Got the crew, got the flowers but lack a weed grinder? The disappointment is too real, and we feel you! However, this is not the end of the world; there are plenty of ways to grind weed without a grinder!
This discussion will discuss many effective methods you can use to your advantage if you don’t have a grinder at your disposal. So, without further ado, let’s discuss how to grind weed without a grinder! We’re confident one of these solutions will work great for you.
Table of Contents
List of Ways to Grind Weed Without Grinder
1. The Scissor Method
Using scissors is one of the easiest and most effective ways to grind weed if you don’t have a grinder. We call it easy because it’s fast, and you can easily find the required tools and items lying around in your house.
First things first, put all of your marijuana buds in a glass. Any ordinary water drinking glass or shot glass should do the trick.
One of the questions often asked about this part is which type of weed goes into the glass. Well, here is the answer. You can opt for any of the sticky or dry weed types.
Important Tip: Your weed must be loosely packed.
Doing this is crucial since it will allow you to chop the weed quickly. But, again, we must reiterate that turning greedy will not do you any good; you can always chop your weed in several batches! The shorter the glass, the better it is.
Moving towards the tricker part of the operation, you need to insert a pair of scissors into the glass. Don’t forget to clean your scissors before you do that! You can practice cutting weed buds outside the glass before you cut them in the glass. Scissor compatibility with your glass is an important box that you need to tick. For shorter glasses, mustache scissors should be good enough.
Let us look at a few things about snipping that you should be careful of and must not forget at any cost. Firstly, you need to cut until your weed buds are reduced to small pieces. One trick that can help you in this regard is chanting the open-close-rotate chopping mantra. As you rotate your scissors, you will find it easier to trim and snip the weed buds.
Some of the large weed buds might escape the attention of your scissors during the process. To be safe on that side, you must not forget to stir the weed. That way, you will be able to chop all the weed buds to a desirable size. Achieving homogeneity is the ultimate objective of this drill.
2. Credit Card
A credit card is a great option because it’s something almost everyone has with them. Whether you’re at a party or just at home and can’t find your traditional grinder, a credit card or ID is something you’ll almost always have on hand. If you have a glass table, that’s a good place to break apart the bud, but you can do it on a baggie or piece of paper if needed.
I’d wash the credit card before and after use for sanitary reasons so your card doesn’t stink afterward. Another thing you’ll want to do is wash the surface you’re breaking apart the weed on beforehand.
3. The Knife Method
Chop, chop! We are now going to chop your weed, just as if it is another vegetable or fruit. Here is what you need for this method: a non-serrated knife and a cutting board. Again, one of those methods that don’t necessitate going out and shopping for tools! So let us jump to the action and see how you should chop and cut your weed if you are doing it with the help of a knife.
Now then, clean your chopping board and place marijuana buds on it. Chopping boards are an excellent choice since you can easily clean them. And yes, you will have to clean your cutting board after you chop up the weed buds. You seriously don’t want the weed smell in your fruits and veggies!
Have you placed the weed on the center of your chopping board? Very good, that will allow you to chop with maximum comfort, plus you won’t have to worry about weed falling sideways.
Moving on to the next step, now you can use your non-serrated knife to cut the buds into tiny bits. An excellent option that you can consider using is a chef’s grade knife—this one produces the best results almost every time! Take the knife blade over the weed on one end and slice through it as smoothly as you can. Then, lift your knife blade and move it about one mm. It will allow you to cut the weed again. Continue with the cutting act until you reach the other end.
If a closer look reveals that the chopped weed buds are still too big, you can rotate the cutting board and slice the weed in the other direction. Making a second pass will allow you to chop it into smaller pieces.
As for the knife, well, you can use any knife out there. Our recommendation? Opt for a sharp, non-serrated knife since these knives are great, especially for sticky weed.
Here are a few points that you need to be mindful of if you opt for this weed grinding method. Firstly, please chop your weed slowly so that you don’t injure yourself. Knife cuts are common, and things can get a little nasty if you are not careful. Also, don’t hold the weed in a spot with your hand; this can also lead to a cut. A better approach would be to place your knife & hand it over the weed, and chop in a sedentary manner. We are super confident that this approach will allow you to cut the weed without risking any injuries. But to be on the safe side, keep some bandages nearby you. And honestly, it will help you a lot if, in your mind, you cut up your weed like you cut garlic in the kitchen! This is easily one of the simplest ways to grind weed without a grinder.
