How To Use A Pollen Press To Make Hashish Coins

We all want to get the most out of our herb, but how can you really maximise its potential? Well, one method is to make your own hashish coins. Chances are you've already got a stockpile of trichome-rich kief collecting in the pollen catcher of your grinder.

So, if this is something you've never considered before or didn't think was possible, allow us to open the doors to creating a truly potent cannabis product. We’ll show you how to make premium hash coins with the help of a pollen press.

Sure, there are a few steps to follow, and it's certainly more involved than just rolling a joint and smoking, but the rewards definitely outweigh any potential challenges you may face. If this all sounds good to you, then we'll begin.

What Is A Pollen Press?

Available in a wide variety of configurations, the humble pollen press is an accessible piece of kit, and vital to the creation of hashish coins. Simply enough, it’s loaded with plant material (i.e. kief), and then with a few simple turns, the kief is compressed into a coin, pellet, or puck shape. From here, you can dab it, vaporize it, or add it to your blunts, bongs, and bowls. The possibilities are endless!

Why Use A Pollen Press?

A pollen press is the quintessential way to make hashish coins, and a perfect way to put a kief collection to good use! Here are some of the key benefits:

• Prevents wastage
• Pellets can last several months when stored correctly
• Pollen presses are easy to use and can produce many pellets or pucks
• More potency in tightly packed pellets
• Presses are robust and last a long time
• Affordable!

While there are plenty of benefits to using a pollen press, it can, at first, be a tricky procedure. As with any new craft, there is a bit of a learning curve, so have some patience when undertaking your first batch of hash coins, and you'll no doubt be greatly rewarded.

What Is The Best Pollen Press?

Like most things in life, your choice of pollen press will undoubtedly come down to your preferences and budget. Pollen presses themselves range from quaint manual devices to automated machinery capable of pressing large quantities. Of course, the more traditional devices are likely perfect for the average consumer, but there are plenty of premium options out there for the true "press junky".

With that in mind, we've selected three popular devices, followed by some homemade alternatives, that are equipped to produce high-quality hashish coins.

Super Pollen Press

The Super Pollen Press is a well-built, robust, and durable device for those who intend to make a lot of pellets. This press is CNC-machined from aircraft-grade aluminium for extra precision and longevity. The design is relatively simple yet extremely effective, so you can press your pollen with ease. It's as simple as placing your kief into the barrel and screwing the T-handle downward. The end result is a perfectly formed and tightly packed hashish pellet. This product is a slightly more deluxe model meant for marijuana connoisseurs.

Super Pollen Press (Zamnesia)

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Black Leaf Pollen Press

This press is a little different to the traditional design. It doesn't feature the T-handle, but instead requires a twist of the knurled end caps to press the pollen into a tablet. This sturdy device is constructed from strong aluminium and is available in a variety of sizes, giving the user plenty of options. The Black Leaf Pollen Press is a budget option that will do the job for the average pollen presser just perfectly.

Pocket Pollen Press

Perfect for use on the go, the Pocket Pollen Press has you covered. This cost-effective compacting device measures 3 inches (~7.6cm) and is ideal for slipping into your pocket or bag to take practically anywhere! Surprise your friends with the Pocket Pollen Press and make your own hash with style. While small in size and light to hold, this press is sturdy and made from premium-quality aircraft-grade aluminium. It features non-stick, high-tenacity, food-grade thermoplastic innards, making for effortless removal of your pellets.

Homemade Pollen Press

While it's generally accepted that specifically designed presses are the best way to produce hashish, those that fancy themselves a bit of a marijuana MacGyver will be pleased to learn there are a few homemade solutions. Here are some suggestions on how to use household items to press kief.

Pen Technique

By taking apart the standard segmented pen, you'll have access to a chamber for compacting pollen. Pour your trichomes into the tube, and using an unsharpened pencil, push down on the pollen until you're unable to push anymore. Once pressed, you can remove the pellet from the tube, and you'll have a neatly packed puck at your disposal.

