Pre-Roll Infusion Guide
Producing Infused Joints with the RollPros Blackbird
One of the most common questions we receive about the Blackbird is if it can produce infused joints. The short answer is yes! Many of our customers use their Blackbird exclusively for infused joint production. But there are nuances, exceptions, and variables that are critical to understand before you dive into the deep end of infused joint production.
Because the infusion process always uses third-party equipment that is not designed, built, certified, or specifically recommended by RollPros, we can’t help you with standard operating procedures for creating infused joints. It is up to you to invest in product research and development, source your own equipment, and determine the right process to achieve the results that you want. There is no “one-size-fits-all” standard, and many of our customers have created SOPs that they consider to be proprietary. Be prepared to commit time and resources to developing your own infused products.
It’s worth the investment. In many markets infused joints already outsell non-infused joints, (more than 60% of the joints sold in California in 2025 were infused), [01] and with the additional opportunity for differentiation that an extract or concentrate adds to the product, they generally can be more profitable than non-infused joints.
This guide will jump-start your internal efforts to produce your own infused joints, and will help you avoid many of the pitfalls other Blackbird operators have encountered when starting from scratch.
Material and Material Prep are Critical
The Blackbird is an extremely capable machine. It is designed to run fresh, high-moisture flower. If the material going into the machine has the right properties and the machine settings are adjusted accordingly, the Blackbird will perform well with infused material. Although upgrades and enhancements to the Blackbird in the future may allow for a variety of infused formats, currently the Blackbird can produce infused joints with homogenized infused flower. Meaning, whatever you are adding to the flower needs to be mixed into it and blended well.
The material-related issues that you might encounter when running straight flower are mirrored when running infused material. If the material is too dusty or you are attempting a dry infusion of kief, for example, you’ll likely face difficulty achieving the right compression for the joint to stay intact with even density.
The goal of your material prep process is to end up with a homogenous blend of extract and flower that is in the “Goldilocks zone” of prepared material. Sticky, but not too sticky from over-infusion. Chunky, but not clumpy. Even distribution of particle sizes, not too small and not too large.
Consider experimenting with different grind settings, homogenization techniques and tools to find the right combination for your flower and extract.
Infusion Has to Bind
If you remember one thing while reviewing this guide, make it this: your extract or concentrate has to bind to your flower.
When binding is right, the Blackbird runs smoothly. When the extract is not well-bonded to the flower, material settles in the hopper, clumps form, dust goes airborne, distribution becomes inconsistent, airflow suffers, and paper stains become obvious.
Some Blackbird operators use distillate or terps, which can help with bonding, but in most cases this is a choice made for flavor or burn characteristics rather than an essential ingredient in the process.
The Blackbird can’t compensate for poorly prepared infused material. And with infused joints, any issues will be magnified when compared to running straight flower. But, once binding is solved, the rest of the setup is more straightforward.
Infusion Materials That Run Well on the Blackbird
Bubble hash and distillate are the most forgiving materials to run on the Blackbird.
Bubble hash homogenizes easily, integrates well with flower, and does not create excessive dust. Distillate also performs well, especially when handled in a cooler environment. As distillate warms, it sticks more readily to trays and surfaces, which can help prevent migration if controlled intentionally.
Rosin can work, but is less forgiving. Blended approaches—often around a 80/20 (or less) flower to rosin ratio—tend to run more consistently.
Infusion Materials That Create Problems on the Blackbird
Dusty materials create immediate issues on the Blackbird.
Anything dusty tends to go airborne, settle inconsistently, and disrupt distribution.
Kief can be run, but only if the machine is adjusted to reduce dust going into the air. Adding kief to an already dusty strain usually compounds problems.
Dry extracts and diamonds do not bind well and often cause airflow and inconsistent fills. The exception is really sticky flower. If you’re flower is sticky and has a high-moisture content, the stickiness can act as the binder. We have several customers that have gone this route, and successfully produce diamond-infused joints.
