Course for Making Dabs - Part 1: Making Rosin

Have you always wanted to smoke dabs? It’s easier than you think. Especially if you start off with rosin. You know, it’s that green stuff that you always see being poured into the rolling paper in films. Rosin is the weed concentrate that anyone can make. You don’t need a particularly large budget to purchase the things you need and then you’re all set. We are going to teach you here what rosin is, how you can make it and what you need for this. In short: your masterclass in making rosin. Ready for some dabs?

In this 4-part course we’ll teach you how you can make high-quality dabs in a professional manner. You’ll find everything here: the equipment, a step-by-step plan, handy photos and clear instructions. Furthermore, in each part we will point out the advantages and disadvantages of each weed concentrate. All so that you can enjoy them in a responsible manner.

• Part 1: Making Rosin
• Part 2: Making BHO Hash Oil (Shatter/Crumble)
• Part 3: Making Weed Wax
• Part 4: Making Ice-O-Lator

Are you looking for items with which you can make dabs? Rosin press, oil extractor or something else? Check out what’s on offer in Make Concentrates and Weed Dabs. You’ll find everything you need here!

What is Rosin?

Rosin is the name of the weed concentrate that is made by pressing weed buds or hash at high temperature. What is left over is a THC-rich ‘rosin’ which is an alternative name for ‘resin’. Rosin is the best-known and most commonly used type of weed concentrate for dabbing. In part, that is because you don’t need any propellant or other chemical substances for the extraction process. Furthermore, many people make rosin using household, garden or kitchen tools (such as their mother’s hair straightener). You can improvise like this but for the best results it makes sense to work professionally with specially made equipment. And it’s a lot safer as well!

‘Freshly pressed ‘ Rosin | Photo: WeedPornDaily.Com

Advantages of Rosin Weed Dabs

There are all kinds of weed dabs, but rosin is one that has many advantages. Rather strange in fact. The type of concentrate which is the easiest one to make, also has the most advantages according to afficionados. In which case, why would you still try to make BHO, shatter, crumble, wax or ice-o-lator? Particularly after seeing this little list:

No chemicals and safe to make

Rosin is a completely natural weed concentrate. Provided you use completely natural weed or hash, at least. In any case, no chemicals are used in the production or extraction process. All those substances that are used in the production of other types of dabs - e.g. isopropylalcohol, propane, dimethylether or butane gas - are not necessary. That’s nice because you know exactly what’s in your concentrate, whereas with the other types of dabs you never know whether they still contain chemical residues.

Moreover, making rosin is a lot safer. Extraction using the above substances can be dangerous because they contain poisonous or flammable substances. There can also be a risk of explosion if you’re working in an enclosed space.

A high THC percentage and the flavour are maintained.

The good thing about rosin dabs is that you produce a weed concentrate with just as high a THC content as other types of dabs. Except it costs you a lot less effort. Rosin has an average THC percentage of 76%. The percentage in wax, BHO and other types is also around that figure. But it is very dependent on the production process. It’s possible for quite a lot to go wrong.

A large part of the terpenes and flavonoids gets lost during the production process for many types of dabs. These are the substances in weed that determine the taste profile. This is to the detriment of the weed’s taste and aroma. If when making rosin you keep the temperature under 102 degrees Celsius, all these substances are retained in your rosin concentrate. Dabbing for connoisseurs then.

Dabbing with a dab nail

No expensive purchase costs or bits of plant material

You don't necessarily need any expensive items to make rosin. A budget of a couple of dozen Euros is all it takes. Forget about expensive ice-o-lator equipment and oil extractors. With a budget rosin press hair (straightener shape) and some tools you’re all set. And if you do buy the right things? Then you end up with a pure concentrate free of any bits of plant material. Better from a taste point of view and easier on the eye.

