One of the most essential tools for an immaculate cannabis smoking experience is an herb grinder. A grinder is used to manually grind dry herb into ground materials that makes the job of rolling a joint or packing a bowl so effortless and seamless. There are many grinders to choose from, and are categorized by the amount of pieces a grinder has. There are simple two piece grinders and three piece grinders, while a 4 piece grinder provides extra features for your smoking needs over other grinders. A 4 piece herb grinder is an advanced grinder, usually higher quality than most, that can provide more storage and an easy system for holding pollen so you don’t waste any part of your favorite bud. A 4 piece grinder makes your life easier in more ways than one and can help tremendously in the prepping process.
Are 4-piece grinders good?
All grinders can be considered “good”, but what makes a 4 piece grinder stand out from other grinders is the additional features that come with the extra compartments. The best grinders usually offer a different experience that can produce some of the best finely shredded cannabis for the ultimate smoking experience. The durability of a 4 piece grinder makes it a wise purchase as an avid cannabis user, and typically lasts for several years so you will never have to worry about going without some fluffy weed to smoke after a long day.
How do you use a 4-piece grinder?
It is fairly simple to use a grinder and a 4-piece herb grinder is no different. Using a 4 piece grinder is just like using any other grinder but you have additional compartments and a magnetic lid that keeps herbs inside the piece grinder for easy grinding. A 4 piece grinder is one of the best grinder accessories to have because you can stay organized without the risk of lost product. With sharp teeth blades and a place to store mass amounts of herbs, a 4 piece grinder is more than worth the investment and a breeze to get the hang of learning how to use it. Here is how to use a 4 piece grinder:
- Place your nugs of herbs into the grinder and push it into the teeth. Keep in mind to start filling your nugs of herbs around the outer part of the grinder teeth and doing your best to avoid piling up herbs in the middle. When herbs are put into the middle of a grinder it can often jam up or get stuck with the consistent twisting motion.
- To grind your nugs of herbs, twist and rotate the grinder lid several times. The more you rotate and twist the grinder, the more finely ground your herbs will result in. Pro tip: the best joints and easiest bowls to smoke are when finely ground herb is used.
- Twist off the middle section or the bottom half of the grinder teeth. When you do this, you should see the amount of cannabis you’ve put into the grinder like little fluffy clouds of greenery.
- On 4 piece grinders there is a kief catcher and usually a scraper that is included to collect pollen from the screen between multiple sessions of grinding cannabis.
- Pour out your weed onto any blunt wrap, joint papers or scoop into a bowl for a nice and luxurious bong rip.
Parts of a grinder
To know how to use a 4-piece grinder, you will have to learn all of its parts and how it functions together as a whole. A 4-piece grinder is called this because an herb grinder contains four pieces. Each piece is a medium that plays a pivotal role in cultivating an easy cannabis user experience. The following pieces are explained further in detail so you can take full advantage of how to properly use a 4-piece grinder.
Magnetic Lid
Any herb grinder 4 piece refers to the magnetic lid as a piece since it helps to enclose the herb grinder and keep it closed. A magnetic lid has a luxurious feel to add to the high quality build of the entire grinder and feels good to hold in your hand while feeling extra secure at the same time. A magnetic lid helps to keep everything intact and protects the grinding chamber from spilling out any ground materials. A magnetic seal is very useful to have whether traveling with an herb grinder or placing it on your coffee table, offering a nice visual appearance that smoothly uncovers your favorite weed strain that is ready to be smoked!
Grinding chamber
The two pieces that sit underneath the magnetic lid make up the grinding chamber, which is where all of the magic happens. The grinder chamber has teeth that are used to break up nugs of weed into finely shredded ground materials that can then be used for rolling into a joint or packing a bowl for a bong rip. This is one of the most important parts of a grinder because it provides the fine herb material that smokes more evenly and smoothly.
Kief catcher
The fourth piece that is on the opposite end of the magnetic lid, is the kief catcher. This is a compartment that twists off from the grinder chamber as it catches the excess weed that turns into a fine powder that is known as kief or pollen. Kief is the best part of your bud and can really send your next smoking session over the top. Quick pro tip: let your kief or pollen accumulate over time and when you have a lot of kief you can simply sprinkle over a joint or bowl. Kief contains a lot of THC as it derives directly from the trichome parts of a weed plant so it will amplify your smoking experience more than any simple grounded herb could.
