**UPDATE MAY 2026**
We have updated our instructions with all the information provided below (and more), which should ensure 100% success rate on your first attempt! However, we have not yet posted the new video instructions with these additional steps. Therefore, please make sure you download the latest picture instructions on our How-To page here: https://blated.com/blogs/how-to/how-to-use-your-capsule-filler
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Hi Frank,
I'm sorry you're having trouble, but thank you for bringing this up! There are only 3 reasons this can happen with a manual press, and we have solved them all! It's either: 1. due to the capsules themselves, 2. due to the top part of the body plate needing to be adjusted (uncommon), or 3. due to pressing without the pre-aligning step. Here's how you solve them:
1. See number 3
2. Sometimes capsules can catch if the Body Plate isn't set at the right height. You can check by looking at your capsule bodies while they sit in the Body Plate. Take your Powder Spreader and glide it over the top of the bodies (like if you were spreading powder). It should slide across the top of them very smooth, not touching any capsules. If you scrape the tops of the capsule bodies, this is an obvious sign that the top plate needs to be raised so that the bodies don't stick above it anymore! To do this: Loosen the phillips screw on each corner of the springboard Body Plate until the top of the capsule bodies sit JUST below the plate! Use the powder spreader to check again if the capsule bodies scrape. Once you do this, none of the tops will accidentally catch the edge of the capsule bodies when pressing.
3. There is a very quick and simple extra step we've recently added to our instructions to ensure that all your capsules cleanly join and press correctly the first time! We're currently updating our written and video instructions to include this step. This is how you do it:
Just before pressing your capsules together with your capsule filler, you'll want to PRE-ALIGN all the capsule tops and bodies. To do this, once you've placed your Middle Plate/Capping Plate holding the tops onto your Body Plate with filled capsule bodies, take both hands and rest them on top of the entire stack. While only applying SLIGHTLY more pressure than the weight of both hands (so very little pressure), gently rock your hands in a circular motion... (think Master Miagi from the Karate Kid - but with both hands at the same time). While doing this circular motion and gently applying downward pressure, you should feel all the capsules join together as they catch each other and slide downward. Once you feel the entire Capping Plate has slid downward over the capsule bodies, NOW you can press hard with all of your body weight!
This is very important because some capsule brands aren't made to perfect tolerances and a few may not align perfectly on their own. This solves that and ensures all the capsules are joined before you press down hard! We're adding all this to our upcoming instructional video so it will be very easy to understand. Its not often that people experience this, but doing the steps above will solve this problem permanently.
If you'd like a video example of number 3, you can see it on our Instagram Story under 'Filling Caps' or I can film you one myself to guide you through it! I can do the same for number 2.
Hopefully this wasn't too much information at once... let me know if you have any other questions and how this works for you!
Thank you,
Harrison with Blated