Pnuematic Home Presses - What is the advantage?

[TWS]

Advice - Observations needed.

My pneumatic press seems to heat great ... how do I tell how much pressure is really being exerted "AT" the plates. The press gauge reads in MPa, the compressor is 150PSI. However, there is no way to gauge the actual force between the heated platens. From the results, I'd say the plates are heating and the 150PSI is making melted pucks, but no rosin. I press keif. What am I missing? Any suggestions?

The machine is supposed to be 3000PSI ... how do I test that?

How much pressure should I be looking for against the plates. I want to go to metal bags.

Mod note: posts merged

 

[turk]

...there are many YouTube videos on pressing rosin...with more coming out everyday it seems..I've never pressed kief..but many squishes with my high five and flower...your problem could be the temp u r using..hang in there...

 

[TWS]

OK ... what pressure is optimum. I understand THC melts at 220 F. I have heard of success at 220 F as optimum. The problem with the pneumatic is the lack of feel. This machine does not do any more than press it would seem. I see a melt at 220, but no river and the melt is not even. Are these pneumatic presses supposed to have a secondary actuator that increases the pressure at a pace to avoid the blowout, or do the ones who have been doing this for awhile feel that they are getting results because they can feel the melt point and apply gradual pressure from feel. I cannot tell if this thing is really putting out 3000 PSI. What do you folks do to check this?

How do I really know what the pressure is between the plates. I see a gauge telling me there is .45MPa to which I would translate to about 1000 PSI in the Piston ... but how? I don't here it actuate after the initial press that I believe can only be the initial 150PSI the compressor is set at stepped down to the .45MPa.

What am I not getting here. This is good keif ... 5 grams ... see it melted (some) ... no press, 220 degrees, just a wet spot where some of the keif melted.

Thoughts? Is if just a bad machine?

 

[damm]

OK ... what pressure is optimum. I understand THC melts at 220 F. I have heard of success at 220 F as optimum. The problem with the pneumatic is the lack of feel. This machine does not do any more than press it would seem. I see a melt at 220, but no river and the melt is not even. Are these pneumatic presses supposed to have a secondary actuator that increases the pressure at a pace to avoid the blowout, or do the ones who have been doing this for awhile feel that they are getting results because they can feel the melt point and apply gradual pressure from feel. I cannot tell if this thing is really putting out 3000 PSI. What do you folks do to check this?

How do I really know what the pressure is between the plates. I see a gauge telling me there is .45MPa to which I would translate to about 1000 PSI in the Piston ... but how? I don't here it actuate after the initial press that I believe can only be the initial 150PSI the compressor is set at stepped down to the .45MPa.

What am I not getting here. This is good keif ... 5 grams ... see it melted (some) ... no press, 220 degrees, just a wet spot where some of the keif melted.

Thoughts? Is if just a bad machine?

Bad process it sounds like.

Are you using any bags to hold your product in? Professional Rosin Makers have learned quite a lot as far as how to make good rosin.

1. Start with a bag; depending on the size of the kief you will want a bag with smaller holes. So if your kief is 100micron aim for 73micron bags (this may reduce your results, could pop the bag if your not careful)
2. Pre-press your material without any heat; you don't have to go all the way. But it helps reduce the bags from exploding during the pressing. Flower or Kief big nugs are great but gotta squish them down so do it in the bag; so you don't loose product!
3. Check the temp of your plates; don't trust the PID controllers output as that's the temp between the plates and your heater coil. It may not be close to reality
4. If you can make your press work at a 45 degree angle or more; you will be able to put something to catch the rosin dripping out

Do it right and you'll make some yummy rosin wax like I have here