Herb Grinders

A month or two ago I said I would clean out my Diamond Grind 5-piece and share a picture once I've used it enough to have a picture worth sharing. Well, here is a step in that direction.



I had been using my small matte orange 4-piece SCS exclusively with the last few grams or so, but I kept noticing that a lot of stuff was getting through my Aromed's screen, which I'm pretty sure didn't happen nearly as much when I was using the Diamond Grind for sifting. The herbs that were making it into my Aromed's water filter were herbs that would have been sifted by the Diamond Grind's first screen but not the second screen.

I just don't like when particles make it through my Aromed's screen. If I knew it wasn't happening until after the particles were pretty well used up, then I probably wouldn't mind. But I don't know that, and there's probably no way for me to know that.

So it occurred to me last night that the small SCS doesn't do everything I need it to do, even though it's fucking awesome. It also occurred to me that if I start using the 5-piece again, all of the somewhat fine stuff will make it through the first screen, thus leaving me with consistent not-fine grounds atop that screen, which will not pass through the screen of my Aromed.

What's even better is that I can use the stuff that passes through the first screen but not the second screen with my Air. The kief that passes through the second screen is just going to stay there until someday when I am desperate or when I need a change-up.

Even though I want my small matte orange 4-piece Santa Cruz Shredder to be my favorite grinder, the function of the Diamond Grind seems to be making it my #1 grinder. SCS really needs to start making 5-piece grinders. I really don't understand why 5-piece grinders are not popular.

That fine stuff looks exactly like the stuff they put on my happy pizza

snackmaster said:

Couple questions for ya... 1) What's the diameter of the solid body, and 2) with your setup of solid body + storage puck can you make the vape gr8tr and then a "puck" with a screen?

Click to expand...

Sorry I missed this @snackmaster, it's the same diameter as your vape gr8tr.
Yes I can, in fact that's how I'm rollin with it today. Trying to see if I catch more pollen this way. It also increases capacity for different sizes on the go. So the kief bottom for baby size, regular puck bottom for mama size, and screen section with puck bottom for papa size!
The black lid is also deeper on solid body for additional screen, or grater storage. So 2 different depth of lids and bottoms, if you buy both solid body grater and storage puck.

Edit: it really makes this modular grinder very versatile!

hey guys, i'm ready to buy some real grinders and wondering what you all think could be the top 2 or 3? Based on this thread, i'm looking at trying out a SCS again. I've had both a 2 piece and 4 piece medium and both got scratched up nearly instantly with normal use. Could of been a fluke but i'm willing to try SCS again. I like the 3 piece as well...any suggestions on retailers?

Also really like the Kannastors! Looks like they deliver a nice vapour friendly consistent fine grind.

Mulehead said:

Sorry I missed this @snackmaster, it's the same diameter as your vape gr8tr.
Yes I can, in fact that's how I'm rollin with it today. Trying to see if I catch more pollen this way. It also increases capacity for different sizes on the go. So the kief bottom for baby size, regular puck bottom for mama size, and screen section with puck bottom for papa size!
The black lid is also deeper on solid body for additional screen, or grater storage. So 2 different depth of lids and bottoms, if you buy both solid body grater and storage puck.

Edit: it really makes this modular grinder very versatile!

Click to expand...

Well damn, that sounds awesome. May have to pick up a solid body next time a sale comes around. That or see if Kannastor would sell me some parts separately...

I like the look of the scs three-piece grinders, but I've never tried a sc and wanted more storage for on-the-go. So I decided to pick up one of these instead; they have three sizes of storage, this is the medium. Note the rim is on the outside like the scs grinders that I'm already used to loading:


It's actually a four-piece, but no keif screen and the grinder stays separate from storage.

Did these guys ever get off the gorund .. I saw it months ago .. bit big .. but interesting I thought

My guess is that that thing is for basil and oregano and cilantro, et al.

ah ok .. good for pizza

My large 2-piece Space Case Titanium just became my ABV grinder. It hasn't actually ground any ABV yet, because right now there is alcohol inside it. But I have vaped all the loose herbs, and I will grind ABV in this grinder whenever I decide it's time to grind ABV again.

I'm glad this idea came to me, because what the fuck am I supposed to do with a 3.5" grinder? Since I usually grind ABV in large batches, this grinder will actually be very appropriate for that purpose. I've used it a couple times to grind herbs, but mostly it just sits on my end table, pretending to be a hockey puck.

Now my lonely hockey puck has a job!

whatitdew said:

In the beginning SCS had really fine screens and they got a lot of complaints so they changed the screen. I have both versions. My favourite pollen screens are old SCS and space case.

Click to expand...

So it is true then? After owning both versions and seeing the size of the kief that fell through on mine we are all pretty sure on this right?

