Kief/Pollen boxes

[bongoman]

All the recent talk about grinders has got me very curious about the pleasures of kif and I'm thinking of getting a kif box, aka scuff box, sifter box, pollen sifter etc etc

So now I get to obsess over mesh sizes and material etc

Seems the Bubble Box is the primo dry sifter out there but a little out of my budget.

Anyone got any suggestions about a good, workable dry sifting box for personal amounts of herb?

 

[Hennessy1414]

http://www.exoticzombie.com/box.intro.htm

 

[Purple-Days]

Somebody near you has stainless steel screen in a wide variety of mesh sizes. Down at the hardware get a pvc threaded plug end fpr 4" or similar in your country, get the threaded collart (similar to a canning jar ring and not meant to be mated to the cap) and assemble cap, screen, ring and make a 'Jerry' rigged kief box. The two plastic parts ought to be about $7 US. The screen, or silkscreen or pantyhose are up to you, mate.

Shakey-Screens are 50 wires per inch x .009" wire, that may give you a starting point. A little math will give the hole diameter. Works well, passes trichs and not so much skuff. Fine screens may pass less skuff but the larger trichs ain't going thru. Hosiery will depend on the stretch applied.

Just thought about another option and the hosiery. A hoop used for cross-stitch might make a nice sifting device, stretch the fabric of the hoisery to any tightness and clamp. (clouds in my coffee...)

Good luck, but don't spend too much. (Although I like the nice boxes and craftsmanship)

 

[partially veiled]

Hey bongoman Good idea opening this thread: some one should have started this thread a while ago...seems so obvious, right?

Anyways I'm guilty of neglect since I've got two "shaker" boxes, or sifter boxes yeah whatever you wanna call them, and yet I've not really posted anything on FC about either of them. Yipes. To be honest it's probably because I don't use them THAT much. I'll break down for you what I've got and how I use them, then I'll come back with pictures when I've got the time.

I have a walnut Exotic Zombie Shaker Box, and a zebrano Gypsy Nirvana Deluxe Double Screen Stash Box (edit: I had to do some research to figure out what this wood was...GN's Seed Boutique were more or less non-responsive on the couple of questions/complaints I had for them...I'm not 100% but still pretty positive it is made of Microberlinia brazzavillensis, which kind of sucks...it looks like this is relatively endangered species, so if I had done more research previous to buying this box, well...I probably wouldn't have bought this box...:/ It's a beautiful wood and now that I have it I will just be glad, appreciate it's beauty and make sure I take care of it and respect it but I hate shit like this). These boxes can be found on the net...the EZ http://www.exoticzombie.com/box.intro.htm , the GN https://www.seedboutique.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=973


The Exotic Zombie - I actually really like this box. It has a lot of flaws, IMO, but I can't really complain too much for the price was low and mainly just because we're all so different: I can tell a lot of thought was put into this design, and while I'm finding flaw with it here and there I don't know...I really think I am nitpicking and I do enjoy using this box and for the most part it's pretty easy; I think more than anything that I may just regret the size of the box I chose, rather than the box itself. I have the 4x7 Shaker box--here is a short description of the boxes from the EZ website:

Our high quality Zombie Shaker boxes are made to the following specifications:

Wood: Red Oak, Mahogany, -OR- Black Walnut
Sizes: 4"x7", 7"x7", 7"x10", 10"x10", -OR- 13"x13"
Sides: 13/16" thick with 45 degree mitered corners
Lid: 1/4" solid sliding lid (standard) -OR- 3/32" thick glass sliding lid
Lock: 5/8" x 2" x 1/2" wooden lock
*NEW* Screen: 100mesh stainless steel screen Removable!! (pv edit: 100 mesh = 149 micron)
Catch Plate: 3/32" sliding glass catch plate
Finish: hand sanded, wiped with linseed oil

