Dry sift is a method of extracting resin from plant material using screens.
Dry sift hash is an extraction method that consists of rubbing the vegetable material with a screen to remove the resin from the flowers, in order to consume it later. This process is essentially a physical separation technique that relies on agitation to dislodge the resin glands (trichomes) from the plant matter, allowing them to fall through fine screens.
How Dry Sifting Works
The core of dry sifting involves separating the valuable resin from the less desirable plant material like leaves and stems. This is achieved by:
- Placing dried plant material on a screen.
- Gently rubbing or agitating the material over the screen.
- The resin glands, which are typically small and brittle when cold, break off and fall through the mesh.
- Larger plant particles remain on top of the screen.
Multiple screens of varying mesh sizes are often used in sequence, starting with a larger mesh to filter out bulky plant matter and progressing to finer meshes to refine the collected resin.
Tools Used for Dry Sifting
The dry sifting process can be performed using several different tools, making it accessible with various setups. According to the reference, tools for this process include:
- Screen Box: A common tool, typically consisting of stacked boxes with screens at the bottom of each layer.
- Hash Shaker: A smaller, often handheld device for sifting smaller quantities.
- Hash Spinner: Devices that use centrifugal force to help separate the resin.
- Grinder: Some grinders come equipped with a screen and collection chamber specifically designed for sifting small amounts during grinding.
The Result: Dry Sift Hash
The collected resin is often referred to as dry sift hash or kief. It is a potent powder consisting primarily of trichome heads. This powder can be consumed in various ways, pressed into hash, or used in other extraction processes. The quality of the dry sift depends on the purity – how much residual plant matter is present – which is influenced by the mesh size of the screens used and the care taken during the sifting process.
