Hydraulic vs Pneumatic Rosin Press Comparison

Hydraulic vs Pneumatic Rosin Press Comparison

A key point of consideration when comparing hydraulic versus pneumatic rosin presses is the mechanism they use to create pressure. Hydraulic presses use liquids to generate force, while pneumatic presses employ compressed air. This fundamental difference impacts both their operation and their efficiency in various use cases.

Commercial-grade rosin presses come in two main varieties: hydraulic and pneumatic. Both hydraulic and pneumatic presses can be used to produce high-quality, marketable rosin.

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The main difference between hydraulic and pneumatic rosin presses is that they create pressure via different mechanisms: Hydraulic presses create pressure with compressed fluid whereas pneumatic presses use compressed air.

The right kind of press for you will depend on your budget, space, and desired throughput.

How Pneumatic and Hydraulic Rosin Presses Work

Rosin presses all work in similar ways, whether you’re working with a pneumatic or hydraulic press. They have two plates or platens that contain an electric heating element. The heat melts the trichome cuticles on dry flower, kief, dry sift, and bubble hash to release the resinous oil inside.

Once heated, the plates are pressed together using a pump (this can be pneumatic, hydraulic, manual, electric, or hybrid). The pressure, combined with heat, forces the cannabinoid and terpene-rich resin to flow out of the starting material onto parchment paper for collection. Learning how to use a rosin press is quite simple once you have the right equipment.

Features of a Quality Rosin Press

In the early days, people made rosin with hair straighteners. Today, there are industrial rosin presses that offer the same core features (heated plates and pressure) with more force, greater precision, and far higher throughput.

Whether you opt for a hydraulic or pneumatic press, look for a rosin press with:

Rectangular Plates

The plates on your rosin press should be longer than they are wide. Our rosin presses come with plates measuring 3"x5" and 4"x7". These dimensions provide optimal pressure distribution and encourage the rosin to flow out quickly rather than staying on the plates and burning.

Even Heat Distribution

You’ll get the best results when heat is evenly distributed across each plate. Our LT3 Rosin Press Heat and Pressure Controller allows you to monitor the heat on each side of the plate via thermocouples to see whether your temps are uniform.

Are Hydraulic or Pneumatic Presses Better?

Both hydraulic and pneumatic presses have their advantages and disadvantages. We personally like hydraulic presses for two reasons:

1. Hydraulics give you real time pressure feedback that allows you to feel the pressure release as rosin flows.
2. Hydraulics give you the ability to scale with one operator using 5 presses running off a single pump, such as in our 5-Press Medusa System.

Hydraulic Press vs Pneumatic Press

To choose the best kind of press for your operation, it's important to understand how both types work as well as their distinct advantages and disadvantages.

How Hydraulic Presses Work

Hydraulic rosin presses use compressed fluid (generally hydraulic oil) to create pressure. The pressure is then applied with a pump, electric pump, or pneumatic over hydraulic pump. Because of the pressurized fluid, the operator doesn't need to be especially strong to apply pressure to the plates using a hydraulic pump.

Advantages of Hydraulic Presses

• Lower cost. Hydraulic presses generally cost less than pneumatic presses upfront because of their simpler design. When you purchase one of our rosin presses, you can choose between several different hydraulic pump options with different pressure application methods, including hand pumps, electric pumps operated off a button, and foot pedals.
• Lightweight. Hydraulic presses weigh far less than pneumatic presses.
• Quiet. Hydraulic presses are virtually silent unless you’re using an electric hydraulic pump. A quiet pump is an advantage if you're working in a tight space and can't house the pump in a separate room.
• More tactile feedback. The manual pressure application with hydraulic presses allows you to feel the pressure leaving the bag.

Disadvantages of Hydraulic Presses

• Manual operation. The main disadvantage of hydraulic presses is that they require manual operation. However, as noted earlier, this allows you to receive tactile feedback as you apply pressure.

How Pneumatic Presses Work

Pneumatic rosin presses generate pressure with compressed air. Because they work by manipulating pressurized air, pneumatic presses are also known as air press machines.

Advantages of Pneumatic Presses

• Can be automated. The main advantage of pneumatic presses is that they can be automated by programming the pressure ramping of the air compressor.

Disadvantages of Pneumatic Presses

• Heavy. Pneumatic rosin presses are much heavier and bulkier than hydraulic presses. They are best used for permanent set-ups rather than temporary ones.
• Noisy. The noise of the motor can be unpleasant for some people. To get around this, some extraction companies house their pneumatic pump in another room and connect it to the rosin press through the wall.
• Potential for dust contamination. Pneumatic presses have an air blowoff port that can blow dust particles into the air. These dust particles could potentially contaminate your hash.
• Larger upfront investment. Pneumatic rosin presses can cost two or three times as much as hydraulic presses. That's why it's important to calculate your potential daily throughput and income before purchasing a press. We offer a Rosin Profit Calculator to help you make informed decisions when purchasing solventless extraction equipment.