4. By Hand
This is a relatively simple and low-tech approach. Grinding by Hand is a viable option, even though it sounds laborious.
The first step is to break your cannabis buds into smaller, more manageable pieces. The buds you break are then placed in a clean bowl or a clean tub. With the help of your fingers, tear and crush the cannabis buds. Apply gentle pressure only; go with the back-and-forth motion. Keep doing this until the desired consistency is reached.
Do not overhandle the buds, as excessive manipulation can lead to losing precious trichomes. If you are satisfied with the texture, inspect the ground cannabis for any remaining stems or larger pieces. Hand crushing has multiple benefits, the biggest of which is a more hands-on experience and a personal touch to the grinding process. You may also feel what we mean when enjoying ground cannabis with your friends.
5. The Mortar & Pestle Method
This method is one of the most common techniques employed to grind various natural herbs and not just weed. You will have to put in a decent effort if you opt for this grinding method. The reward of a homogeneously ground weed should be enough motivation for you! Are you in? Alright, let’s have a closer look and see what you need to do to grind your weed using a mortar and pestle.
The first box that you need to tick is to ensure that your weed is super dry before you chuck it under the mercy of a mortar and pestle. We think that answers the sticky/dry question in advance as well. As you will find during grinding, dried weed is relatively easier to grind by this method.
Don’t worry if your weed isn’t dry enough. You can always dry it if it’s not dry enough to be chucked in the mortar. Placing your weed in the freezer for around thirty minutes ought to do the trick.
There is another way in which you can dry out your weed. Allow your marijuana buds to sit for 5-15 days in a room that’s 60 to 70 °F. Low humidity and proper air circulation will further accelerate the drying up process. But, again, the crispiness is a key indicator that will tell you whether or not your weed has all dried up. Now, we realize that you are super excited about this method, but we must warn you that it’s not advisable to speed up things artificially by using a dehydrator or oven. Doing that will ruin the flavor and potency.
Now then, it is time for some action. First, put your weed stash in the mortar. If you haven’t used one already and are a complete novice to the apparatus, mortar is the bowl where you will put your herbs.
On the other hand, the pestle’s job is to rub herbs and grind them up all, real nice!
To what extent should you fill the mortar? Well, about halfway sounds great because that will allow you to leave enough room for the weed; you can also shift the buds quickly. Packing weed loosely will enable you to grind it quickly as well!
The ideal approach is to grind just enough. One joint at a time sounds like a very sane approach. But if you are planning on grinding more, you should hone your weed in smaller batches.
Using the pestle, grind the weed into smaller pieces. First, launch the pestle down into the weed and manually rub it; that will take some effort! Now keep moving the pestle around the bowl, thereby grinding the weed. When you achieve the desired bud size, you can stop grinding. The trick is to use firm pressure as you rub the weed.
We genuinely believe that you will find it hard to find a grinding method as effective as this one, especially if your stash isn’t a big one.
6. Rolling Pin
Rolling pins are typically used in baking. But you will be surprised that they can also help grind cannabis. So how are you going to use a rolling pin to grind your cannabis? Start by placing the cannabis birds on a clean flat surface.
Here, we advise you to opt for a cutting board or a countertop. Now with the help of the rolling pin, gently roll the pin over the cannabis buds in a back-and-forth motion. Apply light pressure to break down the buds and achieve the desired grind consistency. Please ensure you are rolling things evenly; this will help you avoid and even grinding.
You can also rotate the buds between the rolls, creating a very even and consistent grind throughout. It is pertinent to mention here that a rolling pin can take more time than conventional grinding methods, so be patient. But we assure you it can still complete the job 100%.
Once you have ascertained the texture and consistency you were desirous of, extract the grounded cannabis and inspect for any impurities. You and your friends are now ready to enjoy this ground cannabis by smoking or any vaping method that is preferable to you.
7. A Coffee Grinder
Yup, your everyday coffee grinder can save your life once again, this time by helping you grind the marijuana buds. Pretty sure that the majority of you already know how to use a coffee grinder already. Hence, we will try to focus more on the weed grinding aspect only. So, let us jump straight to the action and see how you can grind your marijuana buds using a coffee grinder.
Right then, in the first step, you need to place the weed buds into a coffee grinder. There are many variants of this apparatus available in the market; you can use any type of these grinders for crushing your marijuana buds. Next up, you have to add the weed in the grinder up to the fill line. Like you have done in the previous methods, you need to pack your weed loosely, making it easier for the coffee grinder to chop it up.
