Strength and weight:volume ratio (1:2, 1:4, etc) are different concepts that do certainly overlap. A 1:1 (w:v) uses twice as plant plant material as a 1:2. Therefore, you can generally expect a 1:1 to be stronger than a 1:2. However, if you use crap herb or mess up the process of extraction, your w:v ratio doesn't change...but, your strength/potency will.
I usually make my Cannabis tincture at a dried 1:1 w:v ratio (technically, a 1:1 also goes by the term Fluid Extract). So, that means that 1 g of dried plant material is represented in every 1 ml of extract. A 1:2 would represent 1 g of material in 2 ml of extract, a 1:4 represents 1 g of material in 4 ml of extract, and so forth.
You could make a 'saturated tincture' in a mason jar...using double-maceration (or even a triple maceration). This is where you put your ethanol in a large jar and add enough ground plant material, to the point where none of the plant matter is exposed. Leave a couple of inches of ethanol on top. Put it in the freezer and shake just as you outlined. Then, after a week, filter your extract and start the process again, this time using your extract as your starting solvent. The only thing I would suggest is that you keep track of the number of grams of material you extract and the number of ml of solvent. This will give you your final 'weight to volume ratio (using double-maceration)' for future reference.
Good luck.
