Weed grinders are the most efficient way to turn buds into grinds, but choosing a weed grinder can seem like a daunting task if you don’t know how to start. There are a number of key things to consider when deciding how to choose a weed grinder.
What are the options of weed grinders?
Manual grinders typically come in two basic formats and several configurations:
Card Weed Grinders
Card weed grinders are flat, credit-card sized grinders that work something like a cheese grater. You hold the card and drag the bud across a cutting surface to create grounds.
The best card weed grinders have more than one sized, sharp cutting notches (not just holes), a large grinding surface (not just a logo) and the cream of the crop are ergonomically designed.
Multi-Piece Weed Grinders
Multi-piece weed grinders typically work by placing buds into the cutting teeth, placing the lid on top and twisting the lid to grind the buds. Variations include:
- 2-piece – a lid that fits onto a set of grinding teeth. Grinds have to be removed from the teeth by dumping, tapping or scraping out.
- 3-piece – adds a collection layer to the 2-piece configuration.
- 4-piece – adds a pollen/keef screen to the 3-piece variation to keep dusty bits out of your grinds and store the keef for future. If you don’t want to store keef, the lower layer can also be used as a secondary storage layer.
Metal multi-piece weed grinders should have a strong magnetic lid, this is far less cumbersome than any other means of opening, closing and operating the grinder.
What size of weed grinder do you need?
While any size of grinder can get the job done with enough rounds of grinding, choosing a size that meets your typical rolling preferences will help you be efficient with your elbow grease.
If you like rolling large cones or large blunts a 4-piece grinder with a 2.5”+ diameter can handle a fairly large amount of bud in one fill. Larger sizes bring some extra weight and bulk but may help you do large jobs in one go.
If you prefer your joints on the ‘average’ size (in rolling papers or pipes), a 2 or 4-piece grinder with a 1.5” to 2.5” diameter is perfect. This will give you some flexibility on how much you grind and get the job done well.
If you prefer exact control over the amount of ground weed you create and how fine it is, we recommend a grinder card with multiple-sized grinding notches. These work great without the bulk of a larger unit while also letting you easily see how much weed you’ve ground up immediately.
Where are you grinding your weed?
If you’re looking for a grinder that stays at home, a multi-piece grinder is probably your best choice. They’re heavier than a card but give you greater options to sort and store excess grinds.
If you’re taking your kit on the road or don’t care about displaying or storing a lager unit, a grinder card is an excellent option. It may not be as quick and easy as the multi-piece but they fit just about anywhere including a wallet, pocket or purse.
How often do you use your weed grinder?
Grinding cannabis generates resin which can build up over time, become sticky and make grinding more difficult.
Metal grinders are more durable than other materials and better grinders come with small tools to help clean between uses and instructions for deeper cleaning.
If you grind often and/or use weed that is more resinous or wet, consider grinders with a ceramic coating. Ceramic coated grinders offer a non-stick surface that makes for smooth grinding and very simple cleanup. It’s the same material used in ceramic coated cookware where it has become incredibly popular thanks to its lack of metallic components or any of the bad stuff found in older non-stick coatings.
What material is best for a weed grinder?
Aluminum alloys are by far the most popular type of grinder and for good reason. The teeth can be made very sharp when properly designed and the grinders are lightweight and durable. They can be made in a variety of colours and shades and some, like the iivy soft-touch even have silicone outer coverings for a nice feel in the hand and high aesthetic appeal.
Ceramic coated grinders are usually made from the same aluminum alloy but with a ceramic coating on the interior and exterior surfaces. The process typically requires a single exterior/interior colour but they have added durability and are very low maintenance.
Stainless steel grinders are much more expensive and very heavy even in the smallest sizes. Stainless steel is a good material but their weight, cost, lack of colours and little difference in performance make them less practical and less popular.
Plastic grinders are cheap and lightweight but the big tradeoff is a lack sharpness and durability. You’ll likely need to use more effort and/or multiple rounds of grinding and they won’t last anywhere near as long as metal grinders.
Wood grinders look nice but they can quickly become gummed up with resin, are harder to clean and the wood is prone to warping over time rendering them ineffective.