Cost-Effectiveness of Hydraulic vs Pneumatic Presses

Rosin presses generally cost in the low thousands for hydraulic and between $8,000 and $10,000 for pneumatic. Use our Rosin Profit Calculator to decide which type would make the most financial sense for your setup.

Alternative Types of Rosin Presses

We've covered hydraulic and pneumatic presses. However, they aren't the only types. These are three other common kinds of rosin presses on the market:

Manual presses

Manual presses are operated purely with a hand crank. It takes physical strength to operate a purely manual press.

Electric presses

Electric presses apply force using electricity rather than pressurized air or a pressurized fluid. They typically cost far more than other kinds of presses but allow for high precision and minimal human involvement.

Hybrid presses

Hybrid presses are generally hydraulic presses that can be customized with a hand, foot, electric, or pneumatic pump. This can be an advantage if you’re starting out small but plan to grow your operation in the future.

Choose Your Press Type With Lowtemp

At Lowtemp, we want people to be able to customize their rosin presses. That's why we've made our presses with open-source connections so you can pair them with any kind of pump.

When you buy a Lowtemp V2 Rosin Press, you can choose from several pump options we offer or even buy a $40-50 bottle jack if you're only pressing rosin as a hobby. Our pump options are:

BVA Standard Compact Hand Pump

This pump comes with the hydraulics already assembled, bled, and tested. Our BVA Standard Compact Hand Pump has a 20-ton BVA cylinder, a compact aluminum pump, a hose, couplings, and a pressure gauge.

BVA Premium Large Hand Pump

This pump is best for higher workloads. It provides more travel per stroke and has a longer handle for greater leverage.

BVA Air Pump

This pump can be operated with a foot pedal or with hand pressure. It features a 20-ton hydraulic cylinder operated with an air compressor, and a pressure gauge. Please note that the air compressor must be purchased separately.

BVA High Flow Premium Hand Pump

This pump has four times the travel per stroke compared to the Industry Standard P. It can be used with our single V2 rosin presses all the way up to our 4-Press Medusa System.

BVA Electric Pump

This hydraulic electric pump is operated by the press of a button and can go up to 10,000 psi. This pump is only available with our 5-Press Medusa System.

Customize Your Extraction Process

There are myriad options when it comes to building the perfect rosin press. We've designed our system so you can connect a range of pump types and customize everything from the plates to the cage.

The good news about the different kinds of pumps is that there are options for every price point. Experiment with hydraulic and pneumatic pumps using our LT3 controller to see which gives you the best results.

Article written by

Levi Lanzrath

Levi Lanzrath is a cannabis extraction expert and founder of Lowtemp Industries.

Rosin Presses: Hydraulic vs. Pneumatic

When shopping for a rosin press, you’ll need to choose between hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and manual options. Pneumatic and hydraulic are the classic choices, and they’re among the best. But what sets them apart? And more importantly, which is a better investment?

Want more information on How Hydraulic Press Works? Feel free to contact us.

How a Rosin Press Works

Before you can understand the virtues of a hydraulic vs. pneumatic rosin press, it’s important to recognize how a rosin press functions in the first place.

Rosin being extracted on the PurePressure Longs Peak pneumatic rosin press.

A rosin press uses a combination of heat and pressure to extract cannabinoids and terpenes from your starting material (most types of rosin are made from dry flower or hash) without the need for solvents. A typical rosin press contains two heated plates that press firmly against each other to achieve the required heat and pressure. The sticky, resinous extract is squeezed out of the plant, filtered through micron bags to eliminate excess plant matter, and collected onto parchment paper.

What Makes a Good Rosin Press?

Certain qualities are essential when shopping for a rosin press:

Rectangular plate shapes

A lot of cheap rosin presses contain square or even horseshoe-shaped plates. Some contain oversized plates with excess surface area. A rectangular plate shape is important because it maximizes the perimeter-to-area ratio. A large perimeter ensures the largest escape route for rosin, allowing the extract to be released quickly and smoothly, and ensuring that your terpenes don’t get burned off in the process. As an example, the Pikes Peak V2 rosin press is designed with 10" (L) x 2.5" (W) heat plates to ensure that pressurized rosin never has far to travel.

Uniform heat distribution

Heat reduces the viscosity of rosin by melting the trichome heads and stalks. If the heat isn’t evenly distributed across the plates, you won’t have that smooth, consistent texture that’s so important for high-quality rosin. Accurate and consistent heat distribution is also important for achieving different consistencies and viscosities, as you can manipulate the texture of your rosin extraction by applying different temperatures to your plates. Aluminum plates work particularly well because they have excellent heat distribution when compared to stainless steel. Our rosin presses are designed with premium aluminum heat plate assemblies with independent thermocouples and accurate temperature controls within 1 degree.

