Types of Cannabis Oil Equipment
Cannabis oil equipment includes a wide range of machinery used to create various types of extracts. These machines use a variety of methods to separate cannabinoid compounds from hemp or cannabis plant material.
This is a powerful method that can produce a diverse array of desired cannabis and hemp end-products. It is also relatively low risk when properly maintained and operated in a compliant environment.
Solvent-Based Extraction
Solvent-based extraction uses alcohol, carbon dioxide or butane to dissolve and separate cannabinoid trichomes and create high-potency extracts. This process can be done manually or mechanically, and requires a skilled lab technician to perform in a lab setting that meets safety requirements.
Ethanol is a popular solvent used to create cannabis and hemp oil because it can produce a wide range of desired end-products and leaves no residual. It is ideal for both small-scale ‘connoisseur’ processors seeking to extract cannabis oil equipment a diverse array of full-spectrum derivatives, and larger labs looking to create specific cannabinoid isolates at scale.
For ethanol, hydrocarbon or CO2 extractions, it is best to choose a high-quality liquid jacket reactor designed for precise temperature control. This type of reactor allows for the user to set their desired reaction temperature without risking an overheating condition that can ruin the quality of your final extract.
Hydrocarbon Extraction
With a higher concentration of cannabinoids and terpenes than other solvent methods, hydrocarbon extraction is ideal for producing high-quality cannabis extracts. It utilizes butane, propane, or a blend of both, using lower temperature and pressure settings to preserve the plant’s cannabinoid and terpene profile. This method also yields robust aromas and flavors, making it an ideal choice for achieving true-to-strain profiles.
The plant material is packed into a container and soaked with the hydrocarbon solvent, which dissolves the desired compounds from the plant. After sufficient contact time, the solvent-extracted mixture is collected and subjected to a purging process to remove excess solvents. The final product can be dried in a vacuum oven or whipped to achieve the desired consistency and appearance.
Ethanol is another popular extraction technique that can be used to produce a wide variety of cannabis products. However, ethanol is flammable and requires a closed-loop system that maintains strict fire safety standards. Moreover, a facility that uses ethanol for extraction should have emergency eye wash stations and appropriate storage to ensure the safety of all employees.
Solventless Extraction
When deciding on the ideal extraction method for your cannabis oil, you must first consider your desired end products. The type of product you produce will ultimately dictate the best equipment to invest in as well as ancillary equipment like distillation and filling lines.
Solventless extraction equipment relies on the natural properties of heat, water and ice to mechanically separate the cannabinoid-rich trichomes from plant biomass. This process creates extracts that are deemed superior to solvent-based products by connoisseur segments of the market.
This process avoids the use of flammable chemical solvents like propane, butane and carbon dioxide, making it safer for operation and handling. However, it does require specialized expertise with laboratory-grade equipment to achieve high throughputs for the most desired cannabis oil extraction outcomes.
Rosin Pressed
Rosin is a non-solvent cannabis oil that has become the extract of choice for many discerning consumers. This is due to its unsurpassed purity, flavor and potency. Because rosin requires no solvents, it is much cleaner and safer to consume than other concentrates.
A rosin press uses heated plates to squeeze the oils and terpenes out of your source material. Rosin can be made from flower, kief, or hash. The quality of Cannabis Oil Equipment for Reliable Filling the resulting rosin is largely dependent on the quality of your starting material. Pressing low-quality kief or hash into rosin will yield a lower-quality extract.
High temperatures facilitate higher yields, but at the expense of terpene content and flavor. Lower temperatures produce slower yields, but preserve more of the terpenes and provide more refined flavor.
A key to a successful rosin extraction is knowing how to adjust the temperature and duration of your pressing. Practice will help you perfect your pressing technique and shorten your learning curve. Once you’ve mastered the art of rosin pressing, you can produce a variety of textures and forms including wax, shatter, pull-n-snap, sauces, diamonds and more.
Screened And/Or Hand Pressed
In this method of extraction, the cannabis plant is chilled and put under high pressure in order to squeeze out the cannabinoid and terpene-rich oil. The resulting product, which is commonly referred to as rosin, can then be used just like any other extract. It is typically used for dabbing, twaxing, and vaping.
Similar to ice water hash, dry sieving is also a solventless method of extraction. However, unlike ice water hash, the resulting product requires no further filtration. This product is then pressed in a rosin press to mechanically separate the oil from the plant material. Once pressed, the rosin is then refined further for use as a top-tier concentrate.
A dabber is a tool that allows users to transfer the resulting rosin or SHO to their nail, usually made of titanium or ceramic. This type of heated nail allows for butane-free heating and precise temperature control, making it a more attractive alternative to traditional torch-based nails. These nails are generally sold at dispensaries in a range of sizes and styles, and can also be purchased online.