When you want to make the most out of your harvest or simply enjoy that pure, solvent-free plant extract, you need a rosin press. But what exactly is a rosin press, and how does it help you? Despite gaining popularity fairly recently, you’ll find the market flooded with various types of rosin presses, from DIY presses to manual ones to numerous other types.
Fortunately for you, we’re here with the ultimate rosin press guide. You can find answers to all your questions, factors to consider when buying one, and finally, the best rosin presses for 2021.
Is it worth getting a rosin press?
It’s up to you to decide whether the benefits of plants rosin are worth your cash or not. The concentrate made with a rosin press is the easiest way to make dabs at home without using anything except heat and pressure. Using the right settings, you won’t ever mess with the material and get the most out of it in no time. I can also help you imagine the benefit in USD. If you get flowers for, say, $500, you will extract oils worth $1000 from this quantity. Impressive, isn’t it? In addition, the rosin press lets you make a concentrate without solvents that can be a huge health hazard.
How much pressure do you need for rosin?
This depends on the initial plant material you have. Here is a short answer. Note it and try not to lose, as this info is very important for the best results. So, the best pressure for rosin, depending on the plant material is:
Hash — 300 to 700 psi at 170° to 190°F;
Kief — 400 to 800 psi at 170° to 190°F;
Flower — 600 to 100 psi at 215° to 230°F.
How Long Does It Take to Press Rosin?
To understand how long it takes to press rosin, one needs to be familiar with the temperature ranges. Reduced temperatures will give you oils with a honey-like buttery consistency. Also, it will have a stronger flavor.
Increased temperatures will produce a consistency that looks like soap, with a reduced number of terpenes and a little flavor. However, you will get bigger yields in terms of weight. It is necessary to know a standard range of temperatures and times based on your starting materials:
Low-quality materials: Set your temperature from 180 to 220 °F with a pressing time from one and a half to five minutes.
Better-quality materials: Maintain the temperature from 150 to 190 °F and limit the pressing time from one and a half to five minutes.
Flowers: Maintain the temperature from 180 to 220 °F with the pressing time from one to three minutes.
ECO Farm HP02 8-Ton Hydraulic Heat Rosin Press Machine
Features:
This ECO Farm rosin press from Dulytek can produce up to 8 tons or 14,000 pounds of force, so you will get the maximum amount of oils. The device comes with two 5 by 2.5 inches insulated solid aluminum heating plates, a precise timer, and temperature controls. Also, the equipment has a carrying handle and an in-built power-saving mode. This hydraulic heat press can achieve maximum temperatures of 750 °F, with a voltage of 110V. This device is pretty effective and can press even large quantities of materials. Also, its structure has been made to last. The plates have a great heating time with evenly distributed heat. If you’re looking for a rosin press to place in your household, then this option will work fine, thanks to its attractive design and decent features. Easy to Operate. No Extra Equipment Required. Save Energy by Automatic Sleep/Wake Modes.
Sasquash 10 Ton YETI Pro Series Rosin Press
Features:
This Sasquash rosin press is equipped with a pair of 4” x 8” plates and a hydraulic ram that can exert up to 10 tons or equivalent to 20,000 pounds of pressure. In one press, it’s capable of squashing 60 grams of hash, an impressive extraction rate that can elevate your production to another level. Aside from increased productivity, the Sasquash 10 Ton Yeti Pro can let you easily set and store pressure, temperature, and time to achieve the best quality in every press. Its also manufactured with FDA-approved coatings, which means your rosin will be food-safe and will not affect the flavor and potency. All of these mean your output will be consistently great for consumers and more people will patronize your business.
Rosin Press Buyer’s Guide
Rosin press is a serious machine, so I’d not recommend buying a particular one only if it has the best recommendations. It’s important to be able to evaluate each item by yourself to pick the one you really need without overpaying.
What to consider when you choose a rosin press?
Below are the main features that you should consider to choose the best rosin press or any other model beyond that price tag. I tried to squeeze the info as much as possible for easier reading.
Power
Some people think that the more pressure they can apply, the richer concentration they will get. Fortunately or unfortunately, this isn’t what you get in reality. If you put too much pressure, the unwanted plant material may get into your rosin and spoil the dab. I don’t see any reason for buying a machine that makes over 1000 psi (½ ton/square inch) for home use. However, most machines offer much more than that, so you should use a converter to get the right pressure per inch from the ton/inch value of your machine. The only rule here is not to take a tool that’s too weak to make 800 psi, but I haven’t even seen such models so far.
Plate Size
If you are using a press for personal consumption, 3×3” and 3×5” plates will work perfectly well for you. If you want to go totally compact, opt for 2×3” plates like the ones installed on the Heat Press Machine Mini.
Commercial users usually prefer 3×7” or 2.5×7” plates or dual plate sets to squish around 28–45gr per time. Smaller plates get hot quicker, but you’re not likely to notice any difference if you don’t have a production site. And don’t forget that you need only the heated press plates!
Portability
Can you imagine someone wandering around with a rosin press in a backpack? Well, with modern compact presses it’s possible. You may also wish to take it somewhere by car or hide it away in a small place. If size really matters to you, the smallest model you can find will be around 12–16 inches high and 6–12 inches wide. The minimal weight I’ve ever seen is around 10 pounds. I’m sure that smaller models exist, but they won’t produce enough pressure per square inch.
Manual or Hydraulic
Of course, hydraulic presses make the job multiple times easier for you. That’s why they are always preferred for commercial operation, where a greater ton range is needed. Manual models are just ok for home use, but you will need to press the lever to make them work. They are also a bit cheaper in most cases. Take the one that will make you feel the most comfortable.
Conclusion
Extracting rosin is amongst the legal medical plant extraction methods, so you can use it without worries if your state allows medical or recreational plant consumption. The Rosin press extraction method is much cheaper than the vast majority of other methods and doesn’t require any special knowledge. Just don’t put your fingers between the plates when the press is on and ready to squeeze, and everything will be great.