Herb Grinder and Flake/Twist

[Sobrbiker]

So I’ve frustrated myself with flakes and twists, losing enjoyment over not getting the pack right, whether fold and stuff, coins, rubbed, etc.
I got myself an herb grinder off Amazon last week, and thought I’d give it a shot.
I tried a few coins cut from GH&Co’s Happy Bogie Twist, with great results, and decided to grind up the last ounce (+/-) of 1792 flake I had since more in en route.
So far very pleased with results, but it is a little tiresome and can exacerbate wrist/hand soreness if that’s anything one struggles with.
I’ll try it on some more tobaks and if it still floats my boat I’ll probably invest in an electric grinder to do a jarful at a time.
This took 15-20 minutes.


Please share if you have had good or bad luck with such faffery.

 

[ParkitoATL]

These really do work well. I often cut the flakes to about 3/8" - 1/2" before grinding, which gives a really short ribbon cut. Just drizzle it in the bowl and light it up.

 

[renfield]

I 3D printed a grinder last year. I was surprised how much that changed the flavor of the tobacco, far more than simply rubbing flakes out by hand.

 

[verporchting]

Been using one for several years and find it works well for both flakes and ropes. Easy too!

 

[Lumbridge]

Aha, so you ended up trying it before I did. The results look great. I'll definitely have to try it myself.

 

[Simmerdown☕️]

Cube cut flakes sometimes when I’m not lazy. Most of the time I do a rough rub out. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Coffee grinders work great! ️

 

[Bbailey324]

I 3D printed a grinder last year. I was surprised how much that changed the flavor of the tobacco, far more than simply rubbing flakes out by hand.

Any thoughts on why flavor was changed to that degree? I wouldn't have expected a significantly greater effect than rubbing out. Resultant size or aspect ratio affecting burn rate maybe? Residual monomer in the printing material maybe?

 

[dog_park_piper]

I use one. It’s cheap plastic one from some random smoke shop. It chops up flakes very well. It makes smoking flakes much more easy and flavorful.

 

[renfield]

Any thoughts on why flavor was changed to that degree? I wouldn't have expected a significantly greater effect than rubbing out. Resultant size or aspect ratio affecting burn rate maybe? Residual monomer in the printing material maybe?

The grinder produces a more even and finer result than rubbing it out by hand. It burns quite a bit differently as a result.

 

[kcghost]

I have one and found it to be more trouble than it was worth.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

May I ask, why are you trying to pre breakdown everything at once? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a flake? I mean like the tobacco oils and flavors locked in there. Isn't that like ground coffee beans like the store sells in big tubs as opposed to whole bean?

 

[Lees65GTO]

Maybe I will try an herb grinder. I use a small 2 blade electric coffee grinder and pulse it, it works ok but if the tobacco in moist the blades tend to gum up. It works great for McClelland 2015, which is a pain to rub out by hand.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I pretty much just try to avoid buying flakes these days. The problem is that I tried to meet the expectations of other members here years ago when I was stocking up my cellar, and now I have a ton of the damned things. And, plugs are the worst. I do like the C&D flakes and plugs, because they aren't really flakes or plugs, h aha. I can just break them up into tiny pits by rubbing it a bit.

I will just let others fold and stuff. I don't need any aggravation in something that I am supposed to be relaxing into. And, I do not find any joy in the hassle/ritual of cutting up plugs. I just want to dip my pipe into a tin or jar with my thumb, slightly press it and move on.

That's just me. I try to be uncomplicated.

 

[renfield]

May I ask, why are you trying to pre breakdown everything at once? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a flake? I mean like the tobacco oils and flavors locked in there. Isn't that like ground coffee beans like the store sells in big tubs as opposed to whole bean?

I’ll use the grinder on those rare flakes that need some extra help beyond the normal drying and rubbing to burn decently. I only grind a bowl’s worth at a time. I smoke mostly flakes and only need the grinder maybe 5% of the time at most.

Normally I can fold and stuff or just rub things out by hand.

 

[hoipolloiglasgow]

I’ll use the grinder on those rare flakes that need some extra help beyond the normal drying and rubbing to burn decently. I only grind a bowl’s worth at a time. I smoke mostly flakes and only need the grinder maybe 5% of the time at most.

Normally I can fold and stuff or just rub things out by hand.

That's what I do too. Only break down what's necessary at a time. I guess for the OP it may be different as he has pain in his hands. May want to look into a coffee grinder. Even still though, I'd only break down what's needed at a time.

 

[Egg Shen]

I don’t use them but have experience. If you want a grinder, the differences between a cheap one and expensive one is often vast. For reference, mine is only 2 or 3 inches diameter and was $55. Not cheap. For big flakes I would spring for one with a 4 or 5 inch diameter. (the dealer grinder haha). They are even more $ but will give you better leverage and is easier on the wrist. But the main difference is the quality of the studs, how sharply they are machined, whether they are diamond-shaped or if the diamonds actually have a subtle curve to them, which facilitates ease-of-grind. The threading on the cheaper ones is also not as match-grade.

 

[Egg Shen]

Any thoughts on why flavor was changed to that degree? I wouldn't have expected a significantly greater effect than rubbing out. Resultant size or aspect ratio affecting burn rate maybe? Residual monomer in the printing material maybe?

Maybe all of the plume got collected in the pollen-catcher at the bottom?
edit: I noticed that the coarseness of the grind affects taste. I’ve found things taste better with only a quarter turn, or half , as opposed to grinding until consistency is achieved. Perhaps the smaller it is the hotter it burns so your not vaporizing as much essential oils as you could be if you left it chunkier.

 

[PaulRVA]

I use an old set of textured mechanix gloves over a large steel bowl and that has worked really well for breaking it up.

 

[Sobrbiker]

That's what I do too. Only break down what's necessary at a time. I guess for the OP it may be different as he has pain in his hands. May want to look into a coffee grinder. Even still though, I'd only break down what's needed at a time.

The hands depend on the day
I work streets/stormwater maintenance/heavy equipment operator-so I tend to do most of my pipe smoking at work, not in luxurious relaxing environment. Preparing up 4-5 blends in individual small tins that hold 4-5 group 2ish sized bowls each is done prior to my 4 day work week and tossed in my lunchbox.
My work environment is rarely conducive to rubbing out a smoke’s worth each time I want one.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Maybe all of the plume got collected in the pollen-catcher at the bottom?
edit: I noticed that the coarseness of the grind affects taste. I’ve found things taste better with only a quarter turn, or half , as opposed to grinding until consistency is achieved. Perhaps the smaller it is the hotter it burns so your not vaporizing as much essential oils as you could be if you left it chunkier.

I got one with decent sized holes, and removed the screen. Depending on moisture of flake it works pretty well. Moister flakes I don’t want too dry, I cut with a straight razor to 3/8-1/2” length ad toss in to limit gumming up the grinder. VA flakes I just break to fit.
Works pretty good so far.