20-gallon Bubble Magic Washing Machines are ideal for hash makers who need more than a mini washer, but don’t quite have the budget for a full commercial-grade set up. A 20-gallon machine is a perfect in-between for labs that aim for greater solventless output before investing in a large-scale build. Although the Bubble Magic 20-gallon is technically ready to use right out of the box, there is one modification specifically that can make a world of a difference: changing out the drainage hose. 

We’ve published an article previously about how to do this in the mini washers, but it’s not the same process for the 20G version. 

In addition to the drainage hose replacement, there are some other tweaks that improve these washers for hash labs. Let’s walk through the modifications that can turn a 20-gallon Bubble Magic Washing Machine into a hash makers’ best friend. 

*Be sure the washing machine is unplugged before beginning any of these modifications.*

Supplies

• Drill with Phillips screwdriver bit and a step drill bit (1 ⅜ inch)
• Food grade drainage hose (smooth inside / not corrugated)
• Sharp blade or razor blade
• Wire cutters
• Wire connector nuts
• Electrical tape
• Hose clamps
• Ball valve to fit drainage hose
• Ruler and permanent marker
• Small reciprocating saw
• Scraping tool and a deburring tool
• Plexiglass
• Aquarium grade silicone and applicator gun
• Painters tape
• Drainage hose plugs
• Roll of reflective insulation wrap 
• Scissors
• Binder clips
• * Optional* voltage regulator

Remove the Drainage Pump

1. Locate the square access panel at the back of the washing machine. Remove the two screws securing this panel, and remove the panel. 

2. Find the drainage pump located directly behind that access panel. 

3. Remove the 3 screws at the bottom of the pump that attach the pump to the washer. These screws can be accessed from the bottom of the washer. 

4. Remove the single screw located at the back right leg of the washer, which is also securing the drainage pump. 

5. Use a sharp blade to cut the drainage hose away from the drainage pump.

6. Use wire cutters to cut the wires leading into the drainage pump. 

7. Remove the pump from the washer.

8. Place wire connector nuts over the exposed wires, then wrap with electrical tape.

9. Dispose of the drainage pump and drainage hose (we don’t want to use this corrugated drainage hose, as it will capture and hold loose resin).

Install New Drainage Hose

1. Soak a smooth, food-grade hose in a bucket of hot water. This makes the hose more malleable and easy to work with.

4. Find the drain port from the tub located behind the panel you removed earlier.

5. Use a hose clamp to secure the end of your new drainage hose onto the drainage port. Be sure to securely seat the hose onto the port to prevent leakage. 

6. Install a ball valve onto the open end of the drainage hose.

Remove a Section of the Washing Machine Lid and Cover with Plexiglass

1. We want to cut a hole into the center of the lid that’s 10” wide x 8.5” long.

2. Give yourself at least an inch from the back of the lid, to avoid the brackets that attach the lid to the frame of the washing machine.

3. Use a straightedge and a sharpie to measure and draw the cutting lines.

4. Use a reciprocating saw to cut the rectangular hole into the lid.

5. Use a scraping tool and a deburring tool to remove the rough edges of the rectangular hole you just cut into the lid. 

6. Cut a section of plexiglass that’s 11” wide x 9.5” long, to create a .5” overlay past the edges of the hole. 

7. Use aquarium-grade silicone to secure the plexiglass to the inside of the lid. This creates a nice window to see into the washing machine during use. 

8. Use painters tape to tape around the edges of the plexiglass while the silicone seal is drying.

Remove the Gray Top of the Washing Machine and Install New Plexiglass Vent Covers

1. Remove the screws that secure the gray top to the frame of the washing machine. 

2. Pop the entire top off of the machine, exposing the inside of the unit. 

3. Remove the slotted covers that run the length of the machine, from top to bottom, from the corners of the frame. They will slide right out of the tracks holding them in place. 

4. Dispose of these slotted covers, as they needlessly trap material. 

5. Tightly secure plugs into the open end of both drainage hoses located inside the drum of the washing machine. These act as caps which prevent water from entering into these hoses. You might try the plugs for the hydraulic lines on your rosin press, as these may be a perfect fit. 

6. Cut 2 sections of plexiglass to 5 ⅛” x 17 ⅝” which will act as the vent covers inside the washing machine (to replace the slotted covers you removed previously). 

7. Apply the silicone to the edges of the plexiglass, and insert them into the tracks along the corners of the tub. 

8. Use a silicone applicator gun to apply silicone along the bottom edge of both plexiglass panels, to make a watertight seal between the plexiglass and the bottom of the machine. 

9. Install the top back onto the washing machine.

Create an Insulator Wrap

3. This acts as a jacket to help keep the water nice and cold while washing. 

Optional Add On: Voltage Regulator

1. Plug the washing machine into the voltage regulator, then plug the voltage regulator into the wall. 

2. This will allow you to lower the RPMs while washing, which helps prevent the release of excessive chlorophyll while agitating the plant material. 

3. If you don’t use the voltage regulator, just be sure to use the LOW setting on the washing machine for agitation. 

Conclusion

Without these modifications to the 20-gallon Bubble Magic Washing Machine, you’re going to lose a lot of loose resin to the machine itself. Stuck inside the stock corrugated drainage hose and behind the slotted vent covers along the corners of the tub, this lost resin has a significant negative impact on your yields over time. 

What’s more, these areas can also trap plant material, which harbors microbial growth as it remains stuck inside the machine. 

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