Dry screening

Dry sifting is a method of mechanically separating trichomes from dry plant material. The result is kief in a particularly pure form. Unlike the pollen screen in a grinder, dry sifting is done purposefully to obtain larger or cleaner quantities.

How Dry Sifting Works

Dry, well-cooled material is moved over a fine screen or gently shaken. The brittle trichome heads break off and fall through the mesh, while coarser plant material remains on top. Because cold material is more brittle, many deliberately work in cool conditions. Multiple screens with different mesh sizes in sequence separate the result by purity.

Screen Sizes and Purity

The mesh size (often given in "microns") determines what falls through. A finer screen allows only the small trichome heads to pass through and yields purer, but less material. A coarser screen provides a higher yield, but with a bit more extraneous material. Those who wish to process the result further often press it afterward with a pollen press.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dry Sifting

What is the difference to a grinder's pollen screen?

The principle is similar, but dry sifting is more targeted and usually yields larger, cleaner quantities of kief.

Why work with cold material?

Cold trichomes are more brittle and break off more easily. This increases the yield during sifting.

What does the micron indication mean?

It describes the mesh size of the screen. Finer = purer, but less yield; coarser = more, but less pure.