Anyone that takes weed-smoking seriously knows the value of a good grinder. They come in different shapes and sizes and give you so much control over the final product that you add to your pipe. You want to know how to use a weed grinder if you want proper granulation and to make smokable weed without causing a mess. There is quite a lot to know about grinders, and we will address as much of it here as possible.
So, what is a weed grinder? It is a tool that smokers use for grinding weed before smoking that comes in different designs. We have them as single chamber, two-chamber, and three-chamber designs. The main components are the lid, chamber, and blades, and they are available in various materials.
The top lid houses the blades and rotates to break the weed down into the required consistency. Some grinders have several sets of blades presented on the lid and the chamber, so you can choose depending on what suits your needs. Just like with knives, sharper blades do a better job.
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Types of Grinders
These are the three known types:
- Single-chamber
- Two-chamber
- Three-chamber
Single-chamber Grinder
As the name suggests, this one has one chamber on the lid that cuts your weed into smaller pieces. There are no bells and whistles, so it is cheap and easy to use. This one is ideal for those that simply want to cut their weed for personal use.
Two-chamber Grinder
If you prefer fine-grained weed, you may want to get this type as it gives you better control of your product, especially if you want smooth rolled joints and brownies. It has a collection of blades and chambers so that the freshly cut weed falls into the second compartment after the first cut. Though they are fancier than their single-chambered counterparts, they are not complicated.
Three-chamber Grinder
They are quite complicated because they have two chambers and a third component will holes that act as sieves. Once the weed in grinder is chopped, it drops into the second base, but a finer grade called “Kief” falls into the third part called the Kief Chamber, and at this point, the components are pollen fine.
Benefits of Ground Weed
If you wonder why someone would choose a weed grinder over their own fingers, here are some reasons:
Saves Time
Since they are small, you can take them anywhere. It also takes you less time to grind a bud than it would with your hands. You do not want to waste any product in this economy, and having a grinder ensures all the little crumbs are saved and placed where they belong.
Improves Potency
When you chop buds with your hands, you leave most of the trichomes in your hands, depriving your smoke of most of its cannabinoids. None of this happens when you use a grinder, so you can count on higher highs.
Preserves Taste and Smell
Smaller pieces of weed will allow it to burn consistently and lead to a pleasant smell, which is part of the experience. Larger chunks may not smell as good as they burn. The taste also improves with a better burn.
How to Grind Marijuana
There are three components to grinding weed: loading, grinding, and extraction.
Loading
Cut the bud into smaller sizes and load it into the grinder after opening the lid. You want to place it on the blades so they don’t struggle too much pulling it into the center of the action, and at the same time, you want to put just enough not to overload them.
Grinding
Now, you can close the lid and start the work. You will tell whether it is placed properly or not by the way the lid closes. You may want to keep opening and repositioning your buds to ensure each gets the attention of the blades.
Extraction
You want to tap the sides to remove any stuck weed before opening the lid. Just like that, you are ready to roll those blunts with your fine product.
What to Use Instead of a Grinder
If you do not have a grinder but still want potent weed, you can use other tools in the house. Coffee and pepper grinders, a pestle and mortar, a pizza cutter, a cheese grater, a simple knife and chopping board, and a hammer with a paper bag are tools you can easily find in the house. You may not get your Kief – that you can roll the surface of your joint over for an even stronger kick or add to weed butter – but you will still achieve a better product than you would if you crushed those buds with your hands.
A Buying Guide for Weed Grinders
Here are some bits of wisdom if you are planning to buy a grinder:
- You may want to choose Aluminum and Zinc for longevity.
- Stainless steel will neither corrode nor lose sharpness, so it’s your best bet for blades.
- You get finer granulation with repeated rotation, and it might take you a while you figure out the best granulation level.
- Grinders with the greatest number of blades are the best, especially when you want to achieve the desired level of finesse for edibles.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself if you cannot collect any Kief initially. Even seasoned smokers struggle to get meaningful qualities.
Conclusion
We hope you know more about grinding weed than you did before reading this article. We also hope the alternatives make sense to you if you are not settled on a grinder yet. Marijuana is enjoyable when it has the desired effect on your body, so we hope you remember to go slow at the beginning as you learn about your body and its reactions.
Also Read: The Important Questions You Should Ask the Vet About CBD