DIY Rosin Press
Yes another DIY project. After seeing some videos of people using a hair straightener to make some rosin, I decided why not my own version of a homemade rosin press. One video I saw, the guy was using the broken hair straightener plates and a vise, so I decide to build on that and make a more permanent press. I’m $70 all in.
Disassembly
As soon as the hair straightener arrived I broke it down to the bare parts. To get the at the guts of the straightener you have to disconnect the pivot by popping of the covers and removing the screw and pushing the key out. Then unscrew the plates and you’ll see the circuitry. Remove the screws and carefully remove the boards, wires, and plates. Then you will want to unsolder the wires from the from the heat plates to each board. I marked the wire and the junction with a red or black sharpy.
Modifacation/Fabrication Straightener
Then I resolded some longer wires to the board for the plates. We will connect the plates later, for now we just want enough wire to extend out to the vise from both boards.
The dremel did most of the work for the fab. I cut down the straightener frame to remove the plate section. DO NOT cut the frame with the boards in place, you risk damaging them. I have them shown to give the example. I had to widen the wire notches in the frame to accommodate the slightly heavier gauge wire.
Modifacation/Fabrication Vise
I screwed the vise on a piece of 2 x 6 I had. Then I attached the heating plates to the vise with JB weld. I carefully apply the adhesive on the vise and plates and used the vise to hold them in place were they would remain until the next day. I also used this time to complete the wire on the heating plates to the controls. Soldered the wires to the corresponding color I marked earlier. Had some extra tubing around so I enclosed the wires going from the control to the heat plates.
Securing the controls
I drilled out some holes in the straighteners frame were it wouldn’t interfere with the board or wires. and screw it into the 2 x 6 (red circles). I also used some drops of hot glue to secure the board and the wires in place (red arrows). Then just reassembled the straightener as normal.
The Rosin Press
Ok so I’m quite impressed with how this turned out. I had to try it out, I only used 2 buds size of nickles but I got results. It heats from 170f to 400f. I set it at 220f and let her rip. I squeezed the buds flat and they left behind the rosin. I scraped it together and this is what I got. I can see there is a little plant matter in there but it looks good.
It smoked really nice, and boy it sure feels good to have a solvent free concentrate. Its going to take a few presses to get the right timing and temperature but I’m sure I can dial it in.
Vise = $29.99
Hair Straightener = $32.02
JB Weld = $4.39
Total = $66.40
Solvent-free Rosin = Priceless
Stay Stoned