Good stuff. The walnut is very beautiful, and the finish is nice...basically non-existent, a lot more like the PD and the polar opposite of the GN stash box. I love the wood grain and variation on this box, and it even smells beautiful. Not strong, and it doesn't seem to impart any smell/flavor to the contents of the box...which I WAS worried about originally...but it DOES have a pleasant aroma. Anyway, the box dimensions are: Width 7" x Depth 3 7/8" x Height 3 1/8". As you no doubt noticed, that's not QUITE 4x7. The inside dimensions are even smaller: the chamber below the lid and above the screen, where you can fit herbs, is about 5 3/8" long x 2 1/4" wide x 1 1/2" deep. 1 1/2" is pretty deep--you can fit some honking nugs in this thing--but the LxW dimensions are a little small for my likings...and actually, the small LxW dimensions in tandem with the deep chamber make "screening" or "carding" herb material harder than it has to be.

Again, I think that the faults I have found with this box are just that I chose the smallest size: it makes a great box for holding some stash or for busting up a small amount of herb and gently carding it or just shaking your box to collect some sweet resins. It does NOT make a great box for processing a decent amount of herb. I would think that one of the bigger EZ boxes would do a better job, but this is definitely a stash box first a sifter screen second, IMO. Don't get me wrong, I like it and it actually collects beautiful keif...but I would not recommend it if you're looking to work quantity, only if you want to keep some of your fresh ground or even some of your buds in an environment where shedding trichs = . Honestly, just keeping some fresh ground in there, letting it dry out a bit to get ready for vaping and occasionally giving the whole closed box a light shake...well, that does a nice job collection some golden keif. I think it will be easier to explain more about this box with pictures, so I'll post another little review with pics (and process some material, to show you the results ) when I've got a little time.

Summation of the EZ? I really do love this thing, and I use it occasionally for keeping some buds. Sometimes I just break the nugs by hand and then let them sit in the box for a few to dry, and sometimes I'll grind right above the screen and let my fresh ground shed some trichs...I have pushed and carded with this box a few times, a few times very gently with a razor blade and a few times with a fine plastic card...it does yield nice results, and considering the micron size the keif is actually quite golden. Again, pics will do this more justice than I can hope to, so I'll update. The main catch is I would recommending this 4x7 EZ box ONLY as a stash box, and not primarily as a resin collection device. The resin collection is a nice plus, but if you want to attempt dry sift...there are better investments you can make . All in, I'm glad I own one and I like to use it, but it's a stash box for me, not a sifter screen...I don't complain when I've got a mountain of tasty, golden keif though ...just making sure the difference is clear. Oh yes, and on a customer service note...the Exotic Zombie team is extremely friendly and helpful, and they were a pleasure to deal with. These things are made small scale and by hand, out of solid hardwood...much like something else we all know and love...


The Gypsy Nirvana - This box is very nice...if you're talking about the box itself. I have some beefs with the screens and some other, smaller stuff. Anyway, the dimensions are: Width 10 3/4" x Depth 6 1/8" x Height 3 1/8". The build is very, very solid and all of the hardware (including the magnets on the lid) are beautiful and very functional. I honestly haven't used this box for keif collection once, but the screen sizes are: 120 mesh (138 micron) upper - 142 mesh (110 micron) lower. Both screens are made of nylon, and I'm honestly not all that impressed with the construction/quality. This is going to be easier to explain with pictures, so I'll leave it for the update.


Okay, I honestly just noticed the time and I have to get going, so I'll come back and finish this shit up with another post. Sorry...work won't wait for stash boxes I have one picture of the whole family (PD, GN and EZ) together, so I'll throw that up for posterity, before I go.




Sorry it's so dark, but that's all I had. The coloration on the GN is just a reflection from a large window right behind the picture. That's how glossy and thick the finish on the GN box is...look at it in comparison to the PD and EZ...! Anyway, the fam is all beautiful.



