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ZAM Grinder

ZAM

Grinder Maker
Manufacturer
Hi Zach, congrats on your awesome looking grinder! :tup:

Can't wait to hear/see some reviews.

I was wondering if a stainless steel version might be on the cards at some point? No pressure. :evil:

Cheers.

Thank you! Me too!

Stainless steel is definitely in the cards, but it will have to be a little later. But if people like the design, you can almost count on a stainless steel coming out eventually. :)
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
The ZAM grinders have landed!!!
I received a silver one a super stealth black one, both look and feel good in the hands so far.
Will be testing this weekend and taking pics.
Expect an early feelings post sometime Sunday! A real world use post will be done once the grinder has seen some serious use with Canada's finest sticky icky!

It has so many neat ideas incorporated into such a small grinder!
The top lid also has a PTFE lid, so safe for your concentrates, same as the large container below. Store 2 different types at the same time?
The other grinder has a debowler which would be awesome for DynaVape style vapes.

The full grinder is around 4 inches tall.
Taken down to just the grinder and bowl it shrinks to around 2.5 inches!!
Very tiny and pocketable.

Looking forward to seeing how this grinder does!
Since I grind every time I vape, it should handle those small sessions just perfectly!
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
The ZAMGrinder

20191019-120032.jpg


New on the market and jammed full of new innovations in the world of grinders!
Innovations in this area have all been around tooth design and non-stick interior coatings and of course the material the grinder is made from.


The ZAM grinder is all aluminum and is made in China but the design and final quality check and assembly is done by Zach, the maker of these grinders. I think this is the best of both worlds!
This equals cost saving for the end users, which is always appreciated!


I have used aluminum grinders since I started this journey 25+ years ago and have never had an issue with the material. Stainless grinders are great but so heavy!

A ZAM SS grinder would be amazing!

Enough product talk lets dive into the grinder itself!
This series of pics is of the ZAM grinder in both black and silver and all the pieces taken apart as well as it assembled to its smallest form factor!

Total disassembly = 8 parts for a full grinder with kief screen.
6 aluminum parts.
20191019-120208.jpg


And in it's smallest form factor = 6 parts with no middle section or kief screen.
3 aluminum parts only!
20191019-120250.jpg


The finish is excellent and there is enough grip for those dense nugs to be ground with ease.
The grinding action is nice and smooth and you can also turn it upside down to achieve a finer grind.
Straight from the grinder it is not quite a fine grind but not medium either, somewhere in-between.
It does give a nice fluffy grind and does not seem to strip the trichomes too badly, another bonus!


The top section in the lid does not really appeal to me although for on the go type people, it is a super handy storage solution for herb, concentrates or even your ABV.
I have another grinder that incorporates this feature that I have never used.

One area of improvement I would like to see is the lid being held tighter to the body by the round magnet system. I have spoken to Zach about this and it is an easy fix.
I feel that the lid may pop off while in transit or could be lost. A firmer connection would be desirable imo.


So far it has worked perfectly in a few of my vaporizers, so no complaints about the grind consistency.

This was the first real world test grind! I used some very nice Black Fin Tuna that is trimmed to perfection and very sparkly!
20191019-120450.jpg


I broke off a small chunk and added it to the grinder. It closed easily and the grinding was very easy.
A few turns was all it took for the nug to be ground.
This nug was enough to fill my Sticky Brick OG bowl, perfect for my needs and now I will be grinding a lot more often and be able to switch strains without having left overs!

20191019-120551.jpg


I did find the chamber to still have a bit of bud stuck to the teeth as you can see but nothing a quick tap or brush cannot sort out. That chunk on the right fell into the collection chamber just after the pic was taken!

20191019-120629.jpg



And now for the money shots! What we all came here to see!
Still inside the ZAM grinder and sitting on top of the kief screen. No kief was present in the bottom section, see the last pic to find out where the trichomes went…

20191019-120652.jpg


Trichome reveal!!!!
They are all still on the ground herb!!!
Just where I love them to stay!

FYI- this herb is quite fresh and sticky, much drier herb will give you lots of kief to collect if that is your thing!

