Dear Stinkbud:
Extracting with ethyl Ether is simple. Reflux the Ether with the plant matter for a few hours, Decant the Ether(or filter), then strip the solvent. The oily residue is your hash oil.
The only problem with the above is Ethyl Ethers insane flamibillity, it is almost the most dangerous non-polar solvent available, its popularity comes from its very low boiling point of 32 celsius. When I make hash oil I like to use a non-polar solvent called Dichloromethane(orDCM), it boils at 40 celsius and is NON-FLAMABLE. DCM also does a first rate job of extracting the goods. Also dont let the big name scare you DCM is easy to find and relatively cheap in comparisson to the finished product.
On the subject of alcohol extractions: I have performed a number of them using various alcohols(Methanol, Ethanol,Isopropanol), and I dont know what to think of them. Methanol has the lowest BP but gave the dirtiest product, ISO and ETOH were about the same in my book. However Isopropanol has the cost advantage, and can be bought in 99.9 anhydrous form easily and with no questions asked. Or you could make your own anhydrous IPA by adding the apropriate amount of oven dried magnesium sulphate to 91% ISO to dehydrate it. Dry drug store epsom salts in the oven(350 F, for 2-3 hours), pulverize them to powder and pour them into your alcohol. Shake it up let settle, and decant your now dry IPA. Ive always found dry alcohol gave much cleaner extractions, and faster evaporations since theres no water azeotrope to deal with.
These are some of the methods I have used over the last couple years, I hope you find some of this useful.
P.S. I did Ether extract once using a sohxlet extractor, so it could be done safely, product was good, but not as good as butane extract. both are about equal in danger, so dont bother with ether. If your going to go the dangerous routes, just shoot the works and get some dry ice and butane.