Edit: Right and I'd wanted to mention this but I forgot...just remembered. You were mentioning the Bubble Box, bongoman. There's actually a new Bubbleman product on the market in 2009...the Dry Sift Screen Set. I agree whole heartedly with the "there's nothing like making it yourself" sentiment, and it really is always the best route...but for the lazy among us, this dry sift set http://www.bubblebag.com/catalog/pr...id=67&osCsid=160d3d16c92170fc8027869599fed921 looks pretty promising...I was actually eyeing that myself, as it's more or less what I'd REALLY been wanting when I was shopping for keif boxes...

 

[bongoman]

Thanks for the suggestions Hennessey and Tom.

Another idea I came across is to use these mini test sieves from a pottery supplies company - they are at the bottom of that page. They come in a variety of mesh sizes and are fairly cost effective.

But there's nothing like making your own right?

 

[bongoman]

Partially, looks like I missed your great post while I was sending my last one in.

Thanks for the great information. I've been on my kif box research tangent again here and keep coming back to the GN and Exotic Zombie boxes, so your post was just what I wanted to read.

I hear you about the need to be clear on whether you want a stash box that also passively collects trichomes OR a setup specifically for dry sifting.

I think I'm gonna go with the 4 x 7 Exotic Zombie box - at this stage I really just want a stash box that allows me to dry some herb out for the PD, maybe give it a shake or two as well and get a bit of kif as a bonus.

As much as I love the idea of making lots of dry sift, I don't really have access to enough bud to make that a worthwhile proposition. Although I keep coming back to this fantasy of dry sifting most of my buds and then honey oiling the kiffed remains. That's where the Bubbleman dry sift set comes into play I suppose.

I wonder how wasteful it is to dry sift and then honey oil your stash? Is it a waste of good buds? Especially when the PD works so nicely with herb. How are people actually consuming kif and honey oil in a safe, healthy manner? Maybe I'm best just sticking to buds with the occasional taste of kif.

I love the pic of the family. Wood is good!

 

[partially veiled]

BM dude if you're looking for a stash box that allows you to dry some herb for your PD then this is a good set up. In fact I'd say it's better than good. The box is well constructed, made of solid wood and the keif I've been getting is usually golden (depends on herb and methods you use). I love the dark walnut too...I will take some better pictures tomorrow and post them up. Anyway, I definitely have found that the box works really well for drying bud in preparation for vaporization

I still tend to keep my stash in glass...because I don't want it getting too dry and crispy before I'm ready to use it...but using the EZ to dry some herbs (either pre-ground, hand chunked, or full nugs) works like a charm. I had stopped using it for a while out of laziness but I have started using my EZ box again just recently, and I've found that I don't need to wait long before crumble dry is achieved: I can put some hand chunked herb in the box and come back like 4 or 5 hours later and it's normally perfect--especially with all the dry heat in my house at the moment. Of course if you pre-grind your herb it will dry even quicker.

If you feel like it and can afford the expense, I would really suggest making the investment in the 7x7 box over the 4x7. You may not need it and I'm sure you've thought this out a lot, but I will say that my MAJOR complaint with my purchase is that the 4x7 is a little hard to work with due to the narrow, deep interior storage area above the screen. It actually performs absolutely fine, and you may have no intention of wanting to card the herb so that would really make it a moot point--I find it hard to push ground up herb around on the screen to achieve some keif, but if you have NO intentions of doing this then the 4x7 may indeed be big enough. Just remember it's made of 13/16" solid wood...so the interior dimensions are a good shade smaller than the advertised 4x7.

