Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Distillation of mint essential oil

Distillation of essential oils can be done without expensive laboratory glassware.   Simply modify a discarded coffee can, with a hole in the middle of the base, and outfit with copper tubing that is coiled and then placed over an ice bath. The coffee can is crammed full of peppermint plant, and turned upside down and set in a sauce pan on the stove that has water in it.  This water is brought to a boil and allows the steam to fill the coffee can and mint.  The steam will carry the volatile oils up into the copper tubing and down around the cooled coils where it will condense and drain out into a container.  By this method I was able to get a small amount, like 1ml of essential oil.  This could then be boiled down further for a more potent oil. 

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Digital sketches

Many more doodles uploaded on my twitter.




Still Life
2 Figures
Untitled
apotheosis
Tadpole
Rocinante

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Gardening

 The pepper plants this year are looking vibrant.



Still managing to get some grapes.

 The Japanese Beetles are a never ending nuisance.  Haven't seen as many wasps yet.
Parsley.