Fewer tons of force output

Pressure is a widely misunderstood aspect of solventless extraction, and more isn’t necessarily better. While it can be tempting to opt for a 20-ton press and squeeze the life out of your plant material at 7,500 PSI+, we have found that applying the maximum pressure can actually push excess fats, lipids, and chlorophyll into your rosin. So while you’ll have a higher yield, you could wind up with a lower-quality product. Based on our own research and customer testimonials, we have found that the optimal pressure range for pressing rosin is between 300 and 1,000 PSI. A 3-ton to 8-ton rosin press is typically all you need for this kind of adjustable pressure range.

Pneumatic machine power

When we talk about pneumatic vs. hydraulic pressure, we’re talking about the mechanism that actually pushes the plates together — or the means of force. While there are many options available (including manual and electric), most higher-end presses are either hydraulic or pneumatic. Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders both have their merits, but pneumatic is still top of the line.

Hydraulic vs. Pneumatic Rosin Presses

Pneumatic and hydraulic rosin presses both have their devotees, and both can produce high-quality rosin. But there are some very important distinctions to note. The main difference between a hydraulic and pneumatic rosin press is the method of delivering pressure.

Hydraulic rosin presses use compressed fluids to produce pressure. Like manual presses, hydraulic presses use manual pumps to generate pressure. Hydraulic models are traditionally easier to use than manual presses because the hydraulic cylinders do most of the work for you, but there are some notable exceptions to this rule. For instance, the Helix manual presses from PurePressure are actually easier and more precise than pump-driven hydraulic models thanks to the pitch of the lead screw they use. Literally, your grandma can make flower rosin (which demands more force than bubble hash, for example) on a Helix.

Pneumatic rosin presses are sometimes referred to as air press machines because they work by manipulating pressurized air. Air is forced into a tube, creating pressure that moves the cylinder. Then the air is released through the valves, and the cylinder returns to its original position. This type of press requires no cranking or manual operation; just press a button and go. Because pneumatic presses are less labor-intensive, they’re the preferred choice of professional and commercial extraction operations. Models like the Pikes Peak and Longs Peak can even be upgraded with an Automated Pressure Control system that almost fully automates your rosin-pressing process.

Benefits of Pneumatic Rosin Presses

Pneumatic rosin presses are more consistent and reliable than hydraulic presses. Because they require very little effort, they can efficiently and consistently process large volumes of high-quality rosin every day.

They also require less maintenance and upkeep than hydraulic presses thanks to their oil-less operation. Because hydraulic models are fluid-driven, their cylinders must be oiled and maintained constantly, and hydraulic oil can sometimes leak from the press and the hand pump, creating messes and contaminating products. Pneumatic cylinders, on the other hand, require no oil and are maintenance-free. Models like the Pikes Peak V2 and the Longs Peak are perfect examples of how pneumatic technologies have raised the bar for solventless extraction.

Disadvantages of Pneumatic Rosin Presses

Because pneumatic presses require an air compressor, they are often louder than their hydraulic alternatives. They also tend to be larger and heavier than hydraulic presses. These are small inconveniences, though, when you consider how much easier and more efficient they are to use. And if noise is a concern, note that many labs will place their air compressor in a separate room and route a house to the press, thereby mitigating any noise pollution.

Benefits of Hydraulic Rosin Presses

Aside from the quieter operation, the major benefit of hydraulic presses is that they can often be purchased at a lower cost. This makes them great for beginners and hobbyists, but serious professionals will want something with greater consistency and larger yields. That’s why businesses tend to prefer pneumatic options.

Disadvantages of Hydraulic Rosin Presses

The biggest drawback of hydraulic presses is that they require manual operation. This will cost you in terms of quality, consistency, and return on investment—not to mention the increased labor requirement. Hydraulic presses require more attention, more maintenance, and greater precision on the part of the user. And in many cases, you’ll also need to invest in a separate hand or foot pump.

Cost of a Hydraulic vs Pneumatic Rosin Press

The cost difference between a hydraulic and pneumatic rosin press can be considerable. A commercial-grade, 5-ton pneumatic press can run you $6,500 or more. You can get a 15-ton hydraulic press for about half that cost.

Remember, though, that more tonnage doesn’t necessarily result in a better product (at a certain point, the opposite is true). To get the most value for your money, you need to consider quality and total output.

A 5-ton pneumatic press like the Pikes Peak V2 may cost more than a standard hydraulic model up front, but you have to consider that it can process up to 3.75 pounds of flower per day with very little manual intervention. And the top-of-the-line Longs Peak can achieve double that amount.

Other Types of Home & Commercial Rosin Presses

As previously noted, you do have options aside from hydraulic and pneumatic rosin press machines.

Electric rosin presses

These are the newest options to hit the rosin press market, and there are only a few models on the market. Like pneumatic presses, they’re incredibly easy to use; just press a button to