20191019-120719.jpg


The ZAM Grinder is meant to be the ultimate in portable grinders and I think it achieves this admirably! The fact that you can assemble it in many ways and sizes is a great feature, especially if you do not collect kief and like using a 3 piece grinder.

For vaporizers it produces a great grind consistency for myself using both conduction and convection vaporizers.

For $40, everyone should own one of these grinders!
They feel great in the hand and do not take up a lot of desk space and do not look like your typical grinder either.

Recommended by me, if that means anything! LOL!
 

Zander

Well-Known Member
The ZAMGrinder

20191019-120032.jpg


New on the market and jammed full of new innovations in the world of grinders!
Innovations in this area have all been around tooth design and non-stick interior coatings and of course the material the grinder is made from.


The ZAM grinder is all aluminum and is made in China but the design and final quality check and assembly is done by Zach, the maker of these grinders. I think this is the best of both worlds!
This equals cost saving for the end users, which is always appreciated!


I have used aluminum grinders since I started this journey 25+ years ago and have never had an issue with the material. Stainless grinders are great but so heavy!

A ZAM SS grinder would be amazing!

Enough product talk lets dive into the grinder itself!
This series of pics is of the ZAM grinder in both black and silver and all the pieces taken apart as well as it assembled to its smallest form factor!

Total disassembly = 8 parts for a full grinder with kief screen.
6 aluminum parts.
20191019-120208.jpg


And in it's smallest form factor = 6 parts with no middle section or kief screen.
3 aluminum parts only!
20191019-120250.jpg


The finish is excellent and there is enough grip for those dense nugs to be ground with ease.
The grinding action is nice and smooth and you can also turn it upside down to achieve a finer grind.
Straight from the grinder it is not quite a fine grind but not medium either, somewhere in-between.
It does give a nice fluffy grind and does not seem to strip the trichomes too badly, another bonus!


The top section in the lid does not really appeal to me although for on the go type people, it is a super handy storage solution for herb, concentrates or even your ABV.
I have another grinder that incorporates this feature that I have never used.

One area of improvement I would like to see is the lid being held tighter to the body by the round magnet system. I have spoken to Zach about this and it is an easy fix.
I feel that the lid may pop off while in transit or could be lost. A firmer connection would be desirable imo.


So far it has worked perfectly in a few of my vaporizers, so no complaints about the grind consistency.

This was the first real world test grind! I used some very nice Black Fin Tuna that is trimmed to perfection and very sparkly!
20191019-120450.jpg


I broke off a small chunk and added it to the grinder. It closed easily and the grinding was very easy.
A few turns was all it took for the nug to be ground.
This nug was enough to fill my Sticky Brick OG bowl, perfect for my needs and now I will be grinding a lot more often and be able to switch strains without having left overs!

20191019-120551.jpg


I did find the chamber to still have a bit of bud stuck to the teeth as you can see but nothing a quick tap or brush cannot sort out. That chunk on the right fell into the collection chamber just after the pic was taken!

20191019-120629.jpg



And now for the money shots! What we all came here to see!
Still inside the ZAM grinder and sitting on top of the kief screen. No kief was present in the bottom section, see the last pic to find out where the trichomes went…

20191019-120652.jpg


Trichome reveal!!!!
They are all still on the ground herb!!!
Just where I love them to stay!

FYI- this herb is quite fresh and sticky, much drier herb will give you lots of kief to collect if that is your thing!

20191019-120719.jpg


The ZAM Grinder is meant to be the ultimate in portable grinders and I think it achieves this admirably! The fact that you can assemble it in many ways and sizes is a great feature, especially if you do not collect kief and like using a 3 piece grinder.

For vaporizers it produces a great grind consistency for myself using both conduction and convection vaporizers.

For $40, everyone should own one of these grinders!
They feel great in the hand and do not take up a lot of desk space and do not look like your typical grinder either.

Recommended by me, if that means anything! LOL!
awesome! thanks for your review!
 

ZAM

Grinder Maker
Manufacturer
The ZAMGrinder



Recommended by me, if that means anything! LOL!

I think that is as detailed and high quality a review as I could have hoped for! Thank you! Your bud also looks fantastic by the way, I'm salivating down here in Virginia.

