Five Tips for Choosing the Right Weed Grinder
Now that it’s been (mostly) unshackled from outmoded laws people have been able to enjoy all the benefits cannabis has to offer. That includes providing relief from a variety of health problems including chronic pain, glaucoma and more, as well as providing countless people a way to relax and unwind from the cares of an increasingly stressful world. But now that you are free to enjoy weed in a responsible way it’s important that you find the right grinder at the headshop that will enable you to get the most from your cannabis experience.
About Weed Grinders
Cannabis can be smoked in its natural state but the process is inefficient and wasteful. You’ll constantly be relighting your herb and a lot of it will either go up in smoke or remain only partially cooked. Fortunately, there’s a way to eliminate that waste and ensure a nice smooth, even smoke: the grinder.
Lots of people have claimed credit for inventing the weed grinder but trying to figure out which claims are legit and which are myth is problematic at best. The only thing we know for sure is that the first patent ever issued for such a device was granted to William Wingfield of Victoria, Australia in 1905.
His device was intended to grind tobacco, but the principle behind the mechanism is the same as that of a weed grinder. Not only that but the technical drawing that accompanied the patent could very well be a drawing of a contemporary weed grinder.
So, because he was first to the patent office, and because his design is still in use today, those of us at the Smoking Buddha smoke shop in Parker are giving Wingfield credit as inventor of the herb grinder. Now let’s look at how to choose the right grinder.
5 Things to Look for When Buying a Weed Grinder
Weed grinders are pretty simple devices. But within that simplicity, there is still room for variations that will have an impact on how the grinder performs and the quality of the finished product. Here are five things to look for when choosing a weed grinder in Parker at the Smoking Buddha smoke shop.
1: Size
The most obvious difference between grinders is their size. Grinders range in size from tiny things that can slip neatly into your pocket, to palm-sized units that will grind a whole lot of weed at once. So when it comes to size you need to ask yourself how much weed do you plan on smoking at any one time?
If you typically only grind up enough for a bowl or two then a mini, or even a “travel-size” grinder should suit your needs. On the other hand, if you’re a party animal and regularly have lots of friends over you might want to go with the industrial-size grinder so you can get all the grinding out of the way before the party starts.
2: Materials
The material you settle on for your weed grinder will affect a lot of things. While plastic grinders are popular and cheap the fact is they’re not really built to last. They’re built to be affordable. Wood grinders are also available and tend to be popular with folks who prefer natural materials. They too, however, are prone to breaking.
The fact is if you want a grinder that’s going to be just as dependable and effective five years after you buy it as it is the day you first bring it home from the local headshop you’ll want one that’s crafted from stainless steel. Not only will it stay sharp and effective, you can drop it off a cliff and it won’t break (of course, you’ll need to find it afterward, but that’s another story).
3: Design
You’ll find 1, 2, three and 4-piece grinders in our smoke shop. They’ve each got their pros and cons and which one is right for you will depend on what you’re looking for: easy cleanup or a comprehensive grind that includes catching the pollen and dust so that it does not go to waste.
The three and four piece grinders each have a separate chamber to catch the ground herb. While with a one or two piece unit the ground weed will stay in the grinding chamber. Ultimately that makes it a little more difficult to extract the ground herb and raises the odds some might go to waste.
4: Build Quality
This harkens back to concerns about materials. Obviously, a plastic grinder is not going to hold up over time like a stainless steel grinder will. Also, the more moving parts you have on your grinder the more important it is that each component is well-made. The threads must be durable and mesh well together and it’s important that the teeth will stand up to repeated use.
5: Your budget
The final consideration when shopping for a weed grinder in our pipe shop will be price. Or maybe this will be the first consideration for some people. But in either case, you should be aware that weed grinders can range in price from less than ten bucks to more than 100 dollars for a top-of-the-line stainless steel unit.
Conclusion
The herb grinder is an indispensable accessory for anyone in Parker who wants to get more from their herb. Properly ground weed will burn cleaner and smoother with less waste and generally better flavor than if you just stuff some buds in the bowl and spark it up.