slick machine brother!
Watch this video, it helps. I have a consulting day scheduled with Ryan from Extracted on Thursday, so I will report back if some of this is wrong.
flower temps are 210-230
Kief temps 180 or lower.
Relative Humidity of product has to be 50-60%. Steam distillation takes water to move the oils. I RH entire rooms, but I have seen some guys make up all their bags, then throw the bags with pot in bags and a boveada package.
https://rosinevolution.com/ for my bags. It will take two weeks for custom sizes, but well worth it. When pressing kief, you want the 25u bags. with double stitching. Flower get the 90U. I still like the double stitch but not needed with flowers.
I am trying to order up some pre-presses, so I can't speak on it yet, but I think a pre-press die would help pressing kief substantially. Nobody will make me one, all to busy, but I have a lead. @timewizard_grewfox on IG says he is going to make me one.
As for the process, kief is very very delicate. Here is what I do:
Set press at 180, you might want to start more around 210 so you can see the nature of the oil flowing more quickly.
Use a compressor until the plates make contact with the bag. Make sure bag is in right space.
Now it's hand pump time. (if no hand pump, the slightest pump on your compressor.) You hand pump, very slowly, a pump every 15 seconds or longer. When going slow, you will start to see the oil begin to ooz. Let it sit for a second when this happens, then go back to applying pressure every 15 seconds. This is why I press at 180 or lower, so I don't cook the material with the super slow press.
Lastly, I don't like to bring it up to full pressure. I don't have a gauge like you, so if I were you, I would learn the psi that pops bags, or pushes out the kief. I apply almost all the pressure, but if I max out with my 12 ton, I ooz kief on the regular.
Start with lower amounts first, the 100 grams squishes take some serious skill. I have to admit, 30g squishes have been more consistent than the 100 gram squishes, not gonna lie.
What sizes are your plates?
What size bags does your press guy recommend?
I will have to take some measurements of mine if you don't know what's recommended. I know I use 3x6 bags that are about 1/4-1/2 inch from the edge of my plates. Matching these sizes up are important. You don't want your material sitting on those plates. Your smashed bag should almost match your plates exactly. That way when the material exits, it slides out of the material, strait to the parchment, and runs away from the heat.
let me know if you have more questions, don't be afraid to PM in the future.
