If you’re an avid connoisseur of herbs, then you probably already know a thing or two about smoking paraphernalia. However, you would be surprised by the number of newcomers who don’t have a clue about which smoking accessories they should own and how those accessories affect the whole smoking experience.
In fact, many people who don’t use smoking accessories are missing out on a bunch of cool experiences, which is why we’re here to guide you through the world of herb grinders and the huge benefits that come included. If you’re looking for a new experience or are just here to figure out the reason as to why you should be using smoking paraphernalia, this article is an excellent resource!
What Is a Herb Grinder?
While the answer to this question may seem obvious to the vast majority of our readers, it’s still a good idea to cover the basics and terminology before diving deeper into the subject. Fortunately, this particular piece of equipment is probably one of the easiest to figure out since its main function is literally its name.
A grinder is a small container full of serrated teeth used for grinding weed into smaller pieces. There are numerous types of grinders out there with different shapes of teeth and multiple chambers, but all of them share the same purpose – grinding nugs of weed into smaller pieces.
Types of Herb Grinders
As mentioned, there are dozens if not hundreds of different grinders out there, but all of them consist of at least three components:
- A chamber
- Teeth for grinding
- A lid
Furthermore, the three most common types of grinders are:
- Two-piece (one chamber)
- Three-piece (two chambers)
- Four-piece (three chambers)
You might be wondering why there are different numbers of chambers and how does that help in the first place, so allow us to break down these types a bit further;
- Two-Piece Grinders (One Chamber)
As one can assume, this is the simplest type of the three. It consists of a small bowl and a lid; therefore – it’s a two-piece, single chamber grinder.
- Three-Piece Grinders (Two Chambers)
Three-piece grinders are slightly more complex than two-piece types simply because they contain an extra chamber. The lid will typically have teeth as well as the bottom part of the bowl. However, underneath the bowl, there is an additional collection compartment in which finely ground weed falls into through the small holes on the bottom part of the bowl.
Once you’re finished grinding, you can unscrew the bottom collection chamber and collect the finely ground weed. Virtually, a three-piece grinder consists of a lid, bowl, and a collection chamber for finely ground stuff.
- Four-Piece Grinders (Three Chambers)
Whether you’re a complete novice or an experienced user, buying a four-piece grinder is typically a good idea. In four-piece grinders, the collection chamber we’ve previously mentioned comes with a mesh instead of a solid bottom. This mesh acts as a sieve and collects what is known as Kief. Kief refers to tiny particles that fall off from ground weed as you continue to grind and agitate the whole contraption.
Why Use a Grinder?
Instead of wondering how to use a herb grinder (it’s really simple!), you should think about why use a grinder in the first place? Can’t you just chop up your weed with scissors? Grind it down with your fingers?
Here are some benefits of using a manual herb grinder:
- The Wonderful Kief
As we briefly mentioned, kief is a rather sought-after byproduct of ground herbs, which is why most people opt to use four-piece grinders. Kief is a more potent part of the plant and is often used by enthusiasts as an additive to everything from bongs to vape pens and blunts.
- The Potency
Scientifically, ground weed offers more potency than unground weed. The reasons for this are:
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- Creates more consistently sized pieces, thus maximizing surface area and making herb easy to burn
- Grinding provides a more even burn and prevents canoeing
- No contact with your hands thus no loss of trichomes (kief)
- Cost-Saving and Time-Saving
Using our new knowledge about the increased potency of ground herbs, we can safely conclude that you’ll need less material to feel the same effects as with unground herbs. In other words, a high-quality stainless steel herb grinder will save you a significant amount of money in the long run. As for the time-saving aspect, the advantage is pretty obvious – it takes much less time to grind up a batch with a grinder as opposed to using your hands or scissors.
- Smell and Taste
This is a somewhat hidden benefit of herb grinders since most people are just looking to get high rather than enjoy their batch’s taste and aroma. However, if you’re a true enthusiast and have some experience in this field, you know how important it is to actually enjoy the smell and taste of your herbs. Grinding them improves the flavor, and at the same time, it adds to your unique experience.
- Effortless Transportation
While you can transport your herbs in a ziploc bag or a small pouch, that requires some work. Instead of having to hassle with bags and pouches, you can just transport your herbs in the grinder. Since it has a lid and will typically not fall apart on its own, a grinder is probably the best alternative to ziploc bags and pouches. Even though this is more a matter of personal preferences rather than being a massive benefit of owning a grinder, we strongly recommend you to try this form of transportation. You’ll even save the planet by not using plastic!
A Few Tips and Advice on Buying the Right Herb Grinder
Now that you have a bit of insight into the benefits of having a grinder, it’s time to look into some useful tips and tricks you can use to find the perfect model for yourself.
- Avoid the Cheap Stuff
The reason why you should avoid cheap stuff is pretty apparent – it’s just not worth the hassle. You could indeed find a plastic grinder for a few bucks, but it’s not going to provide the same grinding quality as a premium grinder. It could offer enough for your needs, but adding a couple of bucks into the equation will significantly improve your experience.
- Opt for Aluminum, Zinc, or Steel
If you’re looking for a good experience, we strongly recommend getting a grinder made of metal. Whether it’s aluminum, zinc, or steel is not crucially important, but make sure it’s made of durable materials. If you’re wondering, “where can I find the best smoking accessories near me?” visit our store, and we’ll be more than happy to help you find the best grinder for the best price!
Leave us a comment and tell us something about your favorite type of herb grinders! If you’d like to know more about smoking accessories, industry news, and ways to store and use your favorite herbs, don’t hesitate to read some of our other articles!