How to Use a Grinder

Open the grinder, put flower in the chamber, close the lid, and twist 5 to 10 turns. Open the lid. Ground flower sits in the lower chamber or falls through the holes. Tap it onto a tray or paper. A 2-piece grinder keeps the flower in the top half. A 4-piece grinder drops it through holes into a middle chamber and catches fine resin glands, called kief, in a bottom screen section.

What You Need

  • Grinder with a lid and teeth
  • Dried cannabis flower, stems and seeds removed
  • Rolling tray or rolling paper
  • Small brush and 91 percent isopropyl alcohol for cleaning

Steps

  1. Break buds into pieces about the size of a pea. Take out stems and seeds.
  2. Fill the chamber about half full. That is 0.3 grams to 0.5 grams.
  3. Close the lid. Press down if the grinder has a press top.
  4. Twist the top 5 to 10 turns. Stop when the lid moves with little resistance.
  5. Open the lid and check the texture. Twist 2 or 3 more turns for a finer grind.
  6. Empty the ground flower onto a tray or paper. Use the brush for the corners.
  7. Close the grinder and store it in a dry place for the next session.

How Much to Load

Half full is the limit. A packed chamber compacts flower into the teeth and stops rotation. One gram of bud grinds into about 0.9 grams of usable flower because stems and leaf matter stay behind. A standard joint holds 0.5 grams to 0.7 grams of ground flower.

Grind Size by Method

Joints and blunts

Use a medium grind, roughly the texture of dried oregano. Fine dust packs tight and blocks airflow. Coarse chunks burn uneven and tunnel down one side.

Dry herb vaporizers

Use a medium to fine grind for convection units and a coarse grind for conduction units. A loose fill around 0.15 grams to 0.3 grams works in most portable ovens. Leave a small gap at the top of the bowl.

Pipes, bongs, and one-hitters

Use a coarse grind. Larger pieces let air pass through the bowl and keep the pull steady. Screens catch the smaller particles.

Cleaning

Resin builds up after 10 to 20 sessions and the lid gets stiff. Take the grinder apart. Soak the metal pieces in 91 percent isopropyl alcohol for 15 to 30 minutes. Scrub the teeth with the brush. Rinse with warm water and let the parts air dry. Plastic and ceramic grinders handle warm water and dish soap better than alcohol. Do not put a grinder in a dishwasher unless the label says the material is safe for it.

Common Mistakes

  • Packing the chamber to the rim
  • Grinding wet flower. Moisture sticks to the teeth.
  • Twisting the lid backward, which loosens the threads
  • Using scissors or a card, which leaves an uneven cut
  • Throwing out the kief in the screen chamber
  • Losing the ground flower when the lid comes off

Grinder Types

2-piece grinders hold the flower in one chamber and cost the least. 3-piece grinders add a storage section. 4-piece grinders add a kief screen and a bottom catch chamber. Aluminum and stainless steel last longer than plastic. Ceramic coatings resist buildup but chip if you drop them. Most dispensary grinders measure 2 inches to 2.5 inches across.

Legal Note

Federal law lists cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance. State rules differ. In states with legal adult use, the purchase age is 21 and possession limits apply per person. Check the product label at the register for THC content and serving size.