If you have not used a weed grinder before, then you’re missing out on several things. For one, it is cost-effective. More importantly, ground herb using these nifty tools is one sure way of raising the overall quality of the smoking experience and attaining a superb high.
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What Are Weed Grinders?
Also called dry herb grinder or bud grinder, these are small tools used to simplify and speed up the process of grinding cannabis buds with an even consistency.
A standard grinder has a round, cylindrical shape with two halves – the top and the bottom. Its interior is composed of sharpened metal teeth designed to shred dried herbs into small bits.
Weed grinders can be classified by the number of pieces of components or chambers.
- 2-piece, 1 chambers
- 3-piece, 2 chambers
- 4-piece, 3 chambers
2-piece. This grinder consists of a lid and a bowl. Once put together, it forms a single chamber.
3-piece. Think of a 2-piece grinder with an additional component at the bottom to form two chambers instead of one. The second piece – the grinding chamber with the metal teeth – will have holes at the bottom. Ground herbs fall through the tiny openings into the bottom compartment. After grinding, it is easy to unscrew the bottom part to collect the ground weed.
4-piece. To maximize the cannabis experience, this is the type of grinder that you want to use. It is similar to 3-piece grinders with the addition of a fourth piece at the bottom. Between the third and the fourth, a mesh screen filters the collected ground weed, letting pollen-like material – kief – fall into the last chamber.
Why Use Weed Grinders?
There are actually numerous reasons why you should use a weed grinder, preferably the one that comes with three chambers.
- Savings. Ground weed is more potent than using the finger to crush the buds. As a result, you use less amount of dried herb to attain the same degree of high. Prolonging the stash is also tantamount to cost savings.
- Time. Sure, using the fingers also works. Grinding the herbs, though, takes half the time.
- Smell & Taste. Ground herbs have better fragrance and flavors. It can certainly enhance the overall experience.
- Potency. You do not lose trichomes that tend to stick to the fingers. Also, ground weed has consistently sized particles and thus has larger surface areas. As a result, the burn is even without canoeing – and the smoke is less harsh too.
- Kief. 4-piece grinders can do a marvelous job of collecting kief. These are the bits of trichomes that separate from the rest of the ground buds. It is the closest you can get to extracting oil without going through the process of using solvents. Highly potent, kief can be used as an additive for just about all methods of consumption – joint or blunt, vape, and more.
How To Use A Weed Grinder?
Using one is a no-brainer. It is so easy to use that there is no excuse for not reaping the benefits of grinding herbs to a consistent quality.
- Remove the lid. Put small pieces of dried buds into the grinding chamber and distribute them evenly. Try to avoid placing the plant material in the center and on the edges.
- Close the lid and rotate between 5 to 10 times – clockwise or counterclockwise. With 2-piece grinders, you can tell if the buds are sufficiently cut by the sound of grinding and the resistance to rotation. If using a 4-piece grinder, then continue until the grinding chamber is empty, all the herb falling through into the second chamber.
- Collecting ground weed is easy and straightforward. For a 2-piece grinder, remove the lid. For a 3-piece grinder, unscrew the bottom chamber. As for a 4-piece grinder, remove the grinding chamber to collect the ground weed and detach the bottom chamber for the kief.
How Do You Clean A Weed Grinder?
Of course, immediately after use or from time to time, you want to clean the weed grinder. Over time, plant matter that remains will decompose, and bacteria starts growing. It goes without saying that microbial growth has the potential to make you feel sick. Also, the sticky resins may clog the holes, making future grindings less efficient.
1. Freezer
The sticky resins and other plant matter in liquid or semi-liquid form make it tough to remove. An easy way to clean the weed grinder is to separate each component and freeze for 30 to 60 minutes. Once solidified, the plant matter is much easier to dislodge.
Assemble the grinder and give it a good, hard shake. This allows the rest, and most of the particles left to loosen. Open it up to remove, leaving your grinder in near pristine condition.
