Cannabis is one of the most versatile plants known to man. Not only is it the most popular recreational product in the world (behind alcohol), but it also has an incredible variety of medicinal and industrial uses. Within each of these categories, cannabis – or weed – can be made into a huge number of products, from clothing and fabrics to paper and construction materials; there is no wonder that cannabis has remained one of the most utilised crops for thousands of years.
Yet, it is the versatility of cannabis as a consumable product that tends to harness the most attention. For example, those of us that are familiar with cannabis will be more than aware of the various forms this incredible plant can come in. While cannabis flower, or buds, may appear to be the most obvious, other products, such as oils, vape liquids, hash and kief, and rosin and waxes are beginning to become increasingly common. Each of these products requires the organic weed matter to be processed in a specific way to achieve the desired results.
Which of these products is the ‘best’ will depend on a huge number of variables – the most important being: who is using them? Just like each of these weed products, every cannabis user is different – and so is preference for the ‘best’ cannabis products. Having said that, their wax concentrate products consistently make the list of the most popular cannabis products, so, with this in mind, we’re taking a look at how to make wax out of weed.
The Versatility of Cannabis
Cannabis isn’t only versatile in terms of the number of products that can be made from it. Individual plants also contain a huge number of compounds – including over 100 different cannabinoids, of which CBD and THC remain the most well-known and popular. Terpenes, flavonoids, and other compounds also contribute significantly to the overall flavour and scent profile of each plant, as well as to the effects when the weed plant is consumed.
What’s more, each consumer has the option to create the perfect product for them. This can involve not only choosing the perfect strain and cannabinoid profile of your flower but also changing the form of the initial weed. Your weed can be turned into a variety of products – many of which are known as ‘concentrates’. This category of weed products includes various forms, including shatter, rosin, crumble, and – you guessed it – wax.
Furthermore, some of these concentrates can be made in the comfort of your own home, with the help of a high-quality Rosin Press. That’s right – for those willing to put in the work, making your weed into a purer – and many would argue, a superior – product is quite straightforward.
When it comes to cannabis wax concentrates, however, things are a little bit more complicated. That’s why, in the article ahead, we are going to cover everything you need to know about cannabis wax – including how to make wax out of weed.
What are Cannabis Concentrates?
As mentioned before, wax is a form of cannabis concentrate that is extracted directly from the plant matter of cannabis plants. Put simply, cannabis concentrates are products that have been distilled down to the most desirable part of the plant. In most cases, these are the cannabinoids and terpenes of the original cannabis plant. As much of the other matter is discarded following extraction, concentrates are generally much more potent than the cannabis flower they are made from. As such, a little goes a long way – so, don’t be surprised if the amount of wax or rosin (or whatever your chosen concentrate may be) comes in smaller quantities than your flower or oil products.
Concentrates may also be called extracts – as they are simply products that are extracted from the cannabis plant. Many concentrates are yellow-amber in colour and come in a variety of consistencies, from harder shatters to mid-range products like wax and rosin to ‘sauce’ and oils. The ideal product for you will depend, again, on your own preferences, including how you plan to consume your concentrate.
Cannabis concentrates can technically be consumed in several ways; however, the most common way of using these weed products is by ‘dabbing’. This means applying heat to a small amount of cannabis concentrate – including wax made out of weed – and inhaling the vapour that comes off it. Devices and products including Dab Pens, CBD Vape Pens and Dab Rigs can all be used to make administration easier.
How are Cannabis Concentrates Made?
While cannabis concentrates may all be derived from the cannabis plant – they shouldn’t be considered the same product. There are various ways to make cannabis concentrates like weed wax. Which method is adopted will depend on the characteristics of the final product – most importantly, the texture and consistency.
There are a number of factors that affect the consistency of a cannabis concentrate. First of all, the terpene and cannabinoid content of the original plant can significantly affect the texture of the final product. Among the most important factors that affect the consistency of your extract – and so, the concentrate you are left with – is the heat and pressure applied to your starting product. As we explain in our article ‘How to Make Rosin Crumble’, placing your cannabis plant products in a Rosin Press helps you to apply consistent heat and pressure to make for a clean, pure, and high-quality rosin with the perfect consistency.
