Design of Hash Press
2009.04.26
A hashish (hash) press can be used to press trichomes from female marijuana plants that have accumulated in a pollenator, or by some other means, into solid mass known hashish. At the same time as the trichomes have been pushed, they are called hash powder or KIF.
A pollenator is an herb press / grinder that have a screen, and the screen allows hash pollens to pass through and be collected. This is the same mechanical principle as using the filter process to manufacture hashish, but a pollenator allows people with limited amounts of marijuana to produce potent hashish on a small scale. People who produce huge amounts of hash use commercial equipment to press hash, but for smaller amounts of pollen this is not practical for most people.
It has a simple design and can press several grams of hash at a time. It is normally made up of five. The main body is made so that two pins (shaped like wood dowels) can fit tightly inside.
1) Pollen is placed between the two pins and the end caps are screwed on. As the end caps are screwed on they force the pins together. Any pollen in between the pins gets pressed into hash. If you are using pollen from a pollenator, start by removing the bottom section of your pollenator so you can access the pollen.
2) Put the pollen press together and remove one end cap and one pin. Stand the pollen press so that the open end where the pin goes is facing up.
3) Transfer the pollen into the pollen press. You can use a funnel or some other means to make sure you don't lose any. When all the pollen has been transferred, insert the pin.
4) Screw the end caps on as tight as you can, using maximum hand pressure. You have to apply as much pressure as possible but apparatus (like wrenches or vice-grips) may damage or destroy the pollen press. Be very careful if you use anything other than your hands to tighten the press.
5) After 8 hours or longer, unscrew the end caps and remove the pins from the press. Then separate the hash from the two pins. Its diameter is almost equal to a penny, thickness depends on how much pollen was pressed. The hash (bottom) is dark yellow to light brown.
The hash will usually stick to one or both pins. Try to force it off in a way that won't scratch the pins. Plastic pins are better than metal pins because they are less sticky when pressing hash, but hash will stick to plastic also. If the press does not force the powder into a solid mass, you can add a few drops of alcohol and press it again.
If the quality of marijuana used in the press/pollenator is good, the hash will be as much better than most of the hash sold in the