Of course there are more expensive rosin presses on the market. Let's be honest: with a top quality hydraulic rosin press you can make better, faster and more rosin. That is because with such an expensive press you can exert much more pressure on the weed or hash than with a budget rosin press in straightener form. In addition, you can, for example, set the temperature more accurately and set a timer. The press also works automatically, allowing you to work much more accurately. In short: you can already make rosin with a small budget, but for the highest quality you will have to dig deeper.

Requirements

Are you convinced and looking to get started? Then you first have to acquire the following items:

• Rosin Press: this is used to press the weed, hash or kief. You can choose for a special heating tong with a large surface and accurate temperature settings. Or, for example, you go for a Qnubu Kompact 2.0 hydraulic rosin press with a maximum pressure of 600 KG.
• Parchment paper: extremely smooth and heat-resistant paper for pressing in.
• Dabber: a glass or titanium awl with which to work the rosin.
• Rosin bags (optional): nylon filter bags for a pure end product and therefore no plant bits.
• Oven gloves or pot holders

Making Rosin: Step-by-step Plan

The entire process for making rosin is also referred to as ‘Rosin Tech’. It’s an American invention which became very famous within a few years. Hence all the English terminology. All you need is the above items, plus some weed (or hash/kief) of course. Follow the steps below:

1. Plug the rosin press into a power socket and set it to the correct temperature. We recommend temperatures between 80 and 150 degrees for pressing. If you want to keep the taste of your weed or hash, go for 102 degrees or lower. With a hydraulic rosin press you also set the pressure in advance. About 300 KG is sufficient. You can experiment with the pressure yourself.
   
   
2. Cut or tear off a piece of parchment paper. Make sure when it’s double-folded that it’s approximately the same size as the surface of the rosin press.
   
   
3. Take the weed, hash or kief and crumble it gently. Please note: don’t grind it! Chunks of between 0.3 to 0.5 grammes are sufficient.
   
   
4. Put the cannabis between a double-folded piece of parchment paper and press it together slightly. Optional: You can also choose to put the weed or hash in a rosin bag first. In this way, you get a purer end product without bits of plant.
   
   
5. Check that the rosin press is up to temperature. Then put the paper including the cannabis between the two heated elements of the press and close the press. Press in hair straightener shape: take a pot holder or oven gloves and press on the press as hard as you can for around 5 to 10 seconds. Hydraulic press: Set the time on the press. About 60 to 120 seconds is sufficient. You will see the timer running after you close the press. The press stops automatically.
   
   
6. Carefully take the double-folded paper out from between the press and open it. Get the leftover weed or hash out with your dabber. Now you will see a thick layer of rosin around the place where the weed or hash was positioned. Scrape this together with your dabber and you’re finished! Your rosin is ready for smoking. Child’s play really, isn’t it?

Dabbing Tips & Tricks

We have a few more tips for you, so that you get the best results. Naturally, you should follow the rosin tech instructions above 1 or 2 times to work out the best way, but these tips and tricks should also help you out!

• Temperature is important. Do you want to preserve all the flavouring substances (terpenes, flavonoids and aromas)? If so, then don’t go above 102 degrees Celsius. But if taste isn’t that important to you and you just want as big a yield as possible then it’s a case of the higher the temperature, the better. Just don’t exceed the maximum temperature of 150 degrees Celsius whatever happens.
  
  
• When pressing, try to apply as much pressure as possible on the rosin press. You cannot overdo it. It can only be to the benefit of the yield. Watch out if using a vice or glueing clamps. These could break the device.
  
  
• Once produced, preserve your dabs in a Silicone Oil Jar. These pots are heat-resistant and nothing gets stuck in them. Indestructible!
  
  
• Do you want to give your rosin dabs an extra dimension? If so, then add some Harmony Terpenes! They come in all flavours. The terpenes taste and smell just like your favourite weed.
  
  
• Do you want to dab rosin? Then you have a number of options: vape the concentrate using a Vape Pen. Or use a dab bong / dab rig from Black Leaf for example. With these you can opt for a banger or a nail. You need to have tried them to discover which you like best.