So……. my most recent batch, it’s time to revisit using large leaves. I normally opt for smaller leaves, even though that is more labor intensive, simply because larger leaves have been harsher and they have bigger veins. I was fortune to be invited to a farm to select their beautifully pristine pesticide-free leaves. I didn’t expect cannabis trees. Some leaves are so big that my hemp journals will not work – some of these fan blades are 12 inches+
Snagged a few art portfolios on the way home. 24 x 36. Biggies. Unfortunately, I could not find any unrefined paper and that is something I am looking for online.
I dissembled a book shelf I am not using, and sandwiching the folios between the concrete floor in my garage, and the wooden shelf, with my 200lb hydraulic shop press on top of it. That should do it. (folios have been exposed for the photo, definitely need total coverage or the edges wont flatten as nicely)
When using leave blades this large, it was difficult to get the leaf to flatten with creasing. I was placing leaves top side up, for no real reason. Discovery that should have been obvious : if you put them in the journal bottom side up, the shape will naturally flatten better.
For commercial processes, there are things that will work better. Looking into T Shirt Presses, and larger hydraulic presses that can actually evenly squish a very large area. This isn’t a rosin squish. They remain under pressure for 1-2 weeks, then I will be transferring them to another folio. Then, keeping them in storage for 6 months +.
I think I will need to de-vein the largest. Maybe. That’s a lot of stem to be winding around a cannagar. The biggest leaves will likely be reserved for the largest gauges, real party gars.