How To Make Shatter At Home The Simple & Safe Way

For those unfamiliar, shatter is a type of cannabis concentrate that looks similar to amber-colored glass. It’s stiff, somewhat translucent, and has a glass-like texture that appears like it would shatter into a million pieces if dropped (hence the name).

This cannabis extract is one of the most potent concentrates worldwide, often containing incredibly high THC concentration levels of 70-90%.

You may know marijuana shatter by any number of other names, like THC wax, hash oil, or simply wax. While these marijuana products have similarities, shatter specifically refers to concentrates with that distinctive translucent, brittle consistency that sets it apart from other forms.

How do you make shatter, you ask? Well, the extraction process for making shatter at home can vary significantly in complexity and safety.

In the lab, shatter production usually involves butane hash oil extraction, which uses butane as a solvent to extract cannabinoids from plant material. This solvent-based extraction method is pretty dangerous to do at home, especially when compared to solventless extraction. It needs specialized equipment like vacuum ovens, but butane’s highly flammable nature makes it incredibly risky.

Some make shatter using butane outdoors with proper ventilation, but this extraction method also involves dangerous solvents and high temperatures. Unless you’re 100% sure you know what you’re doing, don’t attempt to make shatter. We won’t be covering this dangerous approach, as we definitely don’t recommend it.

So, what about solventless extraction methods? Wondering how to make shatter that way? One of the most reliable DIY extraction methods is making shatter from kief, the powdery substance that collects on the bottom of your grinder.

To make shatter from kief using this solventless extraction method, you only need three basic ingredients (one of them is kief).

This process eliminates the need for butane, vacuum ovens, or other dangerous equipment while still producing high-potency concentrates you can dab with. So read this quick guide and make some fresh shatter already!

Essential Materials:

• Kief—we recommend using at least enough to fill a quarter-size piece of parchment paper (more kief yields more final product)
• Parchment paper (specifically designed for heat resistance; avoid regular wax paper, which can melt)
• A hair straightener with adjustable temperature controls
• Oven mitts for safety during the heat extraction process

Optional Safety Equipment:

• Heat gun for alternative heating (though a hair straightener works better for beginners)
• Razor blade for collecting the finished concentrate
• Pyrex container for storing your concentrate

Step 1. Prepare Your Plant Matter: Pour your kief onto the parchment paper. Keep it in a fairly neat square shape if possible. The amount of starting material directly affects your final product yield—more kief means more shatter.

Step 2. Wrap the Kief Properly: Fold your parchment paper tightly around the hash in squares, creating an inside square that contains all your kief. If necessary, use tape to keep the parchment paper folded around the kief. If you have scissors, cut off any excess parchment paper hanging off the square of kief. The goal is to have parchment paper covering every inch of your kief, but no more than that. Then, wrap that square of kief in another sheet of parchment paper (you only need to fold this second sheet over the square once).

Step 3. Heat Your Equipment: Turn your hair straightener on the lowest setting, and let it heat up for 1-2 minutes. Using lower temperatures helps avoid burning your concentrate and preserves more terpenes in the final product. High temperatures can degrade cannabinoids and create harsh flavors.

Step 4. Apply Heat and Pressure: Clamp your hair straightener over the rectangular shape of your kief, and press down hard. Use one hand to clamp the iron shut, and press down on top with your other hand so that the iron is being squeezed between your hand and the table beneath the hair straightener. Push down hard and hold for about 10 seconds. Be careful not to burn yourself: you may need oven mitts depending on how hot the outside of the straightener gets.

Step 5. Extract Your Concentrate: Remove the parchment paper containing the kief from the hair straightener, and unfold it. You’ll notice that a honey-colored substance has been squeezed out of the edges of the inside square of kief-filled parchment paper. That’s your THC shatter, and it’s ready to consume. But you probably have more kief in your square of kief-filled parchment paper, so fold a new sheet of parchment paper around it once more, and repeat steps 4 and 5 until all the kief has been used.

Step 6. Enjoy Your Fresh Shatter: We recommend using your fresh shatter out of a dab rig with a proper carb cap for best results. It’s the best way to dab shatter at the ideal temperature for maximum flavor and potency.

Safety should always be your top priority when making concentrates like shatter weed. It’s not always a walk in the park. Even this relatively safe process involves heat that can cause burns. Always wear oven mitts and avoid tugging on dangling wires.

For long-term storage, store shatter in a dark place at room temperature. Properly stored concentrates can maintain their potency and consistency for months, especially if they aren’t exposed to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures.

While the hair straightener method is one of the safest methods for home extraction, other techniques exist.

Some producers use rosin presses for higher yields, while others experiment with different heating methods for different results. Just avoid gas stove heating or other open flame methods. They’re unnecessarily dangerous.

If you’re into testing out other concentrates, bubble hash is another solventless option that doesn’t need heat extraction. Be sure to visit our guide for an easy way to make bubble hash at home.

When working with cannabis plant matter for extraction, we always recommend using solventless methods for various reasons. Here’s why:

• Costs only a few bucks in materials versus hundreds for solvent-based setups
• No hazardous chemicals or remaining butane in your final product
• Preserves more terpenes and natural plant compounds
• No need for expensive equipment like vacuum ovens
• Much safer process that can be done indoors

The resulting concentrate may have a slightly different texture compared to commercial shatter wax, but it delivers pretty similar potency and purity. With this in mind, choosing the safer, easier option is a no-brainer for at-home shatter making.

For a deeper look into cannabis concentrates on the legal market, including their composition, potency, and health implications, this study offers valuable insights.

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The 14mm Male Bottom Banger by Quartz Banger solves two massive problems in the dabbing world: Waiting for bangers to heat up and getting that heat to last. This high-performing banger lets you savor dabs at your own pace without constantly reheating the nail.

With its thick, opaque bottom that was specifically engineered for quick heat-up and long-lasting warmth, this banger from Quartz Banger is a no-brainer for hassle-free, enjoyable sessions.