The Source Turbo Extractor

Traditional botanical extraction can involve time-consuming solvent evaporation, wasted ethanol, and inconsistent results. The SOURCE Turbo simplifies the solvent recovery process by combining controlled vacuum pressure, gentle heating, and a closed-loop collection system.

In this beginner-friendly guide, we'll walk through how to use the SOURCE Turbo extractor, prepare botanical tinctures, recover ethanol, and collect your finished botanical extracts. You'll also learn practical tips for improving your extraction workflow and getting more value from every batch.

What Is the SOURCE Turbo Botanical Extractor?

The SOURCE Turbo is a compact, countertop ethanol recovery and botanical extraction machine developed by Extract Craft for home-scale botanical processing.

It uses low-temperature vacuum distillation to separate ethanol from a previously prepared botanical tincture, allowing the user to collect concentrated botanical extracts while recovering much of the ethanol for future use.

What Is a Botanical Tincture?

A botanical tincture is a liquid extract created by soaking plant material in alcohol to dissolve and capture soluble botanical compounds.

Depending on the botanical and intended application, tinctures may contain naturally occurring aromatic compounds, pigments, flavors, and other ethanol-soluble plant constituents.

Tinctures can be used as finished preparations or as an intermediate step in creating more concentrated botanical extracts.

The SOURCE Turbo is particularly useful for the second stage of this process: separating and recovering ethanol from a prepared tincture to achieve the desired extract concentration.

How to Use the SOURCE Turbo Extractor: Step-by-Step Guide

Learning how to use a botanical ethanol extractor begins with proper preparation, filtration, equipment setup, and careful monitoring.

Follow these general steps to prepare your botanical extract and use the SOURCE Turbo for ethanol recovery.

Step 1: Gather Your Botanical Extraction Supplies

Before beginning, organize your equipment and prepare a clean workspace. Having everything ready helps reduce contamination and makes the extraction process easier to manage.

For users who want a convenient starting point, the SOURCE Turbo Core Extraction Kit includes the extraction appliance and additional filtration and handling accessories.

Step 2: Prepare Your Botanical Tincture

The first stage of botanical ethanol extraction involves allowing the solvent to contact the plant material and dissolve the desired compounds.

1. Inspect and prepare your chosen botanical material.
2. Place the botanicals into a clean, ethanol-compatible extraction container.
3. Add the appropriate amount of food-grade, high-proof ethanol for your chosen botanical and extraction method.
4. Allow the material to soak according to your botanical-specific extraction recipe.
5. Once the extraction period is complete, prepare the liquid for filtration.

Step 3: Filter Your Botanical Tincture

Before loading the SOURCE Turbo, remove plant particles and unwanted solids from the tincture.

Proper filtration helps produce a cleaner final extract and reduces the amount of solid material entering the extraction machine.

1. Pour the prepared tincture through an appropriate filter or strainer.
2. For finer filtration, use a Buchner funnel and compatible filtration flask.
3. Repeat filtration as necessary to achieve the desired clarity.
4. Transfer the filtered solution into a clean, compatible container.

Once filtration is complete, your botanical tincture is ready for the SOURCE Turbo ethanol recovery process.

Step 4: Prepare the SOURCE Turbo for Extraction

Correct assembly is essential for establishing the vacuum required for low-temperature ethanol recovery.

1. Place the SOURCE Turbo on a flat, stable surface in an appropriate workspace.
2. Inspect the glass collector, lid, seals, and other removable components.
3. Ensure all sealing surfaces are clean, dry, and correctly positioned.
4. Install the reservoir cup, also called the crucible, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
5. Add your filtered tincture without exceeding the machine's rated liquid capacity.
6. Assemble the glass collection chamber and lid.
7. Confirm that the vacuum release valve is closed before starting the machine.

For detailed assembly diagrams and operating instructions, visit the official Extract Craft Product Manuals page.

Step 5: Select Normal or Turbo Extraction Mode

The SOURCE Turbo offers two operating modes to accommodate different botanical extraction needs.

Once processing begins, confirm that the chamber establishes and maintains the required vacuum.

If the vacuum does not establish properly, stop and consult the manufacturer's troubleshooting instructions. Check the lid, sealing surfaces, vacuum release valve, and component alignment before continuing.

Step 6: Monitor Ethanol Recovery

As the SOURCE Turbo operates, vacuum pressure lowers the boiling point of ethanol, allowing solvent separation at a lower temperature than conventional atmospheric distillation.

Ethanol vapor condenses within the collection system, where the recovered liquid accumulates for collection.

The botanical compounds remain in the crucible as the solution becomes progressively more concentrated.