FlyingLow said:

@ Socks, I wasn't doubting it was mj, just that it appeared more than the fine pollen was making it through. Mine comes out a good deal finer like powdered sugar. I just did a collection and cleaning last week but will post a pick up a pic once I get a bit more in the chamber.


I keep considering the Compton, but also think I'd buy more grinders and keep coming back to my SCS anyway.

Click to expand...

I know you weren't doubting it wasn't anything but MJ. What else could it be right? LOL not to worry.. my bad boy druggie days are long gone lol! After the new pics I left above it still looks like it's a little to coarse to you? Anyhow, please do share some pics of your kief. I'm really curious about this now. If it's true that they are using a more coarse screen now, is this a pro or a con in your opinion? I was very close to getting a 3 piece instead but decided on the 4 piece since I never had a kief collector grinder.

Lets see those pics!

It's true I own an old model and a new model. Old lets in barley any pollen only the finest gold dust. Newer 4 piece lets in everything and the kitchen sink. You can see through the screen and easily see the holes in the old SCS it is so tight and fine you can't see through the screen more like a traditional screen on a sift box. If you go back to the early pages of this thread you can find lots of posts of ppl complaining about the screens being too tight and no keif getting through

I got a new leisure glass piece today I had been paying off and I got a free shop branded 4 piece grinder. Not to shabby looking but Imwill give it to a friend as a gift since I own a few SCS and space case.

Since I got my Ryot keif box I have been using that a lot and am probably going to buy a 3 piece SCS to use with that. But if you don't medicate a lot don't go through a lot of erb I would stick to just a 4 piece.

Is Keif any good .. I just throw it all in together.. and always forget about kief .. is it stronger.. here in ireland we use alot of hash imported from Morocco.. grass is relatively new.. a load of grow farms have popped up .. so grass is just becoming popular here.. plus our growing climate is shit .. so its mostly indoors in actics .. The police now fly around with helicopters with heat detection.. to take readings off peoples roof tops.. or if the electricity bill is huge alarm bells are raised..

It is coarser than I

Socks And Sandals said:

S Anyhow, please do share some pics of your kief. I'm really curious about this now. If it's true that they are using a more coarse screen now, is this a pro or a con in your opinion?

Lets see those pics!

Click to expand...

It was just coarse for my preference but everyone's opinion varies. Personally, I prefer just the finest of pollen; so the new screens are a minus for me and should I ever get another SCS, I will seek an older one.

I recently cleaned my collector right before we started this dialogue, and have since been under for a number of additional sinus surgeries... so there has not been much use/collection since then. What I collect, I press so it is not exactly apples to apples comparison visually. Pending any more ER/OR visits, I should have something meaningful to post in a few weeks but I am not using much flower during my recovery.


@dubb~ I love it. Great for rainy days, or when your strain just isn't very effective and you want to kick it up a notch. IMO vaping pollen is flavor city!

Great. I wandered off from the glass thread to the grinder thread. Ugh. Payday. Liking the looks of the kannister.

@snackmaster how are you liking yours so far?

*edit* the one with the kitchen sink

PeteSeattle said:

Great. I wandered off from the glass thread to the grinder thread. Ugh. Payday. Liking the looks of the kannister.

@snackmaster how are you liking yours so far?

*edit* the one with the kitchen sink

Click to expand...

I haven't run any more material through it, so no change in opinion yet, but so far, so good.

FlyingLow said:

It is coarser than I


It was just coarse for my preference but everyone's opinion varies. Personally, I prefer just the finest of pollen; so the new screens are a minus for me and should I ever get another SCS, I will seek an older one.

I recently cleaned my collector right before we started this dialogue, and have since been under for a number of additional sinus surgeries... so there has not been much use/collection since then. What I collect, I press so it is not exactly apples to apples comparison visually. Pending any more ER/OR visits, I should have something meaningful to post in a few weeks but I am not using much flower during my recovery.

Click to expand...

Well I'm stuck with it so I guess I'll look on the bright side if there is one.. At least my screen isn't getting clogged up like I read in the earlier pages of this thread and at least I can visually see a lot of it forming already. I'll also try to do my best to get some better pics of the kief collector and see if there are any stabilization features on the camera of my Galaxy S5. Either way.. next time it builds up enough to take a pic.. PM me the pic if you can remember or post it here and let me know please!

Hope you're feeling better as well after your surgeries!

Just received my SCS 3 piece medium in silver! Love it!

Next on the radar: Kannastor! Thinking about getting the 2 piece 2.5, the 4 piece 2.5, and maybe the 3" crank 4 piece as well! Or I guess the Vape Gr8r is the way to go?

Grinder Acquisition Syndrome!

biohacker said:

... maybe the 3" crank 4 piece as well!...

Click to expand...

