Novelty Grinders
A novelty grinder does exactly the same job as a plain one. It just does not look like it. This collection gathers the character designs from the wider grinder range, currently a pair of 40mm magnetic metal grinders at £7.99 alongside a beer can shaped four part model at £7.49. Two of the three are in stock at the time of writing.
Once you are actually using one, size and material matter far more than the artwork. A 40mm diameter is the standard pocket size, wide enough to hold a useful amount without becoming awkward to carry. Metal bodies keep their teeth sharp for years where acrylic dulls and cracks. A magnetic lid stops the top working itself loose in a bag.
What is in the collection
The DeadPool and Death Star grinders are both 40mm magnetic metal units from the Loud range at £7.99. The 4-Part Beer Can Grinder is listed at £7.49 in a taller can shaped body with a full four part construction. It is out of stock at present. All three are conventional grinder mechanics wearing a novelty finish rather than gimmicks that compromise how they work.
Two part, three part and four part grinders
Two part
A lid and a chamber, nothing else. You grind, you open it, you take what is inside. Two part grinders are the cheapest and most compact, with the fewest threads to clog. The trade off is that ground material stays sitting on the teeth.
Three part
A grinding chamber sits above a mesh screen, with a collection chamber underneath. Material falls through once it is fine enough, which gives a more consistent result and keeps the teeth clear. Most people find three part the practical sweet spot.
Four part
A four part adds a second finer screen and a bottom chamber that collects the pollen sifted out of everything you grind. The beer can model in this collection is the four part option here.
Materials, teeth and lids
Zinc alloy and aluminium are the two metals you meet at this price. Both hold a diamond cut tooth far better than acrylic, which rounds off quickly and can shed plastic into whatever you are grinding. The magnetic closure on the two in stock designs matters more than it sounds. It keeps the lid aligned while you turn it and stops the grinder emptying itself into a coat pocket.
Getting a clean grind
Do not overfill it. Loading the chamber past the tops of the teeth packs everything solid. Break material up roughly with your fingers first, then give the lid a couple of turns backwards before grinding forwards, which settles it onto the teeth rather than crushing it. Six to eight half turns is usually plenty.
Cleaning a printed or painted grinder
Metal grinders clean up with a stiff brush and a cocktail stick for the threads. For a deeper clean, isopropyl alcohol lifts residue off bare metal quickly. Be careful with a novelty grinder though. Printed finishes can lift if you leave them soaking, so keep solvent to the inner chamber and screen and wipe the decorated lid by hand. Dry every part fully before reassembly.
Buying and age rules
Vapestore Direct sells smoking accessories to adults aged 18 and over only. Orders are age checked before dispatch and we may ask for identification. Grinders contain no tobacco, no nicotine and nothing consumable, so there is nothing to expire.
Delivery and support
UK delivery is free on orders over £20 and working day orders are picked quickly. If you want to check the part count or the exact dimensions of a grinder before you order, the team is on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Grinder questions answered
What size grinder should I buy?
40mm is the everyday pocket size and it is what both in stock designs here use. It holds a sensible amount, sits comfortably in one hand and still fits a jacket pocket. Anything under 40mm gets fiddly to turn. Larger 55mm to 63mm grinders are worth it only if you grind a lot at once at home.
What does the number of parts mean?
It is how many pieces the grinder separates into. A two part is a lid and a chamber. A three part adds a screen and a collection chamber below it, so ground material drops clear of the teeth. A four part adds a second finer screen and a pollen chamber. More parts means more to clean, so three part is the usual compromise.
Are metal grinders better than acrylic ones?
For durability, yes. Zinc alloy and aluminium teeth stay sharp through years of use while acrylic teeth round off and can snap, leaving fragments in what you are grinding. Metal bodies also take a magnetic lid. The only real advantage of acrylic is price and being able to see the level inside.
How do I clean a novelty grinder without ruining the artwork?
Brush the teeth and the screen with a stiff dry brush first and use a cocktail stick on the threads. If you need a deeper clean, use isopropyl alcohol on the inner chamber and the screen only. Do not soak a printed or painted lid, because the finish can lift. Wipe decorated parts by hand and dry everything completely before reassembly.
Will the magnetic lid come loose in a pocket?
That is exactly what the magnet is there to prevent. A magnetic closure holds the lid seated and aligned so it does not rotate open against fabric, which is how a plain friction lid usually spills. It is not a seal though, so store the grinder upright if it is loaded.
Which novelty grinders are in stock?
The DeadPool and Death Star 40mm magnetic metal grinders are both available at £7.99. The 4-Part Beer Can Grinder at £7.49 is listed but currently out of stock. Call 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm if you want to know when the beer can design is back.