Hey i was wondering your guy's opinions on these 2 methods of making butter. I know that the crockpot is probably the best- but dont want to go out and buy one. Ive done the double boiler method a couple times but was thinking about trying the boiling water way next time. Is there a difference in potency?

personally I'm a fan of the crock pot, but I think I've done the boiling water method long ago. As far as potency, crock pot kicks boiling water's ass. but I haven't done the double boiler so I'm not sure about that method. I would think it would be halfway between boiling water and crock pot though.

With the crockpot method- do you put water in with the butter? Also- how long do you cook it for? I guess i could throw 30$ for a crockpot if it makes a very large difference in potency . Also- does it smell very strong? Could i like put the lid on and eliminate the smell?

i use the crock pot method. i mix the butter, and water til melted then add herb, i leave it on low overnight, let it cool then put it into the fridge til the butter hardens. then i take out the butter and throw out the water and herb. if you grind up the herb in a coffee grinder to a powder the herb will settle to the bottom with the water and the butter not have too much herb in it. i have one of those crock pots the has the bowl that lifts out. you can get a crock pot and coffee grinder at a yard sale of thrift shop if you want to save some money. the smell? it's not too bad... but it does have a "herb-y" smell when cooking, there's not much you can do about it.
putting a lid doesn't help. i use my butter to make cookies and 2-3 cookies is a good dose. i also don't use "good" herb i use plant material that is not smokable i just use more (1 oz to 1# of butter)

I've never put water in with the butter in the crock pot. I'm sure either way is fine though. As for the smell, I haven't made cannabutter in a while, but I remember it smelling a lot. Not really a weed smell though, smelt kinda funny. But I live in an apartment building and no one has ever complained that they could smell anything, so I wouldn't worry about it.

right on, how much are crock pots?

you can get a crock pot for about $20 at a target or wal mart. try to get one that has a lift out pot it will make it easier to fit into the fridge to cool. i even found one at home depot for around $15 but that was around christmas.

cool thats less expensive than i expected

Last week my wife bought me a 1.5 quart Chefmate crockpot with temp control and removable pot for regular price of $10.97. At Target store.

Haven't used it yet.

............what is it with people and the boiling water....

water IS NOT needed. get the crock pot/slow cooker. melt the butter....put in your trim/shake or bud, whatever you're using. go with about 1/2lb of bud or shake/trim for 5lbs of butter (or less just do the math - 1.6 oz per every LB of butter).....some people say simmer for 20 min, some say a day or two. make sure you keep it UNDER BOILING, go right around 190-200 degrees.

really the longer you simmer the butter the better, not because you extract more thc/cannaboids but because you evaporate more of the non-fats/butter in the mixture, essentially making it more potent as you end up with slightly less liquid/solid butter.

this is how everyone i know does it and how i do it. butter is basically just fat...why would you want to add water to that for cooking?!?! the water does nothing except, imo and others i know, make it lesser quality than with just straight butter.

you could always try both methods....if you have 2 oz of trim/shake or bud split it up and do 1oz with the proper amount of butter and butter/water. just remember, when simmering the butter (and again time is up to you, i usually go about a day) keep it under 200. you can get a real nice slow cooker (albeit it made more for huge batches of butter, not small amounts) for 40 bucks at target. crockpots range from 15-40+.