Infusion Ratios: The Blackbird Rewards Restraint
Over-infusion is one of the fastest ways to create problems on the Blackbird.
Heavy oil-to-flower ratios increase paper staining, reduce burn quality, material buildup on rolling surfaces, and require more frequent cleaning. Lighter infusion almost always runs better, homogenizes more easily, and produces a more consistent smoking experience.
There is no universal ratio. Everything is material dependent, but lighter infusion is usually the fastest path to stability.
Paper choice will need to be considered, especially with heavier infusion ratios.
Based on customer feedback, rice paper is the most likely to show staining when running resinous or infused material. Hemp paper typically shows less staining, with our natural unbleached paper showing the least amount of staining. Natural unbleached paper generally presents a cleaner finished product.
Homogenization and Batches
The Blackbird thrives on consistency. Infused material must be as homogenized as possible before it ever reaches the hopper.
Effective methods include spraying, planetary mixing, tumbling, and centrifuge-assisted mixing followed by sifting. For most mixtures, de-clumping is a mandatory step. Some use a manual process, which can be effective but tedious. Others use a second, quick pass through a grinder. If you test this approach, use the largest screen available, with the goal of the second pass being to declump rather than to actually grind down particles further.
Smaller hopper loads tend to run better, so rather than filling the hopper to the top, try smaller, more frequent scoops. This will help prevent clumping or buildup in the hopper itself.
Ideally, you are preparing your plant material and running the entire batch in a single shift. This is a recommendation when running straight flower as well, but is even more important when running infused material. The longer your prepared material sits, the more clumping and settling issues you may encounter when you do run it. If you do need to store your material for longer periods, storing in a cold temperature may help alleviate some of the problems.
Blackbird Setup and Maintenance Considerations for Infused Runs
The most important optional upgrade for producing infused joints on the Blackbird is the Rotary Cutter. The standard center blade that cuts the joint in half just before they roll out of the machine gums up quickly and often leaves the ends slightly torn when running infused material. The Rotary Cutter was released in June of 2025 and solves this problem. It’s a spinning circular blade powered by its own motor. We consider this essential if you are going to produce infused joints.
Expect infused material to stick to the belt more than non-infused flower. This means you will need to clean the belt more often, and potentially change the belt more often than when running non-infused flower. Plan maintenance checks accordingly, and be prepared to clean the entire machine more often when running infused material.
Depending on your infusion type, speed settings often need to be adjusted. Overfill errors due to large, sticky clumps falling onto the tip tray can be reduced by slowing the machine down. If you hit 900-1,000 joints per hour running non-infused material, consider dropping your speed to 800 per hour if you notice overfill errors.
Temperature control can play a major role when running infused material. Cooler rooms improve distillate handling and reduce uncontrolled sticking. Warmer environments increase buildup and maintenance demands. Even a few degrees can help, so if possible, keep your room temp low.
Grind Size, Tension, and Airflow on the Blackbird
Airflow is important for any joint, not just infused joints. We encourage you to start with the largest grind possible and only grind further if necessary. You can’t reverse an over-grind. With the addition of an extract, airflow may be more inhibited, so you might need to adjust the tension to a looser setting than is typical. Again, trial and error will be important here to get the right airflow for your particular strain and infusion.
The Blackbird Will Do Its Job
The Blackbird is designed to produce consistent infused pre-rolls at scale.
It rewards good material prep and exposes bad assumptions quickly. If your infusion binds, material is homogenized, airflow is protected, and restraint is applied, the Blackbird can run infused joints cleanly and consistently.
There is no universal SOP for running infused joints on the Blackbird. Do your own R&D and be willing to experiment. We often tell customers that infused joints are where the industry’s “mad scientists” have found a new playground. Embrace this opportunity for differentiation and invest time into developing unique products. This is what consumers are now looking for, so get on board with the infused joint trend and use it to power your brand’s growth!
Download the Infusion Guide PDF
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