If you’ve ever got stuck in a situation without a grinder, you’re not alone. Many people forget to pack or don’t want to lug around a 3 piece grinder with them wherever they go, but in fact, a weed grinder is one of the most essential smoking accessories that you’ll ever have in your collection. It’s one of the most important tools and such a time saver that it’s often the very first item purchased by novice cannabis smokers. This is because the even and fine grind obtained by using a 3 piece grinder allows the dry herb to burn smoothly and will drastically improve the overall experience whether you prefer smoking blunts, using a bong or pipe, or smoking from a dry herb vaporizer. Herb grinders come in many different sizes, styles, and materials, so it can be difficult to navigate the various options available. Your herb grinder is going to be put to the test with lots of continued use, so if you’re going to splurge on just one luxury smoking item, it should definitely be a weed grinder! When making your first purchase, you’ll want a 3 piece grinder that has high durability, quality materials, sharp teeth, and any other features that fits your smoking style. Luckily, we’ve done the research and compiled some of the things you’ll need to look for in a good grinder including an explanation about the different types of herb grinders, how to use it and clean it, and why you absolutely need one of these tools in your possession.
Who invented the grinder?
An engineer named Lewis Heim is often credited as inventing the very first grinder in the early 1900s. His centerless grinding machine was designed for breaking down plant material like those used for medicines at the industrial level, but he soon realized a personal version would be useful for smaller scale grinding at apothecaries and pharmacies. These personal-sized accessories were commonly used to crush up medicinal plants. By the 1960s, owning an herb grinder was commonplace for those who smoked cannabis.
What is a 3 piece grinder?
Do you want a 3 piece or 4 piece? No, we’re not talking about your chicken nugget order at McDonalds. We want to know the type of herb grinder you’re looking for! A 3 piece grinder is also called a 3 part grinder or level 3 grinder at smoke shops. As the name suggests, the herb grinder comes apart into three pieces which creates two compartments when put back together. The top piece is the lid, the bottom is the base, and the middle will have sharp teeth for shredding and holes so flower ground to a certain size will fall through into the bottom chamber. All grinders have teeth, which are often in a diamond or pyramid shape to slice through large nugs and chop them up into uniform smokable pieces. Some 3 piece grinders cut in both directions when turning the lid and some styles only cut in one direction.
Do I really need an herb grinder?
Are you thinking to yourself, what can I use instead of a herb grinder? Save yourself the headache and purchase a 3 piece grinder made specifically for weed. Some cheap grinders are very affordable, function decently well for the price, and you’ll never have to deal with sticky fingers again! The point of a grinder is to break up nugs to be smoked without having to use your hands. If you have basic knowledge of the cannabis plant, you’ll know that the flowers are very resinous and sticky. When using your hands to pick apart the flower (or any other method), not only are you creating a gummy mess on your fingers, you’re also damaging the most important part of the plant, the trichomes. The white sugar-like dust that covers a quality nug are called trichomes and they hold the sought-after cannabinoids and terpenes responsible for the strain’s potency, aroma, and flavor. It’s where the most of the THC, CBD, and other beloved cannabis compounds are located. A 3 piece grinder creates the least amount of damage to these plant structures and some styles even have a kief screen and special compartment to capture fallen trichomes so they can be used later. Do you really need a 3 piece grinder? No. Will it make life and your overall experience a whole lot easier? Absolutely!
Types of herb grinders
Not all herb grinders are created equal. There are various types of herb grinders including a 2 piece grinder, 3 piece grinder, 4 piece grinder, grinder cards, and even electric grinders that make the process a breeze. While the type of grinder is really up to personal preference and the features you like most, the material used is also important to keep in mind. For the highest quality and safety, look for an herb grinder made from food grade or medical grade materials such as metal and certain kinds of plastics. These will last longer and won’t shed any particles that may accidentally mix with the flower. When it comes to the teeth, sharpest is better for slicing and dicing easily. Also be sure that the top lid moves smoothly back and forth and that it isn’t too difficult to take a part.
2 piece grinder
The most basic grinder style is a 2 piece. These smoking accessories are cheap and have a lid and bottom that fit together. Cannabis is put in between the two parts and the user turns the top and bottom back and forth to shred it up. The ground dry herb remains in the same compartment it started in. It’s common for new smokers to first purchase a 2 piece grinder because it’s so cheap, but most will typically upgrade to a higher quality 3 piece or 4 piece soon enough. It’s still a good idea to purchase a cheap grinder or two as a backup in case you misplace your main grinder.
