Introduction To Rosin Presses

You may have heard of a rosin press but do not know what it is, how it works, or why you would ever want one.

If you thought about it, you probably assumed it was used to make rosin (a solvent extract of cannabis) known as hash oil.

While they can be used for this, many other cool things can be done with one!

We will show you the ins and outs of this simple device and how to use it for various things.

What Is a Rosin Press?

A rosin press is a relatively new piece of machinery capable of taking cannabis flowers and leaves and transforming them into oil by applying heat and pressure on the plant matter.

A significant advantage of this method is that you can make highly potent oil with minimal plant matter compared to other extraction methods.

Another advantage to the rosin press is that it preserves terpenes. 

Terpenes are organic compounds found in nature that give cannabis its distinct smell and flavor. 

The most common types of rosin presses are Single-Stage and Two-Stage presses. There is also a Four Post model available, but it is usually harder to find and more expensive.

What Makes Up A Rosin Press?

A typical rosin press consists of two plates that sandwich together when pressure is applied. The plates are heated, which in turn heats the flower or hash pressed between the two, allowing for complete extraction in a way that does not require solvents to be effective.

A common misconception about rosin presses is that you must purchase one with adjustable heat settings to press different types of oils. This is not necessarily true.

While it may be beneficial to have the ability to adjust heat settings, it's not necessary for simple hash pressing. Any rosin press with an adjustable heat plate should do just fine when pressed with flower or hash resin.

What Types Of Oil Can Be Extracted Using A Rosin Press?

Many different types of oils can be extracted using a rosin press. The two most common types of oil pressed with this technique are hash and kief, both of which are made up of trichomes - the glands responsible for producing cannabinoids like THC and CBD.

Hash is essentially just powder kief broken down into smaller pieces, whereas kief is simply whole trichomes separated from the rest of the plant matter.

Pressing hash or kief with a rosin press yields an oil that can be consumed in its purest form by dabbing, vaporizing, or mixed into edibles.

This is opposed to kief and hash traditionally being used in the creation of edibles and concentrate.

The Best Rosin Press Brands

Rosin presses come in a wide array of shapes and sizes. When choosing a rosin press, it's essential to consider your personal preferences as well as the amount you're planning on pressing at any given time.

Both of these companies make hydraulic presses, which are perfect for pressing large quantities of cannabis.

Nugsmasher Rosin Presses

The Nugsmasher rosin press is a popular choice among novices and experts alike looking for a solid, dependable machine that can handle smaller production runs.

The company makes many different size presses that can accommodate a range of production levels. The Nugsmasher presses also have a self-contained design and allow the frame plate to be easily removed from the heat press after use, making for easier cannabinoid extraction with less clean-up required.

In addition to being easy to break down for easy cleaning, the removable frame plate also makes it simple to replace if something goes wrong. Nugsmasher doesn't just make rosin presses; they sell replacement heating plates as well, allowing you to keep your press running effectively for many years without needing to replace the entire machine.

Nugsmasher offers a guaranteed for-life warranty on their presses, so you don't have to worry about being stuck with a lemon.

Sasquash Rosin Presses

The Sasquash Rosin Press is another popular option known for its heavy-duty construction and ease of use. They have a smooth press that makes pressing hash oils relatively easy once you get the hang of it from the first time.

Sasquatch is known for its variable hydraulic presses that allow you to adjust the pressure applied to the flower or hash by moving a dial on the side of the machine.

The application of adjustable pressure means it doesn't matter if you're turning out large quantities or just pressing enough for personal use - you can customize your experience and production accordingly.

The company also offers a line of interchangeable plates for different sized presses as well as a variety of plates with various heat tolerances, so if you're looking to do some fine-tuning on your press, this may be an excellent place to start.

Sasquash offers many commercial rosin press packages that include everything you need to get started making your own hash oil, including the press itself and several different interchangeable plates for making rosin.

The company offers a limited lifetime warranty on all of its products, so you'll be covered if something were to go wrong with your rosin press.

When Do You Use A Rosin Press?

Rosin presses are widely used in the production of concentrates but can also be used to extract oils from fresh plant matter.

The most popular time to use a rosin press is when making extracts for dabbing or vaping.

Because waxes and oils are created using different methods, it's crucial to ensure that you're using the right one for your desired product.

Making extracts for dabbing requires that you use a solvent to remove the essential oils from plant matter before being pressed with heat into waxy oil. This allows cannabinoids and terpenes to concentrate in a way that makes the extract ideal for vaping.

If you intend to make an extract for edibles, on the other hand, you would simply press fresh plant material without using any solvents.

The Rosin Technique is relatively new when compared to other methods of cannabis extraction, but it has quickly become one of the most popular ways to create oils - both for vaping and cooking.

How To Use A Rosin Press

So, if you've got your hands on a rosin press or are in the market for one, you might have some questions about how exactly they work and how you should go about pressing your next batch of oil.

First thing's first: make sure you know which extraction method you're going to be using. As discussed above, there are two different methods for creating concentrates that require various equipment.

If you're looking to create a wax-like oil using the Rosin Technique, all you have to do is set up your press with whatever material you're planning on pressing into oil - flower, kief, etc.  

Make sure that your material is ground up into a fine powder before pressing it, and place the mixture between parchment paper inside the press.

Place the heat plate on top of your material, making sure to line it up with the grooves. Once you've laid out the heat plate, tighten the handle to fully compress the heat plate against your material.

Once your press is ready, turn it on and let it run for 30-45 seconds before turning off the heat and letting everything cool.

Afterward, check to see if you have a shiny wax-like substance stuck between the parchment paper that you can easily slide out. This should be the raw concentrate that you can then store or use immediately.

Once your material is pressed with heat into an oil, it will be much more viscous than the pure resin that comes from using solvents. This can make it challenging to work with, especially if you only have one press.

If this is the case, consider investing in another heat plate so that you can press one set of materials while heating up the next.

Ready To Get Your Own Rosin Press?

So, are you ready to make your own rosin? 

The first step to getting your own rosin press is determining which model you'll need for the types of extracts that you'll be making.

Though there are many options available to suit any budget, consider getting one with a lifetime warranty so that if anything were to go wrong with your machine, you'd still be able to get it fixed.

Now that you have all the information you need, it's time for action!