Herb press - 110mm

Herb press 110 mm: turning loose material into a disc

A herb press is a straightforward piece of kit: a cylindrical metal barrel, a piston that slides into it and a T-handle on a screw thread. Turn the handle and the piston travels down the barrel, compacting whatever sits inside into a solid disc. This version measures 110 mm; the same model also comes in a larger 140 mm size. The polished metal gives the press enough weight to feel steady in the hand, and there is no electronics or mechanism inside that could fail.

What usually goes in is pollen: the fine powder that collects in the bottom chamber of a grinder or in a pollen screen box. Loose, that powder scatters and clings to everything; pressed into a disc it is easier to store, weigh and carry. The press can be used the same way for other dry, finely sifted plant material.

How to use the press

• Unscrew the T-handle and take the piston out of the barrel.
• Fill the barrel with your material, leaving a few millimetres of headroom so the piston still has room to travel.
• Put the piston back and turn the handle down by hand until you feel clear resistance.
• Leave the press under pressure; the longer it sits, the more compact the result.
• Back the handle off a couple of turns before opening the press, and the disc will release more easily.

Care and tips

Do not force the handle further once it stops giving: the thread is the most vulnerable part of any press. Take the press apart after use, clean it with warm water and a little washing-up liquid, then dry it properly. If material sticks to the piston, place a small round of baking parchment above and below your filling. Avalon Magic Plants also stocks the stainless steel Pollen Press in S, M and L, the Black Leaf Pollen Screen Box S and the Hash Maker Pollinator. Everything leaves our warehouse in discreet packaging.