a grinder is one of the few things worth spending a little more on. a good one grinds evenly, turns smoothly and lasts years. the choice comes down to how many pieces, what it's made of, and how big.
- 2-piece is grind and go. 4-piece collects kief.
- anodised aluminium is the one to buy if you want it to last.
- clean it every few weeks and it'll keep turning smoothly.
how many pieces
| pieces | what's inside | good for |
|---|---|---|
| 2-piece | lid and teeth. you tip it straight out. | quick, small amounts. |
| 3-piece | adds a chamber the ground herb drops into. | tidier, easier to empty. |
| 4-piece | adds a screen and a kief catcher at the bottom. | everything, if you want the kief. |
what it's made of
zinc alloy
cheaper and heavier, but softer. can flake over time.
acrylic
see-through and easy to replace. teeth wear faster. No.1 magnetic acrylic grinder.
wood or hemp
nice to hold. soaks up smell and needs a gentler clean.
cleaning it
- freeze it for an hour. the resin goes brittle and the kief tips out more easily. brush it out.
- take the rubber ring off before any soaking.
- soak metal parts in isopropyl alcohol for 20 to 30 minutes, then scrub with a soft toothbrush.
- rinse and dry completely before you put it back together.
not acrylic. alcohol can cloud and crack acrylic. warm soapy water and a brush instead.
when to replace it
flaking or chipped teeth, colour coming off, threads that don't catch, or a torn screen. any of those and it's time.
the short of it
4-piece anodised aluminium if you want one grinder for years. acrylic 2-piece if you want cheap and simple. freeze, soak and dry it every few weeks either way.
