What is a false bottom on a washing vessel for ice water extraction? A false bottom is a flat, stainless steel insert that fits into the bottom of a washing vessel. With a circumference matching that of the washing vessel, false bottoms look like either grated or swiss cheese steel plates. False bottoms contain many small holes which keep ice from settling against the very bottom of the washing vessel, while allowing trichomes to fall through for collection later. 

The false bottom keeps the ice separated from the trichomes, so that the trichomes can settle into a nice protected layer at the true bottom of the washing vessel. Everything else stays above the false bottom, as the trichomes rain down through the holes in the false bottom. The false bottom stays intact within the washing vessel as the water is drained and the trichomes rush out into the sieving bags for collection. 

There are many advantages to using a false bottom in your washing vessel for ice water extraction of loose resin. Let’s take a look at the top 10:

2. Enhanced Filtration: Prevents clogging of extraction bags or screens by keeping larger plant particles away from the finer mesh, ensuring smoother water flow and better trichome separation. The false bottom is the very first layer of filtration that the mixture passes through, like the very large sieve before the real sieving begins inside the bubble bags. 

3. Reduced Contamination: Minimizes contact between plant material and collected trichomes, reducing the risk of contamination with unwanted plant matter and resulting in a cleaner extract. False bottoms let trichomes settle into a protected layer at the bottom of the vessel, away from the larger chunks of source material. 

4. Improved Water Circulation: Creates space for water to circulate more freely around the plant material, promoting better agitation and more effective washing of trichomes from the plant surface, leading to a higher yield. 

5. Ease of Handling and Cleanup: Simplifies the process of removing plant material after washing, making cleanup quicker and more efficient. The vast majority of the starting material gets collected on the false bottom after draining, allowing it to be easily lifted out of the washing vessel with the false bottom. 

7. Reduced Processing Time: By improving the efficiency of trichome separation and filtration, a false bottom can help reduce the overall time required for the washing process. Most of the starting material stays behind in the washing vessel, meaning it doesn’t have to be separated using the sieving bags. 

8. Optimized Yield: Maximizes trichome recovery by minimizing loss and ensuring that more trichomes are collected from the plant material. A false bottom enables trichomes to collect in a thick blanket at the bottom of the washing vessel, rather than remaining mixed up in the cannabis and ice water slurry during the agitation phase of ice water extraction. 

9. Better Control Over the Process: Provides better control over the washing process, allowing for fine-tuning and adjustments to optimize trichome separation and quality.

10. Enhanced Product Purity: Contributes to the production of a purer final product by reducing the amount of plant material and contaminants in the extracted trichomes.

Conclusion

A false bottom is an extremely useful accessory to use with a stainless steel washing vessel for ice water extraction. False bottoms enhance loose resin quality by reducing contamination, improve processing efficiency, reduce cleanup time, and can even improve loose resin yield. Several manufacturers sell after-market false bottoms, making them easy to find online. Be sure to use only food-grade stainless steel to protect the quality and cleanliness of your hash.  

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