In the next step, please place the lid onto the grinder. It is worth mentioning here that a coffee grinder is an excellent option to consider, especially when you have to grind up a bunch of weed all at once.
Sticky or dry? Ah, here we go again! Well, this apparatus is an excellent option for grinding dry weed. That is simply because sticky weed is harder to clean up. And yes, cleaning your coffee grinder is crucial because otherwise, the sticky weed can get mixed into the coffee beans.
You have done the hard yard; now it is time to only turn on the grinder for 5 seconds. You will have to plug up the coffee grinder if it is an electric one. Time for the show now; press the grind button on your machine. Chant Mary Had a little lamb under your breath that should take about five seconds and then turn off the grinder. Oh, yes, you can also use a watch to time the grinder, but wouldn’t that be a little boring?
For how long should you keep grinding the weed? Well, it is a decision that entirely depends upon your preferred size. To check whether the desired size has been achieved or not, you can simply open up the apparatus and make sure that the pieces are small enough. What if they aren’t? Well, you continue to grind your weed until that happy moment arrives! You need to check it frequently so that you don’t end up grinding your marijuana buds a little too finely.
Once you are happy with grinding, it is now time to clean your coffee grinder. Of course, you will have to do that meticulously so that your coffee won’t be riddled with THC or any of the other cannabinoids.
One brilliant tip that will always come in handy for you: a coffee grinder is designed to powder coffee beans. Hence, it makes sense if you find weed grinding a little troublesome. To avoid any significant grinding issues, you should buy weed buds that are a little bigger than dried herbs typically are.
8. Cheese Grater
Do you have a cheese grater at home? Cheese graters are surprisingly effective when it comes to grinding cannabis flowers. You need to ensure that your grate is clean and has medium-sized holes. Once you have ascertained that, take your cannabis buds and gently rub them against the device’s surface.
You will have to move the buds in a back-and-forth motion; this will help you achieve the desired consistency. Of course, you will have to be careful not to apply too much pressure, or otherwise, you will damage the trichomes of the cannabis ultimately. The grated weed is then gathered together and scrutinized for any larger stem pieces. There you are; now, you can use your finely grated cannabis for smoking or vaping needs. This is one of my personal favorite weed grinder alternatives.
9. Bag and Hammer
If you still need to get an excellent old grinder at home, then the bag and hammer method is something you can use as well. First, please find a clean plastic bag and place your cannabis buds inside the bag. Please ensure the bag is sealed completely and thoroughly to minimize spillage.
Now, find a solid surface or a countertop that can face the force of all the hammering you are about to unleash. A hammer is good for pounding, but any heavy object will work. Rather than swinging forcefully, opting for the tapping motion is preferable. We are using the bag here as the buffer to prevent the buds from tearing through the plastic.
Keep pounding to the point till you have achieved the desired consistency. Then, it would help if you opened the bag and carefully extracted the ground cannabis. Remove any large pieces of paper that you might find. Please be cautious throughout the process; any damage to trichomes will ruin all the effort you are putting in!
10. The Coin & Pill Method
The name of the method may sound a little weird, but it is super convenient. So read on, and you will find how true our words are!
Now then, the first step that you need to do is put the weed buds, this time into an empty pill bottle instead of a glass. You will need to wash the pill bottle in a very meticulous manner first. Ensure that no tablet smell is left in the bottle. Otherwise, the medicine’s smell will ruin your weed experience. The best way to cleanse the pill bottle is to wash it with the help of some water and quality soap.
After doing that, you need to fill the bottle with weed. Instead of filling it in half, you can fill the pill bottle up to three quarters. Again, the trick is to pack the weed loosely. Doing that will allow you to break up the weed easily later. As for the question of sticky or dry, well, this method suits dry weed better. However, we are not saying that it will not work for sticky weed. You will face a little bit of trouble, but you should still achieve your objective.
We know that some of you are a little hesitant to use a pill bottle, so you can consider using any small container slash bottle with a lid. The tin food containers are a perfect alternative that you can consider. Sauce bottles are another option that you can consider.
It is time to move on to the technical step. Now clean a coin and then drop it into the bottle. Dimes are going to help you get a diamond, for real! As far as the placement is concerned, you can put the coin on the weed layer’s top, or you can push it down into the weed as well. But honestly, this is not something you should worry about too much since the coin will rattle around the bottle anyways once you shake the container. We will advise you to pay more attention to coin cleaning, a hand sanitizer or alcohol pad is your best shot in cleaning the coin to perfection.
