How Does a Weed Grinder Work?

Whether you infuse your marijuana into edibles, you vape or smoke, preparing your buds first with the help of a grinder will make the most out of your overall experience. Definitely, the marijuana grinder is one of the few essential tools every cannabis consumer needs to have. 

If you’re new to the weed world, you probably have a few questions about what weed grinders are, how they work, and why you would want to use one. This is an in-depth guide on grinders which will teach you the basics you need to know about marijuana grinders to get you started.

A grinder is a device used to make the process of grinding marijuana faster and simpler. It helps grind nugs into fine pieces that most users prefer for rolling joints and blunts. 

The classic cannabis grinders are palm-sized cylindrical-shaped looking tools consisting of metal teeth that are revealed once you separate the two interlocking halves, top and bottom. These teeth are designed to shred and cut dried cannabis into small bits.

Sometimes called “bud grinders,” herb grinders come commonly in Three-piece designs, including a grinding chamber, a lid and teeth or pegs for grinding. Four-Piece designs make it easier to remove your dry herb after it’s been ground since they come with additional chambers and screens.

Grinders can be ordered online in a wide variety of colors, materials and design. They can also be purchased at almost every smoke store or head shop. 

Breaking up a large amount of weed is much faster and cleaner thanks to grinders. Investing in a good herb grinder offers several advantages even if  some cannabis consumers are too tempted to use their hands to pull apart and grind their marijuana.

Using your hands to break up marijuana results in irregular sized pieces leading to uneven heating or burning. Conversely, a grinder is designed to shred dry marijuana flowers into an uniform consistency every time due to its carefully placed teeth.

Marijuana grinders are also set to separate and collect kief from your herbs. Dry herb consumers value kief’s high concentration of active botanical compounds, so its an added benefit to have a kief catcher. This allows you to collect kief in the bottom of your grinder and later add it to your joint, edible recipe, vaporizer or pipe. 

Another disadvantage when using your hands is that it is almost impossible to catch the kief that falls off the bud while pulling it apart. These small bits of cannabinoid and terpene packed trichomes will end up everywhere because when you use your hands, the kief becomes a sticky resin on your fingers due to friction.

Weed grinders improve the effectiveness of your vaping, smoking, or cooking sessions and save you money preventing any unintended loss of marijuana.  They also preserve the integrity of your weed as hands transmit natural skin oils causing deterioration of the resin left on your herb.

Step 1: Open the top lid. Only if necessary, use your fingers to break bigger chunks up and place them in between the grinder’s teeth and not the edges of the grinding bowl. It is useless to put any nugs directly in the center since this is where the magnet pivots are. Nothing in the center will get shredded.

Step 2: Put the top of the grinder back on and give it about 10 rotations clockwise or counterclockwise. Do it until all the bud falls through the holes or the grounded herb is your ideal consistency. Now remove the top and hit it gently against the grinder’s side to loosen up any sticky pieces stuck in the teeth.

Step 3: Unscrew the chamber with the teeth to reveal the basket layer with your freshly ground cannabis inside. You are now ready to load it into your pipe, vaporizer, or blunt.

Step 4: Scrape some out of the kief you have collected in the bottom-chamber, with a piece of paper or the scraping-tool provided. Remember you can sprinkle kief into your pipe bowl or your vaporizer for more powerful natural effects, or save it for something else later. 

Note: Over time you will notice that your grinder's rotating motion might become more difficult. This means it is in need of cleaning. Use warm water and a cleaning solution made of isopropyl alcohol and salt to rub the grinder pieces and get rid of the stickiness. Brush any loose dry herb or kief from the screen with a clean toothbrush or beard brush.

The three-part weed grinders are very popular among marijuana users, having both a chamber for your freshly ground herbs, and a chamber to store your kief as well. Weed grinders come in many different sizes and different types. Depending on the store, you can find small weed grinders, large weed grinders, plastic weed grinders, and even automatic weed grinders that also roll a joint for you in the mean time. Herb grinders come in four different types of materials: plastic, metal, wood, and stone. Let's look at these and other types of grinders.  

A plastic grinder is commonly viewed as a low quality type and usually bought for a modest price when it is an emergency. The teeth and body are usually made from plastic. This low-cost option tends to wear out and break easily.  Plastic processors are not intended to last for an extended period. 

Metal grinders are more durable than plastic grinders and are more adept at getting the job done. That is why the metal grinder is the number one  choice for grinding up weed. This type of grinder is usually made from aluminum to facilitate cleaning. Metal grinders are durable and as a result are able to break down cannabis perfectly no matter how dense the buds are. The KLIP, is an example of a metal grinder that is particularly effective, with a magnetic design that makes grinding cannabis effortless. 

A stone grinder a very niche-type of grinder and is uncommon. Its teeth are made from a sturdier stone or metal. While these grinders are beautiful to look at, they can be heavy, and gunk up easily making them less functional over time. 

The wooden grinder, like a stone grinder, is more durable than plastic, but also not built for the long-haul. Typically, the teeth are narrow and made from aluminum, making them stronger than a grinder of stone. It can be harder to clean a wood grinder as having it wet causes the wood to warp, making the grinder useless.

For individuals with arthritis, these types of grinders can be helpful.The weak point of crank type grinders is that it is very easy for the cranks to fall off. Usually, a crank grinder is made of aluminum. When the consumer needs to grind their herbs, they simply turn the crank and unscrew the grinder to access the herb.

Electric grinders can provide a less physical experience. However, convenience points are reduced by the fact that it needs to remain plugged in or charged. Thus, it is not a particularly portable option.