’ll say we used 6 g of Bruce Banner at 25% THC, and you have 25 vape carts to fill.
25% ÷ 100 = .25 THC per g X 1000 = 250 mg THC x 6 g = 1,500 MG THC ÷ 25 = 60 MG per vape cart
Once you know the formula, you can use this simple math to figure out THC’s calculation when infused into other substances or liquids.
Best Voltage For Vaping THC Oil
Like we mentioned in the step-by-step instructions, THC cannabinoids and terpenes can be quite delicate. At high heats, they can degrade, which will conversely degrade the level or potency of your high. Once you’ve made your own batch, it’s ideal for learning the best voltage for vaping THC oil, so you don’t waste what you’ve made. When vaping THC oil, it’s perfect to have a vaporizer pen that has multiple temperature settings. That way, you can choose the lowest one, or the most recommended voltage of 3.3-3.8 volts.
Vaping THC Oil vs Smoking
Even though vaping THC and smoking THC through cannabis flowers both produce puffs of ‘smoke’ when exhaling, they are quite different beyond that one similarity. Here’s a quick breakdown of their fundamental differences.
- Vaping THC oil is more potent - Cannabis flower typically contains levels of THC ranging from 12% - 25%. As opposed to THC vape carts, which can contain THC levels up to 99%.
- Vaping THC oil is less harsh on the lungs - Cannabis flower must be burned and combusted to be inhaled for its effects to be felt. This process can be harsh on the lungs and result in coughing or a build-up of phlegm over time.
- Vaping THC oil may be healthier than smoking - The smoke that cannabis produces contains the same type of cancer-causing chemicals as cigarettes do.
Is Vaping THC Cartridges Safe?
Since illicit and black market vapes have been found to be a source of severe lung issues amongst their consumers, there’s been a lingering question on whether or not vaping THC carts are safe. Luckily, the answer is yes. Licensed manufactured vape carts now have to go through rigorous testing to ensure their users that the cartridges don’t contain harmful contaminants or dangerous additives.
The investigation into ‘bad’ vapes concluded that brands using Vitamin E acetate posed a danger to users’ health. In fact, out of the fake vapes that were investigated, 10 out of 10 fake THC carts also contained hydrogen cyanide—a harmful pesticide, especially when inhaled. To remain to vape safely, ensure that you purchase products from trusted vendors or brands that come with third-party lab reports or testing information.
How about one useful suggestion: When using your oven to heat the raw material, use a baking bag like we use to bake a turkey. Tie the bag end off after placing the pan and product inside bag. This will really bring the smell under control. Just remember to allow it to cool, take it outside, before opening bag. ENJOY and thanks for a great read!