Once you have cleaned and placed the coin inside the bottle, it is time to screw the lid back on the pill bottle. Here, the key is to ensure maximum tightness. Otherwise, there will be a significant weed spill when you shake the bottle. Of course, your bottle might have a lid that presses down over the bottle. In that case, all that you have to do is push the lid onto the container.
Have you got a stopwatch? Of course, you have it on your smartphone! Press GO and start shaking the bottle; the recommended shaking time is around 1-2 minutes. Sounds a little ridiculous, right? Well, this is the step in which magic happens! As you shake the bottle containing the coin firmly, it will cut and grind your weed buds into minute pieces. Remember, the trick here is a firm shake!
Once the stopwatch rings up, stop shaking the bottle. Now open the lid and analyze the weed that you have just chopped with the help of a coin. Is it of the desirable size? If so, you are good to use it. Otherwise, put the lid back on and give the bottle another tight shake for at least one-two minute. Of course, how quickly you get your weed, all chopped, depends upon the thickness of your weed as well. If your batch features some dense buds, the chances are high that you will have to repeat this procedure at least 2-3 times.
We are rooting for this weed grinding method because it is safe and super effective. In addition, you don’t have to buy an expensive grinder if you have a pill bottle and a coin in your pocket! Sure, it is a bit of extra work. But well, we are talking about alternatives to the most straightforward method, so expect things to be like that!
11. Keys
This one sounds super weird, right? If you have nothing available, house keys can be used as a makeshift cannabis grinder. If you have many keys lying around, you will want to select the flat prototype with a sturdy edge.
Here, we advise you to go with the house keys compared to the car keys. First, break your cannabis buds into smaller pieces. Then hold the key between your thumb and the index finger. This will help you create a space for the cannabis buds to rest against the edge of the key. In the next step, place the cannabis onto a clean slate solid surface. Gently rub the key against the cannabis buds.
Opt for the back-and-forth motion. Applying slight pressure will break down the cannabis buds to achieve the desired consistency. Do not put too much force to prevent the key from slipping or damaging the trichomes excessively. Once you have collected the ground cannabis, remove any larger pieces of the stem before using cannabis. It is also a good idea to clean the keys thoroughly and wipe them with some cleaning solution so that your cannabis is not contaminated. When people ask me how to grind weed without a grinder, this certainly isn’t the first thing I tell them. Nonetheless, it can certainly be effective.
12. Containers With an Edge
This one is about as innovative as things can get. Do you have any containers that have a sturdy edge, preferably old ones? Congratulations, you may have found a way to grind your cannabis. Ideally, we want you to look for containers that are small, for example, clean pill bottles or film canisters.
Start by placing a small amount of cannabis bits in the container. Close the lid tightly. This will help you prevent any spillages. Then, hold the container firmly with one Hand in a very secure grip. Using the other Hand, vigorously shake the container back and forth, up and down, and in circular motions.
Do 360 degrees if you will have it that way. This movement in all angles and directions will help us to come in contact with the container’s edges. This is the grinding effect that we want to create. Continue shaking till your heart is satisfied with the consistency of the grounded cannabis.
Carefully pour out the grounded cannabis, and weed out any adulterants that are not needed in your week. It is quite a practical solution and comes in handy when you do not have access to traditional branding tools, and you are in a hurry.
13. Tin Can Edge or Lid
This method is quite similar to what we have just discussed. A tin can lid or the bottom edge of a tin can is a very effective tool for grinding cannabis. But first, ensure that the can you are using is clean and has no sharp edges or rust.
The first step again is to break down your cannabis buds into smaller pieces. Then place your cannabis onto the clean heart surface of the tin can or bottom edge. The edge of the tin can lid is then pressed and rotated so that the buds are in contact with it in a circular motion. Be gentle, break down the cannabis, and go with the consistent grind.
Do not exert too much force, or you will damage the trichomes. This one is I’m more of a manual method. But the advantage of this method is that it can produce a very finely ground read that is perfectly suitable for smoking and vaping equally.
14. Bottlecaps
Simple, easy, and accessible. These are the adjectives that define this grinding tool. Bottle caps are a perfect makeshift grinder for your cannabis consumption purposes.
