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What Is A Pollen Press?

A pollen press is used to press pollen (actually trichomes from female marijuana plants) that has accumulated in a pollenator (or by some other means) into a solid mass known hashish (hash). Until the pollen has been pressed, it isn't hash.

A pollenator is an herb grinder that has a screen, and the screen allows pollen to pass through and be collected. This is the same mechanical principle as using the sieve process to produce hashish, but a pollenator allows people with limited amounts of marijuana to produce potent hashish on a small scale.

People who produce large amounts of hash use commercial machines to press hash, but for smaller amounts of pollen this is not practical for most people. Fortunately you can buy a pollen press exactly like the one used on this page for under $30 US.

This simple tool can press several grams of hash at a time. It is made up of 5 pieces (picture I). The main body is made so that 2 pins (shaped like wood dowels) can fit snugly inside (picture II).

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 (picture III).

picture I


picture II


picture III

How To Use A Pollen Press To Make Hashish

1) If you are using pollen from a pollenator, start by removing the bottom section of your pollenator so you can access the pollen (picture IV).

picture IV

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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 (picture V).

picture V

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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. (picture VI).

picture VI

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4) Screw the end caps on as tight as you can, using maximum hand pressure. You want to apply as much pressure as possible but tools (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.

If you have enough pollen (this model requires a minimum of about 1 gram) you will feel some resistance as you screw the cap on, and you won't be able to screw it fully closed. Let the pollen remain under pressure for a minimum of 8 hours. Apply more pressure (tighten the end caps) every hour or two for best results (picture VII).

picture VII

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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. The picture shows the hash after pressing. Diameter is about the same as a penny, thickness depends on how much pollen was pressed (picture VIII). The hash (bottom) is dark yellow to light brown. It may look darker (in the picture) than it actually is.

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 doesn't force the powder into a solid mass, you can add a few drops of alcohol and press it again. See this for more info about pressing hashish.

picture VII

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Using Hashish Made In A Pollenator

If the marijuana used in the pollenator was good, the hash will be as good (or better) than most of the hash sold in the USA. For smoking purposes, rolling about 1/4 gram (or less) of hash per joint is recommended.

Crumple the hash with a sharp knife, scissors, or something similar. Hash broken into small pieces that are somewhere near the size of large grains of sand (not much smaller or larger) is optimal for smoking in a joint.

A bit of finely ground (also grain of sand size) tobacco or marijuana should be mixed with hashish and rolled into a joint. Prior to rolling, the tobacco or marijuana should be mixed thoroughly with the prepared hash.

A mixture of 3 parts hash to 1 part tobacco or marijuana will help keep the joint burning. A hash/tobacco mixture is recommended because it allows you to really taste the hashish (marijuana masks the taste).

A pure hash joint is the best way to evaluate the taste of the hash you are smoking. It is a bit harder to roll and smoke a pure hash joint, but it can be done.

If the hash is not broken into sand grain size pieces prior to smoking it in a joint, burning pieces can fall from the tip of the joint when it is being smoked.

Not only will these pieces be wasted, they will burn whatever they land on. It is best to smoke hash over an ashtray so any pieces that fall from the burning end don't do any damage.

If you plan on smoking the hash in a pipe, try using pieces that are about an 1/8th of a gram (or smaller) and adjust the size to your preference. After a bit of practice, you will be able to determine the optimal size for your needs.

Hash is very potent and can be hard on the lungs. To get the most out of it, try taking small deep tokes and hold them in for as long as possible. Large amounts of hash inhaled deeply will usually cause a smoker to cough.

Although the substance collected in a pollenator is referred to as pollen in this article, it should be understood that this is not technically true.

Pollen is produced by male marijuana plants to fertilize female marijuana plants. A pollenator actually collects trichomes from female marijuana plants. The trichomes have a high THC content.

 

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