Types of weed grinders
There are many types of weed grinders that are made out of different materials. While a 4 piece grinder is one of the best grinder options around, there are other grinder types to choose from if a 4 piece grinder setup is not your style. There are 2 piece grinders, 3 piece grinders, and 5 piece grinders that might suit you better depending on your smoking needs. Rule of thumb is that the more pieces in a grinder, the less waste so based on reviews it is best to invest in quality herb accessories if you are wanting to use it for long periods of time. The following are various types of grinder materials but know that in this industry new inventions of products are created everyday so the possibilities are endless.
Plastic grinders
Probably one of the least expensive grinder options, plastic grinders can usually be found in many gas stations, dispensaries and tobacco stores. While plastic grinders are not the best choice when wanting to use a grinder for a long time, it is an excellent option if you need to use it a few times or when you are in a pinch. For example, if you are traveling to a state where weed is legal, you can purchase a cheap plastic grinder to use for the duration of your trip before recycling or discarding once you are about to leave your visited destination. This is a great choice for those that are on vacation or split their time in different places and just need a simple and reliable grinder to depend on when they are in town.
Metal grinders
One of the most, if not the most durable, metal grinders are one of the most reliable and thoughtfully made grinders available on the market. Metal grinders can be made of different types of metal materials which also come with different price tag tiers as well. Metal grinders can become quite expensive but often last pretty much for a lifetime so if you are looking to invest in a durable grinder then a metal material option is the best choice. Metal grinders usually do not come very cheap so do your search on reviews so you know exactly what to expect in a metal grinder.
Wooden grinders
Another popular option for a grinder are wooden grinders. This is often made with attractive wooden materials that are handcrafted and very unique. Wooden grinders feel very nice and have more of a custom made vibe to it, however it can be quite difficult to clean especially over long periods of time. A wooden grinder is definitely a nice option to have when wanting a luxurious experience, but they also cost a pretty penny and might not be the easiest to maintain in the long run.
How to clean a 4 piece grinder
Knowing how to clean a 4 piece grinder is the same as cleaning any other grinder, with the addition of parts that can take a little more time to clean. Depending on the material of the grinder is what you will use to clean it, so please make sure you know which cleaning solutions are compatible with the material of your grinder.
You will need to clean your grinder regularly if you would like it to function properly over long periods of time. Take into account that anything you want to last a long time needs to be taken care of, and a grinder is no different. In order to clean a grinder, you will need the following:
- Cleaning solution (store bought or made from home)
- Dirty grinder
- Scrubbing brush (toothbrush is fine)
- Cotton swabs
- Paper towels
- Zip tie bag
For the cleaning solution, feel free to use any store bought products that are specifically made for cleaning bongs and other smoking accessories. If you do not have access to a reputable brand or do not want to wait for one you ordered online, a quick fix can be made with isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. This solution is used to clean bongs and other accessories so you can clean everything at once if that makes things easier on you.
While this step is optional, a lot of times it is detrimental to a good cleaning. You should put a grinder into the freezer, all parts separated. You should do this prior to cleaning your grinder because take into account the stickiness of your buds - this makes it difficult to clean at times, so freezing it for about 5-10 minutes will help the remaining weed to be easily shaken out before giving it a good rinse and scrub.
After removing the remnants of your herbs, put the grinder into a zip tie bag and pour the cleaning solution over it. You will want to tie up the bag and give it a good shake so that the solution can be dispersed evenly throughout the grinder pieces. The coarse salt helps to scrub off the hard parts of the grinder and the scrubbing brush assists in finishing the job. Cotton swabs are used at the very end to wipe clean any corners and parts of the teeth that are hard to get with a brush, and before you know it you will have a squeaky clean grinder that looks brand new and ready to use.
Best 4 piece grinders
The best 4 piece grinders will grind your herbs, hold them securely and even save some pollen for a future joint or bowl. Durable with sharp teeth, made from reliable quality materials and meant to last for quite a bit, grinders exist to make life as a stoner that much easier. Grinders are easy for shipping and will be at your door in no time, ready to grind up some quality buds for you and friends to smoke on. A 4 piece grinder is easy to hold between your fingers, has a solid build and sharp teeth that will chop and filter only the best herbs. Remember the most solid grinders are made from aircraft grade aluminum or similar materials and take this into account before purchasing a grinder for your next smoke session.
