Recommended prep for jack puck

[globe_toker]

hey thcfarmer,

Quick question for those who use jack puck or equivalent. What method do you go about before you press mechanically in order to ensure a clean and proper press?

Have read about about various methods that include:
-lining the press mold with saran wrap/plastic/wax paper
-putting kief into zip lock bag
-just putting kief in the mold by itself (you would need clean steel if using custom molding)
-vacuum sealing the kief and then placed into the mold

It is also favorable to heat the mold up with a propane torch slightly. Some agree some disagree...

 

[The Mulls]

good question :) ... i have only made a puck the once .. just went straight in with the hash on clean steel .. no film or heat .. pressed well but got stuck up on one side .. Soooo .. i too would love to hear what U guys preferred methods of pressing are?? thanks . . Mrs Mull :p

 

[globe_toker]

I have also heard of people using some sort of non-stick cooking coil (pam) to lubricate the side walls of the press but have always thought negatively about that. It would cause contamination obviously but you could always use a paint scraper to remove the residual hash from the side wall or even loosen it.

 

[Snowblind]

I heat the mould pieces (I heat three pieces, the cover, the mould base and the mould itsef)in the oven to 180 degrees. I previously washed my mould pieces clean. Not the press itslf, that needs to stay oiled, just the pieces for the mould only.

Take the small silver mould base and place it on unbleached parchment paper. Cut out the shape, be it a circle or square depending on the mould that you purchased. Trim the shape out so that you dont see the line that you traced. Thus trim to the inside of the line. Place the heated mold onto the press its self and then dop the mould base onto the top of the hydrolic jack and then place the cut out parchment paper on top of the smaller mould base. The paper should be cut out to a exact fit. Load the kief into the mould onto the top of the little piece of paper. Place a small piece of parchment on top of the mold after loading the kief as well. Screw the square black cover plate on top of the paper using the wing nuts. The shape of this piece of paper doesnt matter, just make sure it covers the top of the mould hole.

Now work the press until its tight. Its just a few pumps. I dont know how long to wait with it under pressure. Release pressure and unscrew the top square cover piece and remove. Replace the wingnuts and pump the disk up and out of the mold. It will not be stuck to the mold or paper. The parchment works perfect. Peel it off of the disk or square. Ive fallen in love with the process and love the final product.

Coat the pieces in vegtable oil and keep them in a ziplock for long term storage if needed. You dont want the mould to rust. The vegtable oil will keep the pieces from rusting and will not hurt the final product and can be easily removed prior to pressing. Right now im storing my mould pieces dry.

 

[globe_toker]

Good post snowblind. It would be great to know how long others maintain pressure on the mould. Once the oven warmed mould cools down, a propane torch works wonders. I thought an hour or two is fine but some swear by 12 hours or even a full day (lb or kg moulds.)