Acrylic Grinders
Acrylic grinders are the budget workhorses of the grinder world. They are moulded from clear or coloured plastic rather than machined from metal, which makes them light, cheap to replace and easy to see into while you work. This is a small two product collection of 60mm acrylic grinders from Loud, sold in magnetic and non magnetic versions, with prices starting at £1.99.
A grinder breaks dry herb and loose botanicals down to an even consistency so they burn or vaporise evenly rather than in clumps. Anyone rolling by hand, packing a pipe or loading a dry herb vaporiser gets a better result from ground material. These are smoking accessories sold to adults aged 18 and over.
Acrylic against metal and wood
Acrylic wins on price and weight. You can carry one in a jacket pocket without noticing it. Replacing a lost grinder costs less than a pack of papers. Aluminium grinders bite harder, hold their teeth for years and often add a kief screen, though they cost several times as much. Wooden grinders look the part yet tend to have blunter pins. Acrylic sits at the practical end. It is the grinder to keep in a bag, a tin or a rolling box, where losing it would not matter.
Magnetic and non magnetic lids
The two grinders in this collection are the same 60mm body in two closure styles. A magnetic lid holds itself shut, so the grinder is far less likely to spill if it tips over in a pocket. A non magnetic lid simply rests in place and relies on the teeth for alignment, which keeps the price down. If a grinder lives in a bag rather than on a table, the magnetic version is worth the small difference in cost.
Sizes, chambers and teeth
Grinder size is measured across the diameter, so a 60mm grinder handles a decent amount in one go without becoming awkward to twist. Two part grinders have a single chamber and are the simplest design. Three and four part grinders add a mesh screen and a base chamber that collects pollen. Acrylic grinders are typically two part with moulded diamond or peg teeth. The tooth pattern matters more than the count. Interlocking rows cut, while flat pegs tend to crush.
Getting a consistent grind
Do not overfill. Material should sit between the teeth rather than being packed against the lid, otherwise it jams and you end up twisting hard enough to snap a plastic tooth. Half a dozen quarter turns back and forth is usually enough for a rolling consistency. A finer grind suits a pipe or a dry herb vaporiser, while a coarser grind rolls better because it keeps airflow through the finished cone.
Cleaning and looking after acrylic
Acrylic does not like solvents. Isopropyl alcohol clouds it and can craze the surface, so clean with warm water and washing up liquid, then air dry fully before use. A dry toothbrush or a stiff paintbrush lifts residue out of the teeth without scratching them. Tap residue out of the chamber occasionally, because a sticky chamber makes the halves stiff to turn and strains the teeth.
Buying smoking accessories in the UK
Grinders, papers and pipes are sold to adults aged 18 and over only. Every order placed with Vapestore Direct is age verified before dispatch. Grinders are supplied for use with legal dry botanicals, herbs and tobacco. UK delivery is free on orders over £20. If you want to check the size or the closure style before ordering you can reach the team on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Grinder questions answered
What is an acrylic grinder made of?
Acrylic grinders are moulded from a hard clear or coloured plastic rather than machined from aluminium. That keeps them very light and very cheap. The clear versions let you see how far along the grind is. The trade off is that the teeth are moulded rather than cut, so they blunt sooner than metal.
Is a magnetic grinder worth the extra cost?
If the grinder travels with you, yes. The magnet holds the lid closed so the contents stay put if it tips over in a bag or a pocket. A non magnetic lid rests in place and relies on the teeth to stay aligned, which is perfectly fine for a grinder that only ever gets used at a table.
What size grinder should I buy?
Grinders are measured across the diameter. A 60mm grinder is a practical middle size that takes a useful amount in one go while still being comfortable to twist in one hand. Smaller 40mm to 50mm grinders are more pocketable. Anything above 70mm is really a table grinder for larger quantities.
How do I clean an acrylic grinder?
Warm water and washing up liquid, then let it dry completely. Keep isopropyl alcohol and other solvents away from acrylic, because they cloud the plastic and can craze the surface. A dry toothbrush works well for clearing residue out of the teeth without scratching the mouldings.
Why has my grinder become stiff to turn?
It is usually resin build up in the threads and around the teeth. It can also be too much material packed in at once. Empty it, brush the teeth out and wash it. Filling a grinder to the lid is the most common cause of a jam. Forcing a stiff acrylic grinder is how moulded teeth get snapped off.
Do I need to be 18 to buy a grinder?
Yes. Smoking accessories are sold to adults aged 18 and over only and every order is age verified before it leaves the warehouse. Grinders are supplied for use with legal dry herbs, botanicals and tobacco.