Something else to think about with the EZ is that shaking it can be frustrating sometimes; in fact, I don't really use this as a shaker box. Sometimes I'll give it a VERY slight shake from side to side, but not much else...the reason for this is because it is modular: the lid, screen and collection plate are all removable pieces. I was waiting to explain this stuff when I took pictures, since it's easier to explain with pictures, but you're thinking of buying so I'll just post it now. Since the framed screen, glass collection plate and wooden lid are all removable, they are all also SLIGHTLY loose fitting. Necessary of course. So when you shake you are going to have some loss. Some will fall down past the collection plate as it slides ever so slightly out of place. It is the tiniest, tinest thing in reality: I am SURE my explanation is making this seem worse than it is. It's just a matter of the design...I really don't think you loose much keif in normal operation, but you COULD, if you're not careful. It is something you will probably run into with any keif box with a collection plate that slides in and out (rather than a plate that just sits at the bottom but fills the bottom entirely, like the plate used in the GN) but yeah it's just something to think about. I will come back with pictures, hopefully tomorrow...although I am eating cactus for breakfast so I might not be making it to FC. I'm off on Wednesday too though, so if not tomorrow then Wednesday.

The whole point BM is that I am just trying to give you all sides since there's not a lot about these on the internet, not that I found when I was looking at boxes at least... So I wanted to tell you my beefs. All and all though, I really recommend EZ. They make a beautiful box and you can collect some sick resin with little to no effort. Plus it provides the perfect drying atmosphere for vap prep, as you've mentioned. The main reason I reccomend getting a bigger box is because 7x7 wouldn't be much bigger on a shelf and then you could use it more like a workstation: right now I find it impossible to take a hand grinder and grind directly over my screen, which I want to do. The box is just too small...with a slightly bigger box it would be so much easier to work with the herb, and you'd have lots of room to grind directly over the screen, not sacrificing any keif to the air or whatever! Mmmmm. Annnnyway, just saying. Either way you will NOT be dissatisfied...Enrique et al make a beautiful box, and it's all hand made in the USA. Wee-haw.

BTW, I'm actually using the GN as a stash box for all of my Canna related paraphernalia at the moment. I will give some more detail on this box when I bring some pictures, but right now it is basically a beautiful box that just holds shit. Nothing special about it other than the finish. It's nice, and I'm glad I have it and that it's got a use, but I don't know it was worth the money. I can't speak for the quality of the keif it produces, but I will get on that. I am visually unimpressed with the screens, so I've been in no real hurry. Anyway, pictures to come.

Also I think I might pick up the Bubbleman Dry Sift Set sometime down the road...not too soon, but not too distant. I am too tired to comment on the question you ask concentrates/extracts, but I can say my personal reasons for seeking out all this stuff. The name says it all. Concentrates. I find it hard to get REALLY ripped off of bud. I can get high, sure, but this is more or less like breathing. I know this place very, very well. If I want to get ripped...sometimes it can be hard using the PD, and with the SSV even it takes multiple bowls for me. I'm hoping the new VripTech tool will be a new step in my habits evolution, but well see...anyway, the point was that when using concentrates, I can get more into my bloodstream quicker. It only works to a degree, as I still can't get as ripped as if I do proper tolerance breaks, but it does work...but I'm sure concentrates mean many different things to many different people. I also tend to feel like they taste better than raw herb, but only when they're really done right and when you start with high grade material. It seems like you don't vaporize a huge quantity of material daily (you've mentioned this before, IIRC), so keif is really probably going to be more enjoyable for you as a treat. It will blast your balls off, most likely. Dedicating a whole run to the process is a hard swallow for the occasional smoker, so it might not be necessary or desirable. I don't know, I really think this is a to each their own type of situation. I enjoy concentrates because they get me higher and they allow me to re-up less: I love herb when I want to sit down and have a session, milk some hits and blow some clouds...but concentrates medicate my mind.

 

[bongoman]

I think you've sold me on the 7 x 7 as the best of both worlds - not too big to use as a stash box and not too small if i actually want to card some bud through it specifically to get some kif.

It's only another $10 for the larger one anyways. And I'll get the wooden lid, not the glass one, to keep light out.

Now I got to find out how much he wants to ship one to Australia :/

This is going to be a birthday present to myself, and I reckon the walnut will look nice alongside the PD.