2. Toothbrush
A toothbrush can do a fantastic job cleaning a dirty weed grinder, and it is cheap too. It works better than – cotton, for example – reaching the tiny nooks and crannies on the metal teeth. If you are using a 4-piece grinder, then a toothbrush can help you clean the mesh screen. You do have to be careful and apply only a gentle force so as not to damage the mesh.
You can also use brushes too. Some of the ones that work well are round painting brushes.
3. Hot Water and Detergent
Freezing and using a toothbrush is not working. What else can you do? A tried and tested method is to use water.
Disassemble the grinder and soak into hot water and detergent. After some time, remove one by one and clean thoroughly. Be sure to give it a final rinse to ensure that there are no leftover residues of soap.
4. Alcohol
When all else fails, and you have a desire to make the weed grinder look brand new, then try the alcohol method. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is suitable for this task.
The first option is to dab a q-tip in alcohol and then use it to clean the grinder components – specifically, in the problematic areas.
Another option is to submerge the parts into a bowl filled with alcohol. Soaking is recommended when the gunk has proven to be too stubborn. Once the liquid turns muddy and it seems that most of the leftover plant matter is loose, take out the components and clean.
Notes: Consider the parts of the grinder. In some cases, you may have to use a combination of the provided methods. Plastic (usually acrylic) may melt in alcohol; hence using water is more appropriate. Metal parts, on the other hand, can rust with exposure to water. Alcohol works best for metal.
Where And Which Weed Grinder To Buy?
Buying a weed grinder today is easy – there are a ton of them. It is determining which brand and model that could be more challenging. The cost could be dirt cheap, or insanely prohibitive. Ultimately, you only have to decide based on the value proposition – how much you are willing to pay to receive the promised benefits of a particular item.
For starters, here are some of the best weed grinders in the market today. To be honest, these are only the minority as there are quite frankly too many cost-effective solutions that suit your needs and wallet. Of course, there are many craps – which is why you want to start off with these brands and products.
1. Space Case
Homepage: https://spacecase.com/
Founded two decades ago, this American company specializes in making grinders using milled aircraft-grade aluminum. Generally, all the grinders share the following key features:
- Nylon O-rings for smooth and precise rotation
- Diamond tooth design is as strong and sharp as it gets
- Powerful Neodymium rare earth magnets for superior closure
- Made in the USA
- Available as polished aluminum or black titanium
2-piece Grinders
- Sizes Available: Small 2″ x 0.9″; Medium 2.5″ x 1″; Large 3.5″ x 1.25″
- Price Range: $29.99 to $49.99
3-piece Grinders
- Sizes Available: Medium 2.5″ x 1.6″
- Price Range: $59.99 to $69.99
4-piece Grinders
- Sizes Available: Small 2″ x 1.63″; Medium 2.5″ x 2″; Large 3.5″ x 2.75″
- Price Range: $99.99 to $129.99
Note: The 4-piece grinders also include medical-grade T-316 stainless steel pollen screen and matching radius pollen scraper.
2. Santa Cruz Shredder
Homepage: https://santacruzshredder.com/
One of the several approaches this company took in designing weed grinders is the teeth. They took into consideration that sharp edges require a higher torque to start turning. And, over time, these edges dull with tiny flakes falling off, and mixing into the herb. These bits of particles can be toxic. Hence, they designed a unique thread pattern designed to cut multiple ways (not to slice or crush). Not only is it more efficient and produces better consistency, but these teeth also do not produce burrs or flakes, no metal fatigue.
The grinders come with knurled grip, making it easy to hold and rotate. Like many of the best brands in the world, they use Neodymium Diametrically Magnetized Cylindrical Rare Earth Magnets on the lids. The surface of the shredders is anodized, offering protection from scratches.
Santa Cruz Shredders also claim that their products are the only medical-grade grinders in the world. A big reason for that is using ultrasonic cleansing procedures to eliminate all contaminants during the machining process.
