Can an Herb Grinder Grind Too Fine?

Grinders are known for their ability to chop up herbs to a nice fluffy consistency. Have you ever opened your grinder to find that your dry herbs are now virtually pulverized into a fine powder? The truth is that this is no fault of your grinder, and everything to do with the quality of your dry herbs. Here we will be going over how some grinders can end up mincing your overly dried herbs into flour.

by: Anthony E. | 02/22/22 2:30PM

 

Different Types of Dry Herb Grinders

Different types of dry herb grinders come in a variety of styles. When it comes to the way they grind, some will have convex caps that are designed to thoroughly grind your material. Others will have hand cranks that are perfectly suited for medical patients with arthritis. Some grinders have diamond shaped teeth, while others have pyramid or even hourglass shaped teeth. These grind up your material differently depending on what you are looking for.

If your starting material is too dry, then some of these styles may not be suitable for you, as they can end up turning your material into a fine powder. Three piece and four-piece grinders are available for those looking to collect the fine particulate matter on the bottom chamber. Some have holes that are designed to fit a certain consistency through, while others are made to grind everything in the top chamber only.

With so many different types of grinders on the market to choose from, it can be rather daunting to figure out what type of grinder you might need for your purposes. Plastic grinders are great for beginners and are very affordable. They do come with a considerable number of downsides, however. Most will find these to be unsuitable for daily or heavy use as they are not durable and will break easily over time.

 

High-Quality vs Cheap Plastic Grinders

The problem with plastic is that it is weak and cannot stand up to the rigors of daily use for very long. High-quality metal grinders such as those made from aluminum and titanium offer the user a much better method for daily use. Unfortunately, they are also considerably more expensive than their plastic counterparts. When it comes to high-quality, metal is the way to go.

Plastic grinders might be more affordable, though they are poor choices for those looking to use them every day. This is because plastic is porous and weak. Over time, plastic will slowly degrade and chip apart, leaving little plastic bits inside your dry herb material. This is especially true if you grind dense material that strips away the plastic.

Add to this the fact that breakage will eventually happen to the plastic teeth. Even a fall from a table onto a hard surface can crack and break a cheap plastic grinder. Nonetheless, plastic grinders are a viable choice as a last resort backup when nothing else is available and you want to use something other than your bare fingers to get the job done.

 

Bone Dry Herbs vs Moist, Sticky Herbs

No matter what type of grinder you end up using, if you have material that is too dry, you will end up with dry herbs that are pulverized to almost dust. The best grinder in the world will fail to mitigate this, as herbs that are too dry easily crumble into a fine powder. Herbs that are overly damp will not grind up finely since moisture will prevent this from happening. Add to this the stickiness of the material and you will fail to get a fine grind.

This can be a bad thing too since moist material will inevitably stick onto the teeth and sides of the grinder and accumulate over time. The best type of grinder to use for this type of material would be a metal grinder as it is easier to clean and can withstand dense material that can otherwise chip away and break plastic teeth.

Material that is somewhere in the middle of being dry and damp is perfect for any type of grinder. The truth is that if you have material that is too dry, you are better off using a baggy or even your fingers to get the job done. Putting on some gloves and breaking your dry herbs by hand is another great alternative if you happen to have some laying around.

Tips for Keeping Your Dry Herbs Crumbly After Grinding

Sometimes you cannot help that your material is overly dry. If you want to use a grinder and not your hands or a baggy, then you could essentially reintroduce a bit of moisture back into your dry herb material. While this can be a bit tedious, it will save you money in the long run since your material will come out better than if it were bone dry.

One method to put moisture back into your bud to reduce it being chopped into a fine powder is to use some e-juice. Care must be taken to only add a drop to a nugget since the oil will spread and cake onto your grinder and not allow it to grind up through the holes. Water can be another option, though this can be risky since some metals are not plated or can rust easily with water.

Putting moisture back into your dry herb material after it has been ground is probably the best choice. You will have a crumbly consistency with herbs that were too dry after putting a drop of water or oil back into it. Be aware that this can also affect how the herb stays lit after moisture has been reintroduced.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, certain grinders can grind up your material a little too finely, though the deciding factor is usually due to the consistency of your starting material. Dry herbs are usually left out in jars that contain too much oxygen. This dries out the material over time and can lead to having herbs that are too fine after grinding.

No matter what type of grinder you end up getting, know that the result usually rests within the quality of your dry herb material. The best way to ensure that you do not get a fine powder after you grind is to get ahold of some high-quality herbs that have been properly cured. You will find that even the worst grinder will deliver a much better result.

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