Choose bottle caps that have a steady and flat edge. Do you have any bottle caps from the glass bottles that you might have used once? Use them. In the first step, you must break down your cannabis birds into smaller pieces. Then place the cannabis on a clean hard surface. Then hold the bottle cap firmly between your fingers.
Using the bottle caps edge facing down, press and rub the bottle cap against the buds. Here, we would like you to go with the twisting motion. Apply moderate pressure, break down the weed, and stop once you have achieved the desired consistency.
Do not use too much force, or you will end up slipping or causing damage to the trichomes. The most significant benefit associated with this grinding method is that it allows you to achieve a reasonably consistent grind at any time of day at any place.
15. Pizza Cutter
If you don’t have a knife around, a pizza cutter is another item you’ll find in most kitchens that will do the trick. With a pizza cutter, you’ll want to consider everything you would if you were using a knife.
The key to using a pizza cutter effectively is to use it on a hard surface. You’ll probably want to use a cutting board or even a baking sheet here so you don’t scratch a table or anything.
The only downside of a pizza cutter compared to a knife is you don’t have quite as much control, so it might take a little longer than using a knife. Another thing to consider is as you break apart the bud, you’ll want to keep brushing it back into a pile in the center of the board as it gets finer.
16. Small Blender
They might be small in size, but they are a great option when it comes to grinding cannabis. If you are shopping for a blender, we suggest you go with one that is compact; you can also go for the bullet blenders, which offer excellent control.
Now, start by breaking your cannabis buds into small pieces. In the next step, you must place them in the blender. Of course, you will have to be not greedy and overload the blender; maintaining balance will ensure an even grinding. Then, pulse the blender in short bursts. Shake it between the pulses to ensure that the cannabis is redistributed evenly.
Do not blend continuously; this will prevent overheating the wheat or turning it into powder. Once the desired consistency has been achieved, extract your ground cannabis and inspect if there are any large stems in the ground cannabis. So, you have your finely ground weed courtesy of a small home blender.
17. Other Household Items with an Edge
We have mentioned a few odd items in this list, but the list is far from being non-exhaustive. If you do not have a grinder available, get a little creative and utilize the household items you might have lying around. Here, we are talking about household items with a sturdy edge that is preferable for grinding wheat.
Take the example of a mortar and pestle, a flat-bottomed glass, a bowl with a flat edge, and a clean mug with a very flat bottom. All of these items can be used for grinding weed effectively. First, you must place your cannabis builds into the chosen item. Then, opt for a pressing or twisting to break down the cannabis birds. Please only select the items that are sturdy, clean, and contain no contaminants that could affect the taste or quality of pure cannabis.
Grinding Your Wed: Do NOT Forget to Read This!
These methods discussed are great, but a grinder will always trump them for many reasons. For one, they save a lot of time for you; you can smoke your weed in a remarkably quick time. Also, marijuana buds prepared via a grinder are bound to be fine and consistent.
These traits allow an easier plus tighter roll. Being able to pack the bud tighter ultimately results in a slower burn. And, of course, there is a lot that you save in terms of resources; manual grinding means a lot of your weed buds will go to waste because of poor handling.
What is wrong with the methods we have shared? The trichomes on your weed undergo a lot of alteration if you grind them using the methods we have discussed instead of a proper grinder. Take the knife method as an example. Some of the most potent cannabinoids of your marijuana bud don’t end up in the final product that you smoke.
Compare this to a grinder where you can preserve your cannabis trichomes for an optimal high. A weed grinder ensures that the trichomes fall into the bottom chamber; you can use them later as well! It’s just not the same vibe, is it? Nevertheless, these methods will save the day for you, that is for sure!
TLDR: Key Takeaways
- If you don’t have a weed grinder, there are still ways to grind weed using general household items.
- Popular methods include using credit cards, cheese graters, coffee grinders, hands, and knives to chop up weed. Lesser known methods are scissors and pill bottles with coins that you shake up.
- Preserve trichomes and use an actual weed grinder for a consistent grind and better smoking experience. It is still the best option.
In an event where you don’t have anything that will do the job, you can crush and grind your weed using your fingers. It sounds like a challenging job, but well, sometimes we all have to work a little harder to earn the sweet rewards! Of course, it will take a little more time as well, which might serve as a motivation for you to buy a grinder; who knows?
As for the sticky/dry question, if your weed is dry. However, you can use it for both types of weeds; there is no restriction on you in that regard.