Color options: Black, gold, blue, green, grey, purple, red
2-piece Grinders
- Sizes Available: Small 1-5/8″; Medium 2-1/8″; Large 2-3/4″
- Price Range: $28.50 to $43.50
3-piece Grinders
- Sizes Available: Small 1-5/8″; Medium 2-1/8″; Large 2-3/4″
- Price Range: $49.95 to $74.50
4-piece Grinders
- Sizes Available: Small 1-5/8″; Medium 2-1/8″; Large 2-3/4″
- Price Range: $54.50 to $89.95
For the 4-piece 3 chamber shredders, they use T304 micronic precision woven non-fraying stainless steel screen. These are designed for optimal micron size as opposed to larger openings to create an illusion of gathering more kief. A precise micron size is essential to collecting the purest kief – minimizing, or eliminating impurities.
Other top brands making superb weed grinders are:
How Do You Grind Cannabis If You Cannot Grind?
Manually grinding or using a 2-, 3-, or 4-piece grinder requires you to use your hands and fingers. Not everyone can do that. Some people suffering from hand tremors, fibromyalgia, or other illnesses use cannabis medicinally. The debilitating conditions make it excruciatingly painful to rotate the shredding tool.
The solution is to use an electric weed grinder. Its use, though, is not limited to ailing people. It can also be used to grind a more substantial stash of weed. Not only that, it performs better at producing finely cut herbs than most manually operated grinders – and faster too.
1. Banana Bros.
Homepage: https://bananabros.com/
OTTO is on top of the list of electric weed grinders. It takes shredding dried herbs to a whole new level. Even if the plant matter is moist, sticky, dry, or also full of stems, this tool is going to grind and fill a cone for you.
Key Features:
- Aerospace engineered aluminum milling plates
- O-tube sachet and cone holder
- O-funnel to dispense ground herb into the choice container
- 20 free Banana Bros. premium cone-shaped sachets
- 4-in-1 cleaning tool
- USB charging cable
- Measuring cup
- Snap cap to keep the OTTO clean
- Cost: $129.00
2. Hi-Spec Products
Homepage: https://www.mambagrinders.com/
Mamba Electric Grinder is a simple to use but a versatile tool that can grind just about any herb. It has a powerful motor with a forward/reverse function to grind even hops and hard nuts. About the size of a wine opener, it is nevertheless durable being made of top-grade components and aircraft-grade aluminum.
Key Features:
- 20 times faster grinding time
- Razor-sharp teeth for the perfect grind
- 2 years warranty
- The estimated cost is $19.99
Electric grinders do not necessarily have to be designed from the ground up specifically for cannabis. Some of you may even already have a perfectly suitable mill in the kitchen.
How To Make A Homemade Weed Grinder
If all else fails and you are in a pinch, there are still things you can use to grind the weed better than using your fingers.
1. Cheese Grater
You probably have one lying around in the kitchen. Go ahead, grab a piece of bud and run it over the grater. It is not efficient, but it works – so long as you do it carefully, and avoid injuring your finger.
2. Coffee Grinder And Blender
Either of the two can also come in handy. Before using, make sure to clean first as you do not want non-cannabis debris to mix into the ground weed. Once you start grinding, it takes only a few seconds. Be sure to check and inspect the crushed herbs, making sure not to turn the buds into excessively fine particles.
3. Scissors
Veterans and fans of smoking joints should have no problem using scissors. After all, this is arguably the most common method other than using a proper herb grinder.
4. Knife And Chopping Board
Think of cutting salad. Pick up a chopping board, lay down the bud, hold with your finger, and cut with a knife.
Use A Weed Grinder If You Can
Dried cannabis buds are not exactly cheap. Even if you grew it yourself, think about the weeks of care and nurture. For you to maximize the experience, use a weed grinder – mechanical or electric.
For manual grinders, choose the 4-piece models. The kief collected at the bottom-most chamber can be used to increase the potency when making joints or filling bowls. Electric weed grinders, as you can see, are not so expensive either. So, that is a viable option as well.
Whichever type and brand you choose, remember that the consistency of the shredded herbs makes for an even burn. No canoeing. As a result, the smoke is not only less harsh but also more fragrant and flavorful. Having more surface area that ends up being used, the effects are more powerful, or you could save by using less of the stash to produce the same intensity. The end result is a superb overall experience.
