Lance Carson
Resin incense is commonly burned on charcoal, but it can create a lot of smoke. To avoid this, you can use an oil warmer to get the fragrance without the fumes. Before burning resin incense, it's important to grind it into a fine powder. This can be done using a mortar and pestle, a grinder, or by placing the resin in a bag and crushing it with a hammer. It's also recommended to freeze the resin before grinding to prevent it from melting and sticking to the grinder. Once the resin is powdered, it can be moulded into balls or cones, or burned as-is on a hot coal.
Characteristics and Values of Grinding Resin Incense
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grinding Tools | Electric coffee grinder, mortar and pestle, hammer, electric spice grinder, cryogenic ball mill, blender, medical-grade mortar/pestle, ceramic mortar/pestle, brass mortar/pestle, marble mortar/pestle |
| Preparation | Freeze resin and grinding tools beforehand to prevent resin from melting and sticking to the blades |
| Grinding Technique | Use short intervals and pauses to prevent overheating; grind resin with wood powder and other dry ingredients to aid the process |
| Consistency | Grind resin to a fine powder; the consistency should be flour-like or close to dust for thin incense sticks |
| Incense Form | Resin incense can be formed into balls or cones, or used as granulated incense |
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What You'll Learn
Freezing resin before grinding
When it comes to grinding resin for incense, one of the challenges is that the resin can become sticky and adhere to the blades of the grinder. Freezing the resin before grinding can help address this issue. Here are some insights and suggestions for freezing resin before grinding:
Freezing Resin:
It is recommended to freeze resin for a few hours or even overnight before grinding. This helps to harden the resin, making it easier to grind into a fine powder. The freezing temperature prevents the resin from melting and sticking to the grinder, which would otherwise make the process messy and inefficient.
Grinder Options:
Different types of grinders can be used for resin, each with its own advantages and considerations. Electric spice grinders, for instance, offer more power and sharper blades compared to regular coffee grinders. However, some people opt to use a mortar and pestle, especially if they are just breaking up the resin for heating rather than grinding it into a fine powder for incense sticks. Freezing the mortar and pestle along with the resin can improve the grinding process and help prevent the resin from sticking.
Grinding Process:
When using an electric grinder, it is important to work in short intervals with pauses in between to prevent the blades from heating up and causing the resin to melt and stick. Even with freezing, this precaution is necessary to avoid the resin from building up on the blades and making grinding difficult.
Alternative Methods:
As an alternative to grinding, some people choose to freeze the resin and then use a hammer to crush it into smaller pieces. This method can be effective, especially when combined with a mylar aluminium bag to contain the resin during the hammering process.
Additives:
To improve the grinding process and the final product, some incense makers suggest adding wood powder or Makko to the frozen resin before grinding. This helps to absorb moisture and results in a finer powder that is easier to work with when creating incense sticks.
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Using a mortar and pestle
To begin, it is recommended to freeze the resin for at least six hours before grinding. Freezing the mortar and pestle overnight can also improve results. When you're ready to grind, wrap a towel around the pestle and place it in the mortar to prevent the resin from flying out. Then, hammer down with the pestle to break the resin into small pieces. Once the resin is the size of gravel, you can remove the towel and start grinding in a circular motion.
While a mortar and pestle require more effort, some people prefer them for grinding resins because they are easier to clean than electric grinders, which can get messy and clogged with resin. Additionally, the blades of electric grinders can heat up and cause the resin to melt and stick.
There are various types of mortar and pestle sets available, including those made from ceramic, marble, brass, and volcanic rock. When choosing a set, consider opting for a medical-grade or deep, thick-sided stone model with gritty surfaces to facilitate grinding.
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Electric spice grinders
When using an electric spice grinder, it is best to use a grinder with sharp blades and a high power level. This will help to ensure that the resin is ground into a fine powder. It is also recommended to use a grinder with a removable metal cup, as this can be frozen to help keep the resin cool during grinding.
However, even with these precautions, it may be difficult to achieve a very fine grind with an electric spice grinder. The blades may still get hot and cause the resin to melt and stick to them, making grinding impossible. In this case, it may be necessary to finish the grinding by hand using a mortar and pestle.
Some people also recommend using a pulverizer or a cryogenic ball mill to grind resin incense. These tools can create a finer grind and preserve volatile oils in the incense. However, these options may be more expensive and may not be necessary for everyone. Overall, electric spice grinders can be a useful tool for grinding resin incense, but it is important to follow certain steps to ensure the best results.
