Old Reviews Assessing Rosin Presses vs. Components

[terp182]

I picked up some Low Temp 3x5 plates and cage during their New Year's sale, and am considering having a custom cage put together to hold the Low Temp cage/plates and the cylinder, which should be low profile, similar to the Low Temp v2. I'm also looking at a cheap Strongway Benchtop 10-Ton (Chinese made, $350 shipped), or a Dake 10-Ton (American made, $500 shipped).

Obviously the Strongway and Dake come with their own manual hydraulic pump and 10 ton press. The one the guy I am talking to about a custom recommends the BVA pump/cylinder combo, which is $600, on top of the couple hundred for the cage he's building.

Here's my question/issue. I'd really like the custom cage since it's low profile/easy to stow and relatively portable. But the $800 (total) price for that and the BVA pump is steep. As a home user squishing for 2, will I see a difference in the extra $400 or so for the nice nice BVA pump, or is there a more reasonably priced alternative pump/cylinder combo that will still make solid squishes on a 3x5 that I'm missing? Links to all 3 are below. And is the $40 Mophorn 10 Ton Hydraulic Cylinder workable on a custom squisher, or is money better spent on a more expensive cylinder? Thanks for any insight - I'm a complete mechanical greenhorn, let alone trying to assess relative quality of parts over the internet!

BVA Pump/Cylinder Combo ($700)
Link

Strongway Benchtop 10-Ton Press ($350)
Link

Dake Benchtop 10-Ton ($500)
Link

Mophorn 10-Ton Cylinder (would still need a hand pump) ($40)
Link

Pictured: a similar custom press frame to the one I’m considering.

 

[becauseofseizers]

I recently bought the 4x7low temp. I went all out and got the insulation and ano.

Luckily i have a 1950s press with dual rams.

I actually indented the top off my cage cause My guages are broke.

That said my cousin has gone thru 2 different presses trying to get enough pressure on his setup. Personally by once and cry once.

I would look if the pumps are rebuildable?

My press has a ton of adjustablity making for easier dialing in of force.

These press plates from low temp look like a life time product. I would match it with the best thing you can and let the rosin pay for its self

 

[terp182]

Thanks! I ended up getting the Dake press with the uninsulated Low Temp 3x5s. Cheers!

 

[terp182]

Following up on this for anyone who might stumble across this in the future...

The Dake press can sometimes be found at Walmart . com for $430 delivered. About $100 cheaper than Amazon and other drop shippers. It's a bit bigger than I expected but performs super solidly. Once you get over '300' on the PSI dial, you're putting your back into the hydraulic arm, and ~400 is where bags seem to want to break. If you intend to press rosin and are over 40 or 50, you might want to drop the extra money on a BVA press or the Low Temp v2. I'm 45 and don't mind putting my back into the end of a second press, but I can see it getting old.

Zero complaints about the 3x5 uninsulated Low Temp plates. They're rock solid and work well with the press so far. No surprises there. I also got these at a 10% discount just after New Year's, so the Dake/Low Temp combo can be had for under $900. Given our rosin habits, that made our break even point on this about 3 months, and now our rosin menu is orders of magnitude larger. Zero regrets on this purchase!

 

[becauseofseizers]

Some leaf bubble after pressing. So happy i am pressing meow.

 

[terp182]

Some leaf bubble after pressing. So happy i am pressing meow. View attachment 1291199

Nice! Here’s a shot of CDLC pressed at 175. 26% return after second press. Supper happy with it!

 

[Jtsmoker]

I would like to use my 13 ton and it’s hydraulic ram but I got to get some plates they’ll take it Or maybe even a cold pressed I don’t know if it’s possible