The SOURCE Turbo is designed to recover ethanol rather than simply allowing it to evaporate into the surrounding environment. This is an important advantage for home crafters who want to reduce solvent waste and maintain a more controlled extraction workflow.

Step 7: Finish the Extraction and Collect Your Botanical Concentrate

As ethanol is recovered, the remaining botanical solution becomes more concentrated.

The desired endpoint depends on your intended application. Some preparations may remain relatively fluid, while others become thicker as more solvent is removed.

1. Monitor the consistency of your extract as processing approaches completion.
2. Stop the extraction using the green button when the appropriate endpoint has been reached.
3. Allow the equipment to cool according to the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Carefully release the vacuum using the vacuum release valve.
5. Remove the finished botanical extract from the crucible using compatible tools.
6. Collect and properly store the recovered ethanol.
7. Clean the equipment according to the SOURCE Turbo user manual.

Why Ethanol Recovery Matters in Botanical Extraction

One of the most valuable features of the SOURCE Turbo is its ability to recover ethanol during the concentration process.

Rather than relying on open-air evaporation, the machine uses vacuum-assisted distillation to separate ethanol from the botanical solution and collect it for potential reuse.

For home botanical enthusiasts, ethanol recovery can make small-batch extraction more economical and convenient over time.

Discover more about the SOURCE Turbo botanical extraction machine and its solvent recovery technology.

SOURCE Turbo Extraction Safety Tips

Safety should always be a priority when working with high-proof ethanol and botanical extraction equipment.

Ethanol is flammable, and proper handling, ventilation, storage, and equipment operation are essential.

Understanding the SOURCE Turbo Automatic Shutoff

The SOURCE Turbo includes an automatic two-hour heating shutoff feature.

This feature does not necessarily mean that every extraction will be complete within two hours. Processing time varies with batch size, solvent volume, operating mode, and the desired final concentration.

Always monitor your extraction appropriately and follow the manufacturer's current instructions if additional processing is required.

For the latest operating and safety information, consult the official Extract Craft user manuals.

Frequently Asked Questions About the SOURCE Turbo

Can You Make Herbal Tinctures at Home With the SOURCE Turbo?

Yes. You can prepare botanical tinctures using an appropriate ethanol extraction method and then use the SOURCE Turbo to recover ethanol and concentrate the filtered solution.

If your goal is to retain a liquid tincture, stop the concentration process at the appropriate point rather than removing more ethanol than your recipe requires.

What Kind of Alcohol Should You Use for Botanical Extraction?

Extract Craft specifies high-proof, non-denatured ethanol for the SOURCE Turbo. 

Food-grade ethanol is important when preparing extracts intended for culinary applications.

How Long Does the SOURCE Turbo Extraction Process Take?

Processing time depends on the amount of tincture, its ethanol content, the selected operating mode, and the desired concentration.

A full-capacity batch may require approximately three hours or longer. Use the manufacturer's current instructions and monitor your actual extraction rather than relying exclusively on a timer.

Can You Reuse Ethanol Recovered by the SOURCE Turbo?

Recovered ethanol may be suitable for reuse in subsequent extraction batches when its purity, concentration, and condition are appropriate for the intended application.

Always store recovered ethanol correctly and avoid using contaminated solvent.

Is the SOURCE Turbo Suitable for Beginners?

The SOURCE Turbo is designed for small-batch home extraction and offers straightforward controls, a compact design, and a dedicated ethanol recovery system.

Beginners should become familiar with the user manual, solvent handling requirements, and equipment assembly before operating the machine.

Does the SOURCE Turbo Produce Steam-Distilled Essential Oils?

The SOURCE Turbo is an ethanol recovery and botanical concentration system, not a conventional steam-distillation apparatus.

Ethanol-extracted botanical concentrates may contain a different mixture of compounds than steam-distilled essential oils. Choose the extraction method that matches your desired finished product.

Take Your Botanical Extraction to the Next Level

Making botanical extracts at home doesn't have to involve complicated equipment or wasteful solvent evaporation.

With the right preparation, filtration, and extraction techniques, the SOURCE Turbo gives home crafters greater control over the process of turning botanical tinctures into concentrated extracts.

Its compact design, low-temperature vacuum technology, and ethanol recovery system make it a practical option for those looking to develop a more efficient small-batch botanical extraction workflow.

Educational Disclaimer: This article is intended for general botanical extraction education. Follow all applicable laws, product-specific instructions, and manufacturer safety recommendations. No therapeutic or medical claims are made regarding botanical extracts.

Original image credit, if retained: Madeleine_Steinbach / iStock / Getty Images.