Cannabis Dry Sift: Mesh Sizes, Yields, and Grades

Dry sift is cannabis resin that has been separated from plant matter with screens. Trichome heads fall through the mesh. Leaf, stem, and stalk stay on top. Mesh size sets the grade. A 150 µm screen gives a first pass that still holds plant fiber. A 73 µm screen gives a cleaner grade with more whole heads. Dry sift uses no solvent, no water, and no heat.

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What dry sift contains

Glandular trichomes on Cannabis sativa measure about 50 µm to 150 µm across. Those heads hold most of the THC, CBD, and terpenes in the plant. A whole head is a sphere on a short stalk. A broken head leaks resin and oxidizes. Plant matter brings chlorophyll, wax, and fiber. Chlorophyll adds a green tint and a harsh taste. Fiber adds weight with no cannabinoid value.

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Mesh sizes

A three-screen set covers most home work. Common sizes:

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• 220 µm: work screen. Breaks up flower and trim.
• 160 µm: first pass. Removes stems and large leaf.
• 120 µm: mid grade. Fewer stalks, more heads.
• 90 µm: high grade. Most heads stay whole.
• 73 µm: fine grade. Little plant matter.
• 45 µm: polishing screen. Slow and low yield.

ASTM E11 sets standard sieve openings. A No. 100 sieve is 150 µm. A No. 140 sieve is 106 µm. Screens sold for cannabis follow the same numbers.

How to make dry sift

1. Dry the plant material to 10 to 12 percent moisture. Wet trim smears and clogs mesh.
2. Freeze the material for 2 hours. Cold trichomes snap off with light agitation.
3. Put the material on the work screen. Move it with a card for 30 to 60 seconds.
4. Collect what falls through. Move that pile to the next screen down.
5. Repeat down the stack. Each pass trades yield for purity.
6. Scrape the final pile onto parchment. Press it or leave it loose.

Static helps. Rub a nitrile glove on the screen or use a static wand. Resin jumps to the charged surface. Plant fiber does not.

Yield

Dry flower returns about 5 to 10 percent by weight on the first pass. Trim and sugar leaf return 10 to 20 percent across all grades. The top grade is often 1 to 3 percent of starting weight. Yields drop as mesh gets finer. A 45 µm pass can return less than 1 percent.

Grades

Grade comes from head count, not by color.

• First grade: 70 percent or more whole heads. Pale tan to blonde. Melts on a hot nail.
• Second grade: 30 to 70 percent heads. Some fiber. Burns with dark ash.
• Third grade: plant matter with few heads. Green tint. Low resin.

Storage

Store dry sift in an airtight glass jar. Keep it dark and near 65 °F. Humidity above 65 percent RH invites mold. Humidity below 50 percent RH dries the resin and kills the melt. A 62 percent humidity pack holds the range. Shelf life runs 6 to 12 months at those settings. Pressed hash keeps longer than loose sift.

Legal note

Dry sift contains THC. Rules in the United States treat it as a cannabis concentrate in most states. Age limits and purchase caps apply at licensed stores. Check your state rules before you buy or make it.