What is a Weed Grinder and Why are They Essential?

A weed grinder is one of those items you don’t think about all that much. But, if the time comes that you’re without one in time of need, you realize just how important they can be. 

Not only are they an essential part of any weed kit, but they’re also essential for actually smoking and enjoying your weed! If you’re still busting up your bud by hand or with a pair of scissors, allow us to enlighten you on the merits of using one, which one you should get and how to one! 

What is a Weed Grinder?

While the grinder is not flashy and doesn’t get much attention, it deserves much more. 

These simple devices make grinding weed a breeze – and if you have ever busted up buds by hand, you’ll know just how tiresome it is. 

Even the best weed is useless if you can’t get it ready to be smoked. A weed grinder is one of those items in life that you don’t fully appreciate until you have to manage without one. 

Thankfully, these devices are affordable and accessible to all nowadays. But what are they, anyway? 

Grinders are smoking accessories designed to grind weed into coarser, finer pieces. 

For a joint or a bong bowl to burn smoothly, the weed inside must be uniformly sized with maximum surface area. The more surface area the weed has, the more even the burn. 

After all, there’s a reason why we grind up weed before smoking it! Without sufficient surface area, the weed won’t have enough space to go through decarboxylation properly, the process that “activates” weed. 

Herb Grinder Options

Weed grinders come in all shapes and sizes. Some grinders have more parts and more chambers. The most commonly used designs involve are

• 2-piece grinder – two chambers with grinding teeth
• 3- piece grinder – three chambers – one with teeth, one for collecting bud, and one for catching kief. 

In the two-chamber design, ground weed falls from the main chamber into the second lower chamber. The size of the holes impacts the consistency of the final product. Two or three-chamber designs make for the best weed grinders in most cases.

With the three-chamber design, a further layer of filtering is included. You’ll find a third lower chamber, often called a kief-catcher or pollen catcher. 

Between the second and third chambers, you’ll find a fine mesh screen or filter. 

As weed falls from the first to the second chamber, this fine filter lets small particles through. The result is a fine powder called kief. 

There are many instances of stoners not realizing that their grinder has this chamber – when they finally open it up, they find it overflowing with kief! 

Kief, also known as the dried trichomes from the cannabis plant, is a potent powder packed with THC. Kief can be added during the joint-rolling process, on top of a bong bowl, or collected and compacted into hash if you’re patient enough.  The option to collect kief alone often warrants shelling out a bit extra for a three-piece grinder. 

How to Use a Grinder

When it comes to weed slang, there are some odd terms out there. 

That said, sometimes, the name perfectly describes the product. The grinder is a fantastic example, as it tells you exactly what they do. 

You may also call it a busker. Many stoners have spent at least some hours debating about why one term is better than the other. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about it. Whatever you call these weed-grinders, we’re going to learn how to use them.

No matter the design of your grinder, the first steps are the same. 

Place your bud inside the main chamber (the one with teeth) and close the grinder. 

Next, spin the two parts in opposite directions to grind the bud. Spin the parts to grind your weed until you it’s reached your desired consistency. 

One important note: the more bud you put inside, the harder it will be the break the herb apart. If you have issues with your grip or hand strength, consider less versus more for each grind. Moreover, larger grinders are easier to hold and spin than smaller ones.

What you do next depends on your grinder. 

If you have a one-chamber design, all you need to do is reopen the grinder and pour out the final product. 

With two-chamber designs, you open the second chamber and empty it. In this case, you don’t have to worry as much about whether all the weed has been ground, as it remains in the first chamber.

What about three-piece grinders? 

Herb grinders with a kief-catcher make for a special treat. As kief catchers collect the potent power, you can use it in an assortment of ways. 

Combine kief with some regular bud in joints, pipes, or bongs to increase the potency. Adding some kief creates a potent punch that can make for an extra enjoyable experience! 

How to Clean a Weed Grinder

The cleaner your grinder stays, the longer it will last.  Maintaining smooth movement between the parts of your herb grinders is essential for ensuring it’ll last. 

How often you need to clean will depend on how much you use your grinder and the design. 

What You Need to Clean a Grinder

Here is what you need to clean your herb grinders:     

• A tray   
• A towel (one you don’t mind getting dirty)   
• Isopropyl alcohol  
• A clean brush (toothbrush or others)
• A toothpick
• Clean water
• A plate or bowl
• Ziploc bag or equivalent
• Your dirty grinder (completely emptied)

Getting Ready to Clean Your Weed Grinders

Gather up all your supplies before you get started. Once you have everything, make sure you have a good spot to do your cleaning. 

Avoid using surfaces that your grinder or cleaning supplies could damage, and be sure to use your tray as needed.

An important consideration for weed grinders with a kief chamber is not wasting any of it. This valuable powder should be preserved and not washed away. You can clean it out and store the kief in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place.

How to Clean a Grinder

Step 1: Disassemble your grinder – now is the time to take the time to save any extra kief or bud you find inside. After preserving any leftovers, place the parts on your tray.

Step 2: Place your grinder pieces in the Ziploc bag and fill it with isopropyl alcohol. Put enough inside to cover the parts without overfilling the bag. Leave the parts to soak for 20-30 minutes – agitating the bag every once in a while

Step 3: After you’ve waited long enough, take out one part while leaving the rest inside the bag. This way, you can start with the cleanest piece and leave the others to soak longer. 

Use your brush or toothbrush to scrub the part completely clean. Set the part aside and move on to the next. Overall, this is the most important part, so get comfortable and take your time to get it right.

Step 4: Use clean water (warm water works best) to rinse the pieces once they are all clean. Ensure all the alcohol and cannabis residue is washed away. You may notice a need to jump back to step 3, and that’s ok. 

Afterward, dry the parts using your towel.

Grind Your Weed, Not Your Gears

There you have it. You now know everything you need to know about using and cleaning grinders! 

While you might not have thought of weed grinders as being much more than a handy accessory, we hope that this article has helped to change your mind. Grinding weed without one can be a frustrating, gear-grinding experience, and not one you want to go through before enjoying a nicely rolled joint!

If you don’t already have one, we highly encourage you to go out and buy to make your weed rolling and weed experience better!