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Grinding resin with wood powder
First, it is important to note that freezing your resin before grinding can help to achieve a finer powder and prevent the resin from melting or burning during the grinding process. Place your resin in a freezer bag or container and freeze it for at least an hour before grinding. This helps to harden the resin and prevents it from becoming sticky when ground.
When grinding resin with wood powder, it is recommended to use a spice grinder or a coffee grinder. Spice grinders tend to have sharper blades and more power, making them more effective at grinding tough materials like wood and resin. However, coffee grinders can also be used, especially if you are working with small batches. It is important to note that the grinder's blades can heat up during the process, causing the resin to melt and stick to the blades. To prevent this, you can freeze your grinder blades beforehand or work in short intervals with pauses in between to allow the blades to cool down.
If you are using a spice grinder, simply place your frozen resin and wood powder into the grinder and pulse it until you achieve your desired consistency. It is recommended to aim for a flour-like consistency for your incense mixture. This should take less than 30 seconds to achieve a fine powder.
If you are using a coffee grinder, you may need to take a two-step approach. First, grind the resin tears in the grinder in short bursts. Then, transfer the partially ground resin to a mortar and pestle to finish the job. This is because coffee grinders may not achieve a fine enough powder on their own. By using the mortar and pestle, you can break down the resin further and mix it with the wood powder more effectively.
When grinding, it is important to wear safety gear such as a mask, goggles, and gloves. The grinding process can create a lot of dust, and inhaling wood or resin dust can be harmful to your lungs and throat. It is also recommended to grind in a well-ventilated area or use fans to blow the dust away from your work area.
Additionally, you can experiment with different types of wood and their various parts. For example, you can use the bark, leaves, or seeds of a tree, as these may be easier to grind and can provide a complementary scent to your incense.
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Burning resin incense without charcoal
Resin incense is most commonly burned using charcoal, but this produces a lot of smoke, which can cause breathing problems for some people. Here are some alternative methods to burn resin incense without using charcoal:
Oil Warmers
Oil warmers, also known as aroma lamps or oil burners, are a safe and easy way to burn resin incense with little to no smoke. There are two types of oil warmers: ceramic and glass. The ceramic ones are typically labelled for wax cubes or wax melts, but they can still be used for burning resin incense. The glass ones usually consist of a glass dish set on top of a metal or ceramic stand.
To use an oil warmer, add a small amount of vegetable oil or almond oil to the dish, depending on its size. Then, add a few pieces of your chosen resin incense. Light a tea light candle underneath the dish, or plug in the warmer if it is electric. The resin will slowly soften and infuse the oil with its fragrance, filling the room with scent.
Homemade Incense Burner
Another option is to make your own incense burner using an old soda can and a tea light candle. Start by cleaning out the soda can and cutting it in half. Trim off any sharp edges with scissors and cover them with masking tape. Take the top half of the can and cut 3-4 V-shaped holes into the side to allow airflow. For additional airflow, poke some holes into the top of the can with a hammer and nail.
When you're ready to burn your resin, light a small unscented tea light candle and place it underneath the can. Take another old tea light candle, clear out any excess wax, and fill it halfway with vegetable oil and resin. Place this on top of the can, and the resin will warm up and diffuse its fragrance into the room.
Other Methods
Some people also use electric grinders or a mortar and pestle to grind resin incense into a fine powder before burning it. However, the blades of electric grinders can get hot and cause the resin to melt and stick to the blade. To prevent this, it is recommended to freeze the grinder and the resin before use. A hammer can also be used to crush frozen resin, but this may not achieve a fine enough powder for incense sticks.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use a mortar and pestle, a hammer and a bubble wrap envelope, a medical-grade or ceramic mortar and pestle, a coffee grinder, a spice grinder, or a cryogenic ball mill.
If you are using a grinder, it is recommended to freeze it beforehand to prevent it from heating up. If you are using a mortar and pestle, it is recommended to store it in the freezer.
It is recommended to freeze the resin for at least six hours before grinding.
If you are using a mortar and pestle, it is recommended to wrap a towel around the pestle and drape it over the mortar. Then, you can hammer down on the pestle without the resin flying out. Once the resin is broken down into gravel-sized pieces, you can remove the towel and begin circular grinding.
You can burn the resin incense on a charcoal tablet or use an oil warmer to get the fragrance without the fumes.