Shoe Technique

Another technique is to place kief in parchment paper or cellophane, seal it, and place it inside the heel of your shoe. From there, you simply walk around and compact the trichomes with your foot!

While this might sound like a joke, we can assure you that we're 100% serious. Once inside your shoe, the combination of your weight pressing down alongside the body heat produced easily compacts the kief into hashish. While this won't necessarily create a coin shape, it's a perfectly viable method if you're in need of some quick hash.

How To Use A Pollen Press To Make Hash

Here are some easy-to-follow instructions on using a pollen press to make hash: 

1. First, you must gather your trichomes. There are different ways to achieve this, though arguably the easiest is to remove the bottom piece of your grinder and collect all of the pollen you have in there. Be sure that the trichomes are dry so your hash doesn't develop mould before you've had a chance to use it. If you are in search of more plant material, you can create a basic sieve and use the "dry-sift" technique to render a larger amount of trichomes. This basically involves rubbing cannabis buds on a mesh screen, under which sits a collection vessel. From here, you can follow the same instructions as those using kief from a grinder.

2. Assemble your pollen press, and remove one end cap and one pin. Stand the pollen press upright so the open end faces toward you.

3. Now, put your pollen into the press. When all of your material has been transferred into the press, you can insert the pin.

4. Next, screw the end caps on as tight as you can by hand. Please note that the use of tools such as wrenches can easily dent and damage your pollen press, so use only your hands, but apply maximum pressure. Let the pollen remain in the press for at least 8 hours. For the best results, re-tighten the end caps every hour or so.

5. After the waiting is done, you can unscrew the caps and remove the pins. After such a long time in the press, the puck will usually stick to the pins, so remove it carefully. If your pollen press has plastic pins, the hash will not stick as much as it does to metal pins. The puck will have the diameter of around a penny. However, the thickness depends on how much material you use. Typically, the colour will be dark yellow to light brown.

Now you have the options of storing the puck in an airtight container, making some more, or simply smoking it. The choice is yours!

Can You Put a Pollen Press in the Oven?

As a means of stopping any potential crumbling of the kief, many users have taken to placing their pollen presses in the oven to maximise the tightness. This is viable as long as you take the proper steps.

Preheat the oven to around 300°F (150°C), add some kief to your pollen press, and tighten it as much as possible. Place the device into the oven for anywhere between 5–8 minutes. The longer it's left in the oven, the darker the colour of the hash will be. Once removed from the oven, tighten once again, and place in the freezer until it has cooled. Now all that's left to do is pop out the coins, and you're good to go.

How To Clean a Pollen Press

Cleaning and maintaining your pollen press is of the utmost importance. As the parts can be detached, cleaning is extremely simple. For the most part, you may find that your press only requires a very light clean with a damp cloth to remove any kief residue.

However, for a much more thorough cleanse, you can opt to use some cotton buds and rubbing alcohol to ensure no stubborn marks remain. Just be sure to let your press dry fully before using again, as any dampness will make removing your coins a bit of a pain.

Alcohol Wipes (100 Pcs)

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Is A Pollen Press Worth It?

As a great way to use every last bit of your stash, if you're looking to make your own hash pellets and pucks at home, a pollen press is essential. Sure, you can try some homemade methods, but if you're truly after rounded and compacted kief, there's no better option.

However, the type of press you choose is entirely down to your needs. Thankfully, there are plenty of options that are not only highly affordable but entirely fit for purpose—so there's no need to pick up something bulky and excessive. All it takes is a little practice, some patience, and before you know it, you'll be producing high-quality pellets that wouldn't look out of place in some of the finest cannabis dispensaries.

But where can you find a suitable press for your home hash making? This part is arguably the simplest. Head over to the Zamnesia Headshop, where we have a whole host of pollen presses ready for the task. With a variety of styles and sizes available, it's never been easier to turn your trichomes into treasure!

Adam Parsons

Professional cannabis journalist, copywriter, and author Adam Parsons is a long-time staff member of Zamnesia. Tasked with covering a wide range of topics from CBD to psychedelics and everything in between, Adam creates blog posts, guides, and explores an ever-growing range of products.

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