Whether you smoke herbs, blunts, pipes, or bongs, a grinder should be a part of your arsenal. It's not only among the tools that make you look like a pro and become the envy of all your friends. It also intensifies the smoking sessions and minimises wastage.
What is a Grinder?
Grinders don't get much air time compared to the other smoking devices, but they are just as essential. The grinder is a small container with teeth that are used for chopping the herb into smaller pieces. Some grinders have multiple chambers and a kief holder that ensures you get the most out of your herb.
Parts of a Grinder
A grinder is a very simple device. It has at least three components. There are more advanced types, as you will see later on, that have more components. The three primary components are:
- The grinding chamber
- The teeth or pegs that do the actual grinding
- A lid to keep everything contained.
Types of Grinders
The three most common types of grinders are:
- The two-piece grinder – The two-piece grinder is made up of a small bowl and a lid. This type of grinder is also called the single chamber because it has a single compartment where all the action takes place. This type of grinder is perfect for newbies or on-the-road smokers who want something lightweight and portable.
- Three-piece grinder – This is also called the two-chamber grinder. One chamber has the teeth or pegs, and there's a second chamber that holds the ground buds. This type of grinder has a lid, grinding bowl and collection chamber – three pieces.
- Four-piece grinder – This grinder has four pieces, the lid, the grinding bowl, collection chamber and kief chamber. In total, it has three chambers. The last chamber collects the finest material (kief) and the topmost chamber has the larger material like buds.
How to Use a Grinder
Now that you know the parts of the grinder and the different types of grinders in the market let's look at how you should use the grinder.
Just like the concept of the grinder, using the device is straightforward, using these simple steps:
- Load the grinder – Remove the lid from the grinder to expose the compartment with the teeth. Use your fingers to break the buds into smaller pieces. Pack the broken-down buds into the grinding chamber. Do not put anything in the middle of the grinder. This is where everything gravitates, so you need it to be free. Anything placed in the centre won’t get ground.
- Grind – Replace the lid. Hold the bottom of the grinder with one hand and rotate the lid counterclockwise. Initially, you will feel some resistance. Give some muscle until the resistance disappears.
- Tap the grinder – This step is important, especially if the grinder has a kief catcher. Once you're done grinding, tap the grinder against the table or the palm of your hand. This will dislodge the herbs into the collection chamber, and it also pushes more kief through the screen.
- Collect your cannabis – Separate the chambers and scoop out the newly ground herb. If you’re using a four-piece grinder, be cautious not to damage the screen. You can then take the ground herb for use.