Partial, thanks for your great advice here - one last question, do you have any qualms about butane honey oil? I'm just a little nervous about consuming it due to possible residues from the butane (and associated hydrocarbons). I'm not so nervous about making it as I know I can control the risks, but as a vaporista concerned about consuming herb safely, I just keep wondering how 'clean' BHO actually is...

 

[Hennessy1414]

Partial, thanks for your great advice here - one last question, do you have any qualms about butane honey oil? I'm just a little nervous about consuming it due to possible residues from the butane (and associated hydrocarbons). I'm not so nervous about making it as I know I can control the risks, but as a vaporista concerned about consuming herb safely, I just keep wondering how 'clean' BHO actually is...

dude...from what some people have told me. DO NOT MAKE BHO! the smell when you smell leaking butane is left in your BHO...you legally can't buy a bottle of butane without a special chemical inserted in it to make it smell when leaking out...without it you could fracture the butane and not even know it...then your house could explode/catch on fire..no fun


in short...make ice water extracted hash. if you dont have the bubble bags (god forbid) you can still get a nice full chunk of hash after wards. wont be as quality without the bags....but then you dont ingest dangerous chemicals!

hit me up if you ever wanna make some bag-less hash

 

[vtac]

Guys, this thread is going great. Please, let's not completely derail it.

Hen, you should get your facts straight before giving advice like that. bongoman, please check out this thread for questions on BHO. http://www.fuckcombustion.com/viewtopic.php?id=50


pv, thanks for all the info! You must plant 10 trees as penance for that endangered GN box.

 

[bongoman]

Sure thing vtac - back to kif boxes it is

I did want to add that BC Boxes look quite good.

They use the same mesh size as Exotic Zombie (100 mesh or 150 micron - which is as large as you really want to go apparently) and use an organic raw linseed oil finish. But if they aren't responding to the couple of emails I've sent them, I'm not interested in placing an order with them.

For more serious dry sift production, I also came across the O'Kief Full Melt Frames which are 8"x10" 145u, 117u, and 70u screens which are comparable to the Bubbleman frames that Partially Veiled referred to above.

 

[EitherOr]

Another thumbs up for EZ boxes from me... I have always used grinders and never saw a need for sifter boxes. A friend of mine gave me an EZ box a while ago and I never used it as I had my grinders.
Since this thread popped up I decided to give the box a shot and try it out... I am getting A LOT more kief than I ever did with my grinders.
But there are still negatives to it, for one the size I have (7x7) produces quite a bit of kief...but it's just big enough that I cant move it around with me. It's more or less a stationary type accessory. So I am still using a grinder for a small stash I can move around with me to my different vaping areas..and keep my EZ box on my desk.

If you are looking at EZ boxes then get the glass bottom! It makes collecting your stuff a breeze.

 

[Skunkypete]

So this thread got me interested in kief boxes and I must say those EZ boxes do look nice. However I did find this site which has Gajanana boxes at about half the price for similar specs. Anyone have any experience with them they can share? While you usually get what you pay for I've found it isn't always the case when it comes to the "accessories" market...

(Edit) Hmm guess it was too good to be true. I didnt see that you need a 200$ minimum purchase to get those prices , on the regular store front they go for about the same price as the EZ boxes. Oh well , guess I'll go for the EZ then.

 

[bongoman]

EZ boxes are on a 4 - 6 week backorder right now.

Enrique, the EZ maker, is away hence the delay.

Unfortunately the shipping to Australia is around $50 so I'm now starting to think of just making my own.

I'm thinking a 3 piece box, like the Wikka ones (and like the Wildflower boxes in SkunkyPete's post above) - a lid, a base (with glass insert) and the middle component holding the screen, all held together with magnets.

I'm actually trying to buy a single 140 micron frame as used in the Bubblebox and then add a lid and base to that but aren't getting any replies from the Bubblebag/FreshHeadies people unfortunately. Maybe they don't want to sell individual frames.