However, some concentrates require additional steps. The use of solvents in the extraction process helps to filter out unwanted products, leaving a consistent end product. The downside of this method is that it’s not recommended that you try it at home. So, how does it work? And what kind of concentrates are made using solvent extraction?
How to Make Wax Out of Weed
Solvent extraction is used to make several cannabis concentrates, including shatter, crumble, resin, jelly, and wax. Many of these products appear to be very similar to simply heat and pressure-extracted concentrates. For example, rosin and resin are similar in more than just name. Their consistencies are almost identical, meaning they can both be consumed with ease using the same methods. However, the methods used to create them are significantly different.
As is the case when making wax out of weed, the production of cannabis resin also requires solvent extraction. First of all, we should say that solvent extraction should be carried out by professionals with experience and knowledge of the process. This requirement means that most people are unable to produce weed waxes and resins at home. Nonetheless, let’s take a look at how it works, and how exactly to make wax out of weed.
The first thing you need when using solvent extraction to create a weed wax concentrate is, of course, a solvent. Butane and ethanol are the most commonly used solvents for this process. The most common method, though, is the Butane Hash Oil (BHO) extraction process. This process employs high-quality, pure butane to extract the most desired cannabinoids – usually CBD and THC – from the cannabis plant. It can be used to create concentrates in a range of consistencies. When weed is made into wax, the consistency is rather self-explanatory – it has a wax-like texture that can be easily manipulated.
What are the Benefits of Weed Wax?
As we just said, waxes have a malleable consistency that is easy to handle. This is of extreme importance when it comes to concentrates made out of weed, as you will only need a small amount of weed wax for your ‘dab’. We weren’t kidding earlier when we said that a little cannabis wax goes a long way. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of choosing a product with a texture and consistency similar to wax made from weed is that you can easily scoop a small amount to be used in your chosen way.
While the sticky consistency of cannabis wax has the potential to make a mess, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you have the right tools. If you are interested in trying concentrates made from weed, it is recommended that you invest in a suitable scoop or paddle that will be useful for getting your product out of its container. Why not check out the Nectar Platinum Vaporizer which comes with both a pair of tweezers and a packing tool?
Making Cannabis Concentrates at Home
While the need for solvents means that you shouldn’t try to make wax out of weed at home, there are many other concentrates you can make yourself. The easiest products to try for your first attempt are rosin and crumble.
Unlike when you make wax concentrates out of weed, the process of making rosin requires only heat and pressure. As we mentioned earlier, this is achieved easily with the help of our range of Rosin Presses. While these bits of kit might look intimidating at first, they are actually super easy to use and will make your life a lot easier if you are looking to make your own cannabis concentrates. So, let’s take a look at how they work.
With the help of manual temperature control and pressure pads, you are in complete control of your cannabis products. The heated plates apply consistent heat and pressure until a cannabinoid-rich oil begins to be released from your cannabis flower. As the oil cools, it will set into a slightly more solid texture – this is your rosin. Concentrates made in this way generally contain a more natural cannabinoid and terpene profile. In comparison, waxes made out of weed using a solvent extraction method tend to contain fewer compounds, making them more potent.
Make Life Easier with a Rosin Press
The best thing about using a Rosin Press, though, is that it allows you to experiment and try your hand at creating concentrates with different textures so that, eventually, you will find the perfect product for you. Take control of your cannabis to create the best concentrate for you – whether you prefer a softer, waxy consistency or a slightly harder, crumbly product, you are sure to get the results you want.
Your Rosin Press will not only make it easier to extract the perfect cannabis concentrate, but it will also make the whole process a lot less messy. You can even use micron filtration bags with your Rosin Press to get even purer and more concentrated rosin.
Hopefully, you have learnt a thing or two about making wax out of weed – and, even if you can’t do that at home – at least you now know that there are other kinds of cannabis concentrates that are much easier to produce yourself. So, what are you waiting for? Take a look at our range of Rosin Presses and start learning how you can make the cannabis concentrate of your dreams – mess and hassle-free – you won’t regret it.
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