At a glance
- A grinder breaks down loose tobacco (or other dry leaf material) into a finer, more uniform consistency for easier packing and more even burning.
- Grinders come in three main configurations: 2-piece (single chamber), 3-piece (with a collection chamber below the teeth), and 4-piece (with a collection chamber plus a fine-mesh kief screen and a bottom catch).
- Common materials: metal (aluminum or zinc alloy), acrylic (plastic), and wood. Metal grinders are more durable than acrylic or wood and generally produce a more consistent grind.
- Grind consistency affects how evenly the material packs into a rolling paper, cone, or tube — finer, more uniform material fills more evenly and burns more consistently.