Hard to believe there are no kif boxes available online here in Australia. Maybe I need to start a small business on the side - simple, high quality kif boxes made from Australian hardwoods made with non-toxic glues and organic oil finishes. I've got no real woodworking experience but figure it might be a nice little project to get the skills to make a simple box at least. It can't be that hard?

 

[rayski]

Just got my 7"x7" Exotic Zombie shaker box. I ordered it last Tuesday. It was sent out on Friday and it arrived today(Monday).
I got prompt replies to my emails and they kept me informed about a billing irregularity.
http://www.exoticzombie.com/index.html

 

[max]

How is the screen size rayski? Can you get a good quantity through the screen?

 

[ILoveRadiohead!]

How is the screen size rayski? Can you get a good quantity through the screen?

I'm curious about those questions too and I was also wondering how taut the screen is. Those boxes do look really well made though.

 

[digglover]

Could someone tell a novice what a kief box is used for and how it would benefit me?

 

[ILoveRadiohead!]

http://www.youtube.com/v/gteOqdap6vA

 

[rayski]

How is the screen size rayski? Can you get a good quantity through the screen?

It's my first use of any kief filtering screen. The EZ website touts the "new" 100 mesh stainless steel screen. I think the ss is an upgrade from a fiber screen. 100 mesh seems to be a standard size used: this converts to around a 150 micron opening.

I plan to use it as a stash box for a while and see what accumulates with just casual handling. I have some leaf that I'll vigorously shake at sometime. Looks to me like kief is generally considered a special treat. Just shake 'n vape.

 

[OhTheAgony]

I was about to post this in the herb grinder thread when I ran in to this old inactive thing. Time for a bump I guess.

I had some trouble getting the round Wicca sifter box I wanted here in Europe, and after another order that was canceled because the item turned out to be out of stock I got tired of it and went looking for other options.

I ended up ordering a 00 Pocket Box at Azarius: click me

Totally not worth the price imo. The wood finish on the inside of the box is to rough to let you scrape off kief practicals successfully, the filter screen looks like it was glued on in a rush and is a little bubbly, and the smooth layer in the bottom kief collecting compartment is just a sticker that isn't glued in properly or smooth either. It's put in so rough that kief practicals actually will get caught underneath it, which will make it impossible to keep this thing clean as well. Also, mine smells. I'm not sure if cedar is suppose to smell like this, but mine smells like cinnamon. I'm sure it will dispensate over time, but right now the smell is so strong that it will flavor any herb you store in there within hours.


I still want to try the round Wikka sifter box, but I'm actually waiting for this one: click me

Until then, does anyone have any hands on experience with the Wikka box or can anyone recommend a comparable product?

 

[charliedontsurf]

That's weak man, complain to Azarius, I think that's unacceptable craftsmanship on a 30 euro box.

The one on Puffitup looks pretty good Here. I don't know if you're looking to just take a little off the top of your herbals, or if you're trying to get all the kif off and toss/cook the remainder. If it's the latter, I think the money is better spent on a cold water bag system personally.

If you can find screens of the proper micron rating (say 25 -180) then you could always make your own. Hobby shops can be very helpful, anyplace with silk screening supplies, and I'm sure there's a good online source somewhere.

 

[OhTheAgony]

You know what, you're right. I wanted one of these boxes so bad that I was just happy I finally got something at least, but there's a little to much wrong with this one for the price I paid for it. Email send.

I just want to collect a few 'bonus' crystals btw, I'm not looking for a thorough extractor in this particular item.

I'm not good enough with wood to make something that would be pleasing to the eye as well unfortunately, but I do know someone that is...he might be an option too perhaps, thanks for thinking along with me!

 

[max]

This sifter box review, on a 6x6 box by The Home Collection, is worth viewing IMO (for obvious reasons ), even if you're not in the market for one.

 

[OhTheAgony]

I've seen that video 3 times now, are you sure there is a box in there?