3 piece grinder
Both 3 piece grinders and 4 piece grinders often have the advantage of a kief screen. With a kief screen, potent trichomes fall through the screen and are captured in a separate compartment from the rest of the flower. Smokers can then add in the kief to their bowls or joints when they need an extra kick. As noted previously, a 3 piece grinder will have a top lid that turns, a middle piece with sharp teeth and holes, and a bottom compartment. The middle piece normally has the kief screen attached to the bottom of the holes, which allows the trichomes to fall through and keeps the ground flower in the upper compartment that is also where the grinding takes place.
4 piece grinder
Similar to a 3 piece grinder, a 4 piece grinder also has the same features, however as the nugs are broken up, pieces of the right size will fall through the holes into a separate chamber. Where a 3 piece grinder has two compartments, a 4 piece has three. That means there is one chamber for shredding which is where the teeth are, one holds the ground herb, and the third separates out the trichomes. 3 piece grinders and 4 piece grinders are the most common types. They’re usually made with high quality materials like medical grade metals like aluminum, plastic, or wood.
Grinder cards
While other grinders can be bulky, this type is perfect for any smoker who’s constantly on the go and is also one of the most affordable options. Grinder cards are the size of a credit card and slide right into your wallet or pocket, so you’ll always have a grinder with you no matter where you are! This style is usually made from metal or plastic and comes in many different colors and designs. It has holes along the card and works similarly to a cheese grater. Hold a nug firmly in your hand and push it back and forth over the holes to manually grind it up into smaller pieces. You’ll need to use something to catch the flower that falls through the other side. Most smokers have a full-sized grinder at home and use grinder cards as a great secondary grinder for when they light up at the beach or when camping.
Electric herb grinder
The latest innovation in herb grinding technology takes the best of manual herb grinders and removes the human aspect by adding a power source. If you hate the process of breaking up flower or don’t have the dexterity and find it messy, this style of herb grinder is for you! There are many types of electric grinders, both large and small, battery powered and those that require an outlet, and even a few that can both grind and pack a cone with just the push of a button. This high-tech grinder has a wide price range, but the best electric herb grinders often cost a pretty penny. But for those that can’t stand manual grinders and prefer to save their wrists, the price is totally worth it. Yes, some people try to use a coffee grinder or an actual grinder for herbs, but these electric grinders are made specifically for breaking up cannabis and the results are everything and more.
How to use a 3 piece grinder
Now that you know a little bit about the different styles of grinders and how they function, we’ll explain how to use a 3 piece grinder. If you haven’t used an herb grinder before, it’s very simple and doesn’t take any practice whatsoever to achieve a uniform grind that smokes perfectly. The entire grinding process may only take a minute, but it’s an important step in having an amazing smoking experience. With fluffy, even pieces of flower, you’ll be ready to pack a bowl, roll a blunt, or fill up your dry herb vaporizer. All you need is a 3 piece grinder and your favorite cannabis strain.
- Open the lid of the 3 piece grinder and set it to the side. The lid is often held to the rest of the grinder with a small magnet in the center. If you want to keep your space extra tidy, work over a rolling tray. Open up your weed storage jar and choose the amount of dry herb you’d like to grind. Remember that a compressed nug will seem like a lot more flower once it’s ground up. Break apart the nug into smaller pieces that can fit into the top of your 3 piece grinder. Place the pieces in the spaces between the teeth.
- Replace the lid so that the magnet is holding it securely in place. With one hand holding the bottom and one hand on the lid, move the lid back and forth so that the teeth shreds up the flower. You should be able to feel when all the flower is ground up since once it’s the right size, there will be less resistance when you’re turning. You can always open up the lid to check if there are any big pieces left. In other grinders, the herb will fall through the holes into a separate chamber, so you will need to unscrew another compartment to access it. If the pieces of flower look like it’s all the same size, you’re done! Now that the dry herb is broken up to roughly an even size, you’ve got yourself the good stuff and it’s ready to use in your bong or joint.
- To access the trichomes, unscrew the second chamber. The screen sifts the plant material and anything smaller than the size of the screen will fall through to the bottom compartment. Some 3 piece grinders come with a tiny spatula, which is used to scrape out the resinous trichomes from this chamber. Some uses for the trichomes include sprinkling it on the top of a packed bowl, adding it back into a joint or blunt, or rolling the outside of a joint in kief. Keep in mind that it will take some time to collect enough kief to use. The time it takes will depend on how much cannabis you grind.
