How Humboldt Filling Machines Work
Fill cones in about half the time of hand-filling (our own estimate): pick your cartridge, load your cones, fill, pack, lift and twist. A well-trained maker fills about 121 cones in about an hour on a 121X cartridge with a vibration table, roughly 2 a minute (an estimate). Here's every step, 7 to 389 cones at a time.
- Pick your cartridge
Your cartridge size is your cone length: 70mm, 84mm, 98mm Classic, 98mm Slim, 109mm King, 140mm Peacemaker or the 84mm tube. Then choose how many cones you want per session, from 7 to 389. - Load your cones
Set the cartridge on the vibration table and fill every hole with an empty cone. Standard cartridges: set the riser aside for now. 300 Series: make sure the detachable base is firmly installed. - Add your material and fill
Pour your material over the top of the cartridge. With the vibration table switched on, the vibration shakes your material down into every cone at once, which is what makes filling much faster. - Tap, settle and pack
Pack as you fill with the included tamping tool. Tamp firmly early in the fill for a firm, crisp, tight pack, and leave a little space at the top for the twist. - Remove your cones
Switch the table off when the cones are nearly full. Standard cartridges: set the cartridge down on its riser and the cones push up so you can lift each one out. 300 Series: release the red clamps, remove the detachable base and set the cartridge top-down on a flat surface to push the cones up. - Twist and finish
Twist the end of each cone to close it, and your batch is ready. - Clean up or swap sizes
Rinse the cartridge with hot water up to 130°F, or use an isopropyl alcohol and salt mixture for residue. To fill another size, swap in a cartridge for that cone; standard 7–121-cone cartridges run on the same table.
Every kit includes the vibration table, which makes filling much faster.
Humboldt Filling Machines' vibration table uses an industrial-quality vibrating device, CNC-machined from stainless steel, then hand-configured and quality-control tested. It runs from the included extension cord with a built-in power switch, and the stabilization mat keeps it in place on hard surfaces. The table alone is $369.
Every starter kit comes with one complete setup, ready to fill:
- Filling cartridge, sized to your cone
- Riser (300 Series: detachable base with red clamps)
- Tamping tool
- Vibration table
- Stabilization mat
- Extension cord with a built-in power switch
Kits that fill up to 121 cones include the VB1 table (9 inch round) and SP1 mat; 300 Series kits (315 to 389 cones, plus the 389-tube Artisan Tube kit) include the VB2 table (8.75 x 11 inch rectangular) and SP2 mat.
Starter kits run from $369 to $1,199. Already have a table? Cartridges start at $29, each with its own riser and tamping tool.
- Do I need the vibration table?
- Every kit includes one, so you don't need to buy one separately, and it makes filling much faster. Already own a table? Add any cartridge on its own, from $29. The table is also sold on its own for $369.
- How long does a session take?
- About an hour for a full 121-cone cartridge, start to finish, by a well-trained maker on a vibration table, roughly 2 cones a minute. At the same rate, 19 cones take about 9 minutes and 55 about 27. These are estimates, and your own time will vary.
- Which cone sizes can I fill?
- 70mm Dogwalker, 84mm Special 1¼, 98mm Classic, 98mm Slim, 109mm King and 140mm Peacemaker cones, plus 84mm Artisan tubes. The 300 Series also fills 98.6 × 9.4mm and 109mm glass-filter tubes, 315 per session.
- How do I clean my cartridge?
- Use hot water up to 130°F, or an isopropyl alcohol and salt mixture to lift residue. Keep cartridges out of the dishwasher, away from temperatures over 130°F and out of direct sunlight, so they keep their shape.
- Can I fill more than one cone size?
- Yes. Add a cartridge for each size you fill, from $29. Standard 7–121-cone cartridges swap on the same vibration table, and each one comes with its own riser and tamping tool.