The magnet issue I agree with and will be fixed. I simply need to decrease the distance of the magnet from the steel ring by a mm or so!

Wtf after reading @lazylathe impressions I compulsively placed my order (btw thhhhank you LL for triggering my compulsive buying :goon:) but there is no EU shipping option, only UK wich is soon to be no EU. Are you going to sell in EU @ZAM ?

Hey Andrea,

My website is currently unable to take CC payments. Shopify suspended me for being related to cannabis in any way, and then the merchant processors/gateway accounts I tried to sign up for thought I was literally selling cannabis/CBD.

Suffice it to say, it's been a debacle with multiple long phone calls placed. The good thing is I emailed the paperwork less than hour ago, so everything should be up very soon! I'll add shipping to EU as soon as I can!

My apologies for the delay, and thanks for taking a chance with my grinder!

- Zach
 

ZAM

Grinder Maker
Manufacturer
Haha, you might want to choose your wording more wisely. You make it sound like a risjy business, buying a weed grinder where possibly something could go wrong in the process.

I may get one myself, I'm just waiting on my insurance to come through first. :lol:

It is a risk! Any new product, my product included, is more likely to have errors or issues. These are fixed as the product matures, but still. That's why I'm thankful for for people taking the chance and trying my grinder.

I believe in you Alexis. :)
 

lazylathe

Almost there...
Sorry for the absence from the thread but the last week and a it have been crazy around here...
The one consistent thing has been the ZAM Grinder!
When I first saw the prototype pics and when I first handled it my first thought was, those holes are big and will give a coarse grind. I despise coarse ground bud and stick to fine or between medium and fine.
Surprisingly this is the exact grind the ZAM produces!! A beautiful, fluffy pile of ground herb each and every time.
I have collected hardly any kief which tells me the grinder is doing it's job very effectively.
Just looking at the bud, you will see it shimmering in the light.

It is a bit small for my large, arthritic hands to deal with constantly but for a quick grind on the go, it is absolutely perfect! Stash enough bud in the top for a decent vape session or a sizeable spliff!

I have been trying to grind all my different herbs with the ZAM!
So far the ZAM Grinder does prefer drier type herb that is not super sticky as this herb gums it up pretty quickly and most of the herb is stuck in the longer teeth and lid. A pain to get out. LOL!
This herb also gums up my other grinder after a while and my KannaStor GR8TR cannot even process it.
Sometimes a pair of scissors and a shot glass are your best friend.

So far I have taken the ZAM Grinder to a friends place and did not notice it in my pocket at all, it was full size as well. Friend was very impressed with it and how you could play Tetris with it for hours...LOL!

I like using my ZAM grinder and it stays on my desk right next to my Brilliant Cut Grinder!
Trying to keep the black one pristine and clean.

More coming...
 

pxl_jockey

Just a dude
I wonder if the magnet adjustment is something that can be done now, for this initial release or something to be changed for the next batch? @ZAM I saw that you said it’s an easy fix but that’s not the same as quickly; do you have to sell 10,000 that are in stock before the revision can be implemented? I guess what I want to know is, did you do a small run to get feedback and iron out any wrinkles or do you have a garage full of ZAMs? Please understand, I’m not trying to be a dick, I dig your vibe and your attitude; what you said to @Alexis was the nicest thing I’ve seen in a while, on a forum that is chock-full of niceness. Disgustingly so, sometimes.
I believe in you Alexis. :)

So I really like all the features packed into this cool little grinder and again, like BCG, dude outta nowhere comes up with valuable innovation, not gimmicks, to a product and blindsides the market leaders who have been doing the same thing over and over for years. New teeth and hole patterns, sometimes colours, was enough evolution for them. I love these guys that appreciate their customers because they were a customer who wanted something better and determined to run his business with honesty and integrity. Somewhere big companies lose that, it’s all numbers. I love that our hobby’s Industry has some really intelligent, kind souls who want to earn an honest living and be good people at the same time. A remarkable amount.

But I really like that you get it all: “Blam, there’s the lot of it! Now put it together in whatever configuration you want.” For forty US buckaroos, ZAM gives you everything, which is great because what you want/need