Congrats on the SCS.
Be careful of those grinders with cranks. Adds a mechanism that can get fouled or break, to a simple, solid device.

biohacker said:

...and maybe the 3" crank 4 piece as well!

Click to expand...

I have never used a crank grinder, but I have been following this thread long enough to know that if you buy one (and use it), it will break. Pretty much every time anyone talks about a crank grinder in this thread, it's to report that their crank grinder broke and can't be fixed.

I'm not trying to sway your decision too much, but there's no way I'll ever buy a crank grinder.

I've had two Zeus Vortex cranks which are essentially SharpStone's apparently without a hiccup other than I "think" it gets dull quick, and sometimes small buds will not drop and continue to spin. Perhaps these that break are much cheaper quality? The cranks feel very sturdy but regardless I would only consider the Kannastor crank which I can find at a retailer but looks like they dropped it from their lineup on their site. I'm leaning toward the Gr8tr Vape style anyway.

Oh, the reason I like cranks are that I never have to clean them...they don't get all gunked. My SCS seems to be holding up pretty good after a few grams but it's definitely still more effort overall. Based on what i've read here, the Vape Gr8tr will be the one!

Had a very poor experience with Santa Cruz Shredders.

Bought a jumbo matte black 4-piece SCS from Kindtray.

When I received it, the thread between the two centre sections was not closing all the way up properly, it was binding/sticking a little before being fully closed.

After working it back and forth across the binding section of thread, it freed the thread up, by wearing away the imperfections in the thread machining or finish, meaning that the anodising layer and some aluminum underneath, at the point it was binding, was worn down and turned into a fine aluminum dust through the inside of the grinder.

The supplier, Kindtray, did not bother to respond to my email about it.

After looking at it for weeks, unusable, taunting me, hoping that Kindtray might get back to me, I finally got the shits enough to post it back to SCS.

Received an email from SCS confirming that they received it, and asking if I could supply my phone number so they could talk to me about it, so I did.

That was it, zero contact from that point on, I have responded to that email 3 times, have not received any phone call or email responses in those 4 weeks.

Posted my criticisms on the SCS Instagram page, they deleted it and blocked me from their page pretty much immediately, but still can't manage a response to my concerns directly by phone or email.

Weak ass company!

Crappy quality control!

Shit customer service!

AVOID SANTA CRUZ SHREDDER, THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICE DO NOT MEET THEIR CLAIMS.

If you get a functional SCS grinder straight up, you will probably be happy with it, as the majority seem to be, but if you don't, you might be in for some similar grief, as I have had, and as others had reported as well.

If you look at some photos of the well used SCS grinders, you will see that the anodising layer has been worn away in places, down to bare aluminum, both around the perimeter of the top chamber, and on the teeth themselves. That worn away aluminum is being turned into dust, and mixed with your herb. Probably not very good for your health.

Never had any problems with my large 4-piece titanium Space Case grinder, I would very strongly recommend a Space Case over an SCS grinder.

I was interested in the SCS grinder, and how it compared to the Space Case grinder in use, as they seemed to be the two most respected grinder brands/designs on the market, that is why I bought it.

Any other recommendations for grinders that are as good as them, or at least as good as the Space Case grinders?

I hear ya, man. Fortunately for me, dealing with SCS went very smoothly. But it seems like some other people just haven't had the same experience I had.

I love their grinders, and I feel like they're doing their best to get everything right, but it sure does seem like every few months they manage to piss somebody off real bad.

Even though I was very critical of the company a couple months ago for a few days, I don't think I ever considered myself a constituent of the seriously pissed-off group.

Wish I could help you.

Also, to answer your question, I really like Diamond Grind. If you can get your hands on a Diamond Grind, consider it.

Thanks Ryan, just had to vent, and warn others that it might not go so smoothly, though as I said, most seem to go fine.

I just don't get it, sell an item with issues, and then ignore the upset customer.

I would try and sort it out, try and make the customer happy. Just seems extremely arrogant and rude to ignore a customers concerns like this, while deleting their messages and blocking them on social media, and very weak to not stand behind your products, after making claims of engineering and finishing perfection.

Thanks for the response though.

The weird thing is that I wasn't even able to send them a picture that showed what was wrong with my grinder. I had to send them a link to @whatitdew's picture and say, "It's the same problem as with this grinder, and you can read my posts before and after it to see that I'm not bullshitting you." Or something like that.

Also, I never even sent my original grinder back to them. I still have it.

I don't get it, either. I totally agree with you. As far as I'm concerned, the customer is always right (except in very unusual cases). I'm not only saying that as a consumer; I say that as someone who wanted for a long time to own a small business. And if I had ever owned a pizzeria, the customer would have always been right. For me, it would've been because I would genuinely value my customers. But even if you don't give a shit about your customers, it's still smart business to operate as if the customer is always right.