Today, you don’t have to figure out the intricacies of crumbling the bud by hand. Grinders and pre-roll cones are convenience-maximizing essentials for your cannabis toolkit. They are the ultimate time-savers and are available everywhere. Learning how to use such a simple handheld device and how to put ground weed in a pre-roll easily is all it takes for a consistently smooth experience without any rolling issues.
That said, some enthusiasts are particularly skeptical about cannabis consumption methods and alternatives to the old-school ways. They still prefer the ‘finger-chop’ process or picking the bud into finer bits with their fingers.
Let’s see if they have a point.
Which is best: Weed grinder + pre-roll or handcrafting your joints?
The short answer is that it depends on your priorities and the time you have vs. the amount of the herb to handle. Some fans of crumbling flavorful weed flower view the slow tactile process as an indulgent, therapeutic experience or an indispensable part of the hand-rolling ritual. Others believe the basics of traditional joint-making are an essential skill when you don’t have a grinder or pre-roll papers around.
But, regardless of any scoffing at weed grinders, these are geared at the same results as finger-picking techniques: balancing airflow for a terrific burn and optimizing potency.
Efficiency and processing time are the major differences between the two methods. That’s why grinders have become so helpful for businesses and casual users in most contexts and busy daily routines. Your skills may be impressive for achieving weed consistency without a grinder. However, solo sessions are one thing, while the risk of straining your wrist muscles when shredding and rolling for a party is another.
Besides reducing the effort and preparation time for consumers and dispensaries, weed grinders for pre-rolls are unparalleled for precision. They ensure:
- More control over the quantity, consistency, and potency
- Easier rolling and packing
- More efficient use of the herb
- Cleaner burn
When reading tips on grinding weed for pre-rolls, you may come across claims that using grinders results in going through your flower faster than if picked apart with fingers. Since the traditional tactile method produces larger chunks, you may end up packing less into a joint, which directly affects how the thing burns. The uneven distribution of weed particles creates random air pockets that mess with airflow, reducing it so you’ll inhale less than expected.
Device-assisted grinding enhances particle consistency and distribution. Thus, the more surface area is exposed to heat, the higher you’ll get off that pre-roll – or, to be precise, off each hit that goes into your experience.
So, how to grind weed for a pre-roll using a special-purpose device
If you want to get the most out of your bud and fine-tune the grind to forget the inconsistencies that might mess with your smoke sesh, buying an inexpensive compact device goes a long way. These range from one-chamber models to three-piece or four-piece options with a kief catcher for minimal trichome loss.
Whichever you choose, start by separating the nugs. You’ll need to obtain smaller pieces and remove stems to avoid overloading or damaging your grinder. Then, buckle down for some shredding.
Layer the herb properly
Remove the lid and place your weed in the teeth – but not in the center of the grinder. This is super-important for even grinding and particle consistency, as the central part of your device may trap the nugs.
Twist, shred, repeat
Put the lid on. After rotating the top and bottom a few times in opposite directions, check the results to see if you should stop or continue grinding. Monitor consistency as you go, noting how many twists you need to make it coarser or finer. As you get to know your device, you’ll be able to achieve the desired consistency and determine the precise number of twists it takes.
Pick up and enjoy
To retrieve ground cannabis, don’t forget to give the lid a gentle tap before opening so all the shredded weed falls into the collection chamber below the teeth. Transfer anything you don’t consume at once to an airtight container.
Other tips on grinding weed for pre-rolls
Which kind of device works better for you and how fine you prefer your flower is a matter of experimentation and personal preference. Though finer material packs more effectively and smokes smoother, it is important to avoid over-grinding. The same applies to how to put ground weed in a pre-roll – easily overpacked, it may get clogged and require hard hits or become unsmokable.
Technically, grinding to ultra-fine consistency will let you pack more into a single joint. But you don’t want to do that, as compacted, tightly packed pre-rolls are hard to get a good hit out of.
If you prefer larger blunts, these tend to clog up with resin. Aim for a coarser, chunkier grind, or forgo a grinder for finger-chopped flower.
Can’t wait to light up but don’t have a grinder?
Even regular cannabis users sometimes find themselves in a situation where DIY methods would be life-saving. Fortunately, managing without the best weed grinder for pre-rolls is feasible.
Picking the bud apart with a multi-purpose tool – your fingers – is the obvious method rooted in tradition. But you can also use scissors or kitchen utensils like:
- Knife and chopping board
- Mortar and pestle
- Cheese grater
- Coffee grinder
Please note that it is less advisable to rely on a coffee grinder, as you are likely to overprocess your weed and pulverize it instead of grinding.
If you don’t have a grinder, your top concern when breaking weed into finer chunks is keeping things clean, whatever you end up using. The sticky-icky stuff on your fingers, dank smell, and trichome build-up on the utensils are some of the common inconveniences.
On the upside, you can be proud of yourself and arrange an impromptu smoke sesh anywhere, provided you have a clean and flat grinding spot.
