May 06, 2022
A rosin press is a device that you use to extract rosin from hemp flowers. Because the extracted rosin is so concentrated, it contains very high levels of cannabinoids.
A rosin press works by applying heat and pressure to the hemp flower, which then results in a concentrated oil substance emerging from the press. The rosin is then consumed by vaping, dabbing, or smoking it.
Rosin presses come in 5 different forms:
manual
pneumatic
hydraulic
electric
hybrid
In general, rosin presses are expensive items, and are used by professionals, who really understand how the process works. However, there are more affordable options, such as those featured in this list, that are suitable for at-home use.
To help you make a more informed decision on which one to buy, this guide will give you a recommendation for automatic rosin presses based on the ones deemed the most effective and best value for money.
ECO Farm 15000 psi Electric Auto Rosin Press
Features:
The ECO Farm Rosin Press is completely plug-and-play, delivering power at the touch of a button. The 4″ x 6″ Aluminum Hot Plate has independent thermocouples to heat to different temperatures, they distribute heat evenly with 1°F temperature accuracy. The “Press” and “Release” buttons allow gradual pressing to reduce blowouts for better results. This is a robust unit ideal for those looking for a simple, automated solution for rosin pressing.
NugSmasher IQ Automatic Rosin Press
Feature:
The Nugsmasher rosin press uses a precisely engineered method to create the highest quality, consistent extractions, including highly accurate pressure readings and a design to extract up to 28 grams of flower per smash. The Nugsmasher IQ features a new interactive extraction brain designed to simplify the rosin manufacturing process with its wireless continuously upgradeable platform and 10-inch interactive color touchscreen display.
When trying to press kief into rosin, it is important to understand that it all depends solely on the type of rosin press machine you are using, since they all require different steps and instructions or operations. With that said, I can only give you pointers on factors such as temperature, pressure, and pressing time as a guideline to use for whichever device you currently have.
Start at 180°F with a pressing time of 65 seconds where you can adjust from there. (Ideally, you want to keep the temperature lower, but gradually increase the pressing time.)
It is recommended to be between the pressures of 400 to 800 psi for kief
The temperature recommendation is between 170° and 190° F.
By not degrading the terpenes from too high of a heat setting or temperature, you will be able to get good yields due to the longer pressing time.
Just as we mentioned previously above, all rosin press machines are not only different from each other, but they operate differently as well. Therefore, we can only provide a guideline to refer to such as recommended temperatures to use no matter the type of device you own.
We recommend starting your press at 180 degrees (this helps evaporate moisture) and then slowly elevating to higher temperatures at a gradual rate. 220°F is the best pressing temperature for kief (but you mustn’t ever start out at that temp.)
Starting at too hot of a temperature on a moist product could potentially cause a “blow out” so avoid increasing temperatures too high, too fast.
Using High-Quality Heat Plates With Even Heat Distribution
Avoid any cheaply made rosin presses or even DIY methods unless you are well equipped and have all the proper materials needed for quality extraction. While the process behind a concentrate extraction may sound simple, applying or actually implementing it is a totally different ball game that should not involve shortcuts in order to achieve the best results.
A top factor in this is the heat plates. Size, material, and how well heat can be evenly distributed among the plates are absolutely vital when dealing with rosin press machines, as they are what determine the end result. The uneven heat distribution will also cause lower potency levels which result in a lower grade or quality product.
Great Functionality and Design
Another key component to look for is if the rosin press machine itself functions not only effectively but also consistently. When we were going through the different rosin presses, we noticed almost instantaneously whether or not the machine was properly designed, just by looking at the materials, and features, and seeing how durable the overall rosin press was.
Lacking in any of these areas should be a red flag since you ideally want a reliable machine and not one that will fail you halfway through. Aluminium heat plates are highly recommended for the best possible results.
Quality and Consistency Must Match
Another important element to look for and possibly one of the more essential ones is product quality and yield consistency. You should be able to know exactly what you are producing in terms of amount and your results should be identical every time or close, for it to be considered effective. The quality of the product should not be off or inconsistent regardless of the number of presses.
It can take a few trials to find the right switching of temperature and pressure settings before finding that perfect consistency, so be sure to have fun with the different options and stay away from cheaply made rosin press machines!
The rosin press you choose to go with will ultimately depend on the amount of material you’re looking to use in a single press, the total volume (size of your operation), and the type of material you will be pressing. Based on these variables, you’ll choose a rosin press that best fits your needs and make all-natural plant extracts on your own!