Rosin has quickly become one of the most popular types of cannabis extract, thanks to its high potency, efficacy, and versatility. Consumers from around the world are increasingly interested in rosin; however, in many places, the market is yet to catch up. It remains difficult to get your hands on high-quality rosin from traditional sources and so, many consumers are considering the possibility of making their own. The good news is, with the right equipment, including a Rosin Press and the right Micron Bags, the process is pretty straightforward.
To help you on your mission to make your own high-quality cannabis rosin, we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about this versatile product, in addition to how Rosin Extraction works and how to use your Micron Bags to create the perfect final product.
What is Rosin?
Let’s kick off by addressing the simplest question: What is rosin? Well, as we have already touched on, rosin is a cannabis extract – sometimes also referred to as a concentrate – that is extracted from the cannabis plant with the application of heat and pressure. Its popularity can be put down to its high potency (THC concentration in rosin products typically ranges from 40%-90%!). In comparison, cannabis flower tends to have a THC range of around 10-25%.
But it isn’t just THC levels that are boosted in Rosin products. The process of extraction also collects other cannabinoids, including CBD, as well as increasingly sought-after terpenes and flavonoids. This high potency means that much less product is needed to achieve the same effects. So, it’s not difficult to understand why consumers are steadily turning their attention to rosin and other concentrates.
Is Rosin the same as Resin?
Given the similarity of both their names and their appearance, it can be easy to get confused between Rosin and Resin. To be fair, both products are made from the natural resin released by processed cannabis flower or hash; however, the key difference is the way in which they are extracted from the starting product. Cannabis resin production is achieved with the use of solvents and a highly skilled extraction process. It is therefore recommended that this process only be undertaken by experts with access to the necessary equipment.
What about Live Rosin?
You may also have heard the term ‘live’ rosin. Really, this product isn’t a whole lot different to ‘normal’ rosin. In fact, the only difference is the type of cannabis product used in the manufacturing process. To put it simply, live rosin is made using frozen plant matter.
But what sets rosin apart from other concentrate products, I hear you ask? Well, rosin is favoured by many consumers due to the lack of solvents required in its extraction process. While other cannabis concentrates require the use of solvents such as butane, propane, and ethanol, rosin extraction is a completely chemical-free process. This means that it can be undertaken from the comfort of your own home! So, if rosin extraction doesn’t require chemicals, then how does it work?
What is Rosin Extraction?
Rosin extraction is a relatively simple method of creating a high-potency cannabis concentrate. All that is required is heat, pressure, and high-quality Micron Bags. Rosin can also be made from a number of cannabis products, including cannabis flower and buds, kief, and of course, hash. Gathering leftover products from your various batches can be a great way to reduce waste while creating a whole new product to try. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that the higher the quality of the starting product, the higher the quality of your rosin will be.
As we have said, all that is really needed to extract usable rosin from your cannabis is heat and pressure. This means that many people have experimented with some questionable DIY rosin extraction techniques, such as the old hair straightener method. Given that they consist of two heated plates that can be pressed together, you would think that hair straighteners would be the perfect option when attempting to make your own rosin – but they certainly have their setbacks.
People attempting to make rosin with the help of their trusty straighteners may fold their cannabis into greaseproof paper and apply heat and pressure between the tongs. Sounds straightforward enough, right? But applying a consistent amount of pressure is much easier said than done and that’s before we get to the risk of burns and spillages. Realistically, there is a much better way to easily and reliably produce and collect high-quality cannabis rosin: with a Rosin Press and Micron Bags.
What are Micron Bags?
Micron bags – also called Rosin Bags – are a must-have accessory for those looking to create their own cannabis rosin. They are small bags made from a mesh-like material that allows for efficient filtering of your rosin, leaving you with a clean, high-quality end product. They can also make it much easier (and less messy) to collect your product, ensuring you get out as much rosin as possible with less waste.
These bags come in a range of sizes which are better suited to different conditions. For example, if you only have a small amount of product or a Rosin Press with small plates, then obviously smaller-sized bags are the ideal solution. On the other hand, for a larger amount of product and for use with a Rosin Press with larger plates, it’s better to opt for larger bags. They may be made from one of three materials: nylon, silk, or metal.
Generally, nylon Micron Bags are considered the best option as they are more flexible. This means they can adapt to the pressure applied to them in the Press, making them less susceptible to ‘blowouts’ during the extraction process. In comparison, silk is not as flexible or stretchable and metal can cause damage to the plates in your Rosin Press. In addition, Micron Bags also come in various microns.
What are Microns?
Microns essentially refer to the fineness of the material used to make Micron Bags. For example, smaller holes in the material mean that it is finer – this is a low micron. In contrast, larger holes (high micron) will make the material coarser. The most common micron measurements are 15, 25, 37, 50, 75, 90, and 120.
The micron measurement used will have a direct impact on the final product and so, this should be considered when selecting the right Micron Bag for your starting product. Low micron bags tend to yield a more quality product as more contaminants are filtered out, leaving you with a cleaner, purer rosin. However, these finer bags can also mean that less rosin is produced. In comparison, high micron bags will give you larger yields, but these generally won’t be as pure.
It is recommended that finer low micron bags (15 and 25 micron) are used when extracting rosin from finer products, such as dry sift and hash. Medium micron bags (37, 50, and 75) can be well-suited to a wider range of cannabis products, including flower, dry sift, hash and kief. However, coarser micron bags (90 and 120) should only be used when extracting rosin directly from cannabis flower or trim. (Check out our recent blog: ‘Can You Use a Rosin Press for Trim?’
Now that we’ve covered the various types of Micron Bags on offer, let’s get to how the process actually works…
How Does it Work?
So, you have selected the ideal Micron Bag for your needs: a smaller, low micron bag for hash, or maybe a larger, high micron bag for cannabis flower and buds. From here, the next step is to fill your selected bag with your cannabis product. Yes, you can simply pack in the product as tightly as possible, by hand, into your Micron Bag – but there is a better way.
Using a Pre-Press Mold with your Micron Bags
Using a pre-press mold offers a number of benefits when making your own rosin. It is a simple and effective way to make your cannabis product easier to handle and pack into your chosen Micron Bag. These tools can come in a range of shapes and sizes, although they are most commonly either cylindrical or rectangular shape. The ideal shape of your pre-press mold will depend on the shape of your Micron Bags, and vice versa.
A Pre-Press Mold allows you to pack down your cannabis product as tightly as possible, using a Mold Weight. This is achieved by simply adding your product into your selected Micron Bag, placing inside the mold and applying your body weight to the weight of the mold until your product adapts to the shape. This helps to make your product easier to handle and presses it into all the corners and folds of your Micron Bag. As a result, this allows more even heat and pressure to be applied to your cannabis product, ensures less rosin is trapped in awkward places at the end of extraction, and so helps to increase your final rosin yield! What’s not to like?
Extracting your Rosin
Now that you are fully prepared with your cannabis flower, hash or kief efficiently packed into your selected Micron Bag, it is time for the extraction. This is arguably the easiest step of all – particularly when you’re using a high-spec Rosin Press, such as the Nectar Pollen Smasher – 8T Hydraulic Press or the Pollen Crusher – 15T Hydraulic Rosin Press.
Place your packed Micron Bag between the plates on your Rosin Press and adjust the settings to your chosen temperature and pressure. For cannabis flower, it is advised to stay within temperatures of between 80-105°C and to apply constant pressure for between 60-180 seconds. For dry sift, lower temperatures are required – somewhere between 65-90°C – for a period of between 90-300 seconds. Similarly, rosin can be extracted from hash at lower temperatures (typically between 60-80°C).
The temperature and amount of pressure applied to your cannabis product can inherently change the final rosin yielded. For example, terpene and cannabinoid content can significantly affect the final texture of your rosin. A higher terpene content is largely considered to result in a less stable rosin and a high terpene-to-cannabinoid ratio is more likely to be maintained when using lower temperatures for extraction.
The desired consistency Rosin differs from person to person. While one consumer may prefer a crumble consistency, others may prefer a looser product. The good news is, with the right amount of research, responsible extraction, and the right tools, you can make pretty much any type of rosin product you like. Check out our range of Rosin Presses and start extracting your own high-quality rosin, today!
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