Grinders

A grinder crushes herbs and dry material before it goes into the vaporizer chamber or a joint. In this category, you will find grinders for dry material: manual two-piece, four-piece models with a screen, and the electric HERO grinder. They differ in the number of parts, material, diameter, teeth, and closure, so first determine where and for what you will use it.

Grinders for dry material: two or four pieces

A two-piece grinder consists of a lid and a chamber with teeth, without a screen and without a lower container. All ground material stays in one chamber, so you open the grinder once and have everything at hand. This is how Purize made from hemp, Swiss Grinder Fresh, and the acrylic Volcano from Storz & Bickel are built.

In a four-piece grinder, under the grinding chamber is a collection chamber, which has a screen at the bottom, and at the very bottom, a separate container for fine powder. This arrangement separates the finest fraction from the rest of the material. Some models of four-piece grinders come with a scoop for retrieving the contents of the lower chamber.

Fewer parts mean shorter cleaning and fewer nooks where material can settle. More parts allow for fraction separation, but each chamber must be emptied and cleaned separately.

Material: aluminum, steel, acrylic, or hemp

Aluminum and stainless steel withstand daily carrying and falls best. Anodized aluminum has a smooth surface and a harder outer layer than the metal itself, and in the aluminum Purize grinder, the teeth are milled into the material, not glued.

Acrylic is lightweight and transparent, so you can see through the casing whether the material is already crushed. It is also prone to scratches and cracks when dropped on a hard surface. The original Volcano grinder from Storz & Bickel is made of acrylic.

Hemp grinders are lighter and warmer to the touch than metal and do not rattle in your pocket, but they do not withstand falls and moisture as well. Swiss Grinder Fresh is made from hemp plastic, which is a material made from the cellulose of hemp leaves, which, according to the manufacturer, decomposes in 1.5 years. Purize claims that its hemp grinder is 100% biodegradable.

Diameter and closure

Diameter indicates how much material you will grind at once and whether the grinder will fit in your pocket. Purize made from hemp and Swiss Grinder Fresh both have a diameter of 55 mm, which is a size that you can hold with one hand and carry in your jacket pocket.

The Volcano from Storz & Bickel has a diameter of 59 mm and is rather a tabletop grinder, rotated with the whole hand. In such a chamber, the material lays out in one layer instead of piling up. The acrylic Volcano XL has an even larger chamber.

With a wide lid, a magnet is useful because the larger the diameter, the easier the lid slips off during rotation. Swiss Grinder Fresh does not have magnets, and the lid is held by the thread alone, so open such a grinder horizontally to avoid spilling the contents.

Electric grinder

The electric HERO grinder grinds at the push of a button, without rotating the lid. It has a diameter of 50 mm and a height of 90 mm, a stainless steel body, and a transparent glass chamber through which you can control the amount of material.

It is powered by a 350 mAh battery charged via USB-C, and the set includes a cable and a cleaning brush. Charge it only with the original cable and do not use it in a damp place, as electronics operate inside.

Grinder for vaporizer and daily maintenance

The vaporizer chamber best accepts fine and fluffy material because it lays evenly and heats throughout its volume. The teeth of the Swiss Grinder Fresh cut the dry material instead of crushing it, and Storz & Bickel emphasizes the sharpness of the teeth in the Volcano grinder. The same grinder is included by the manufacturer with its Volcano, Mighty, and Plenty vaporizers.

Clean the grinder dry, with a brush or toothpick, and do not remove residues with your finger, as the teeth are sharp. Do not put acrylic, hemp, or aluminum in the dishwasher and do not wash with hot water. It is easiest to clean right after use, before residues dry between the teeth.

Read more about the selection in the guides two- or four-chamber grinder and which grinder to choose for dry material. Trays, filters, and other accessories can be found in the Accessories category.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a two-piece grinder and a four-piece grinder?

In a two-piece grinder, all ground material stays in one chamber, which you open and empty immediately. In a four-piece grinder, the material is sifted through a screen into the collection chamber, and the finest powder collects separately in the lower container. The two-piece is quicker to clean, while the four-piece separates fractions.

Which grinder fits the Storz & Bickel vaporizer?

The acrylic Volcano with a diameter of 59 mm is an original part from Storz & Bickel, the same one that the manufacturer includes with the Volcano, Mighty, and Plenty vaporizers. It is two-piece and has sharp teeth for fine grinding. The acrylic Volcano XL has a larger chamber. Finely ground material lays evenly in the vaporizer chamber and heats throughout its volume.

How do you charge the HERO electric grinder?

Through the USB-C port, with the cable included in the set. The battery has a capacity of 350 mAh, and you start grinding with one button. After use, clean the chamber and blades with the brush from the set and keep the grinder in a dry place. Use only the original cable for charging, as electronics operate inside.

Can the grinder be washed in the dishwasher?

No. Acrylic becomes cloudy and cracks from hot water and solvents, hemp does not withstand moisture well, and aluminum becomes cloudy in the dishwasher. The electric grinder has electronics inside, so you only clean it with a brush. Remove residues from the teeth dry with a brush or toothpick, preferably right after use, before they dry.

What is hemp plastic made of?

It is made from cellulose contained in hemp leaves, processed into a rigid material. Swiss Grinder Fresh is made entirely from it, including the teeth, and the manufacturer states that the material decomposes in 1.5 years. It feels matte and warmer than metal.