How many tons do you need to press rosin?2021 Update
When extracting rosin, whether it be from fresh flowers or from dry sift, there are two main factors - heat and pressure.
They are inversely affected by one another. The more heat you use, the less pressure you need. Conversely, the more pressure you use, the less heat you need.
How Rosin Presses Work?
The way a rosin press works is quite easy to understand. Simply put, a press is used to squeeze the material between two plates that heat up and distribute temperature evenly through the surface. As this happens, a gooey substance known as rosin will begin to ooze out of the raw material. That’s all it is!
Adequate temperature and pressure vary depending on the raw material used in the extraction process and imperative for high-quality rosin. This is why choosing a rosin press that meets your pressure and temperature requirements is so vital.
A few other things to keep in mind when choosing a product are heat distribution, the plate’s shape, and brand reliability.
Balancing Pressure and Heat
Pressure and heat levels have been advertised as a synonym of better-quality when it comes to presses. But more doesn’t necessarily guarantee higher quality rosin. Remember that both of these depend on the raw material you’re using, so higher pressure can hurt your end product’s quality.
For example, you may go overboard with pressure and extract unwanted components like lipids and inert organic particles into your rosin, which is something you want to avoid. Similarly, too much heat may burn your material and damage the chemical composition of the cannabinoids you’re trying to extract.
You just need to make sure that the press you purchase provides enough pressure and heat, rather than MORE pressure and heat. This could save you a couple of bucks and still allow you to yield a high-quality extract.
How much pressure does a rosin press need?
It's important to remember that the number to focus on is Platen PSI, not general pressure/force. The general consensus among the industry for full yield capability at lower temperatures is:
Flower rosin: 1,200-2,500 Platen PSI
Hash rosin: 700-2,000 Platen PSI
Any higher Platen PSI will result in unnecessary torn bags, parchment, closing of oil channels, etc. Any lower Platen PSI will result in loss in yields and higher temperatures required for a full extraction.
Pros:
Separate heating elements for each plate
5,000 PSI
Robust pneumatic pressure cylinder
One year warranty
Excellent customer service
Cons:
Air compressor sold separately
Your air compressor must be 100 PSI
Not as high pressure as some other machines
No option to change the gap between the two plates (but unless you're pressing truly massive colas, this should not be an issue)
Pros:
Easy and intuitive interface with timer and temperature control
5 tons of pressure (with ergonomic handle for ease of use)
2-year warranty
Great customer service
Cons:
Very expensive
Some users wish they could control the temperature of the two plates separately
Smaller plates than some other machines on this list
Characteristics of the best rosin press
When looking for the best rosin press, there are a few things we considered.
Shape of the plates: Rectangular plates work best
The ideal plate structure of a rosin press is longer and narrower. This is because this shape maximizes the perimeter of your press.
There is some more science and math behind this, but for our purposes, all you need to know is that a rectangular plate will generally outperform a square one. Dabpress rosin press is best in this aspect.
Even heat distribution
Your rosin press should have uniform heat distribution. The way heat works to extract rosin is by melting the trichomes and other essential compounds into a lower viscous form.
By playing with the temperature, you can change the consistency of the rosin to either a shatter, butter, or pull n snap.
Many cheap rosin presses don’t have even heat distribution across their plates, and this leads to a lower quality rosin.
Reliability
Rosin presses can get pretty pricey. So, it makes sense to only invest in a press that will last you years to come.
All of the best rosin presses on this list are designed by reputable manufacturers, and will stand the test of time. They include a warranty of some kind, so you can rest assured your investment is covered. ECO Farm rosin press is best in this aspect.
We will be updating this list periodically, and no spot is safe! If you are reading this post, know that you are looking at the best rosin presses at this oint in time.
We will break down the best presses by type, cost, and application.
Final thought
Rosin presses are divided into 6 different major types. All with varying pressure, weight, size, and price ranges. Each one will also vary in volume capacity and the ability to precisely regulate temperature, time, and pressure.
Additionally, each brand will have different inclusions and warranty standards. So, it’s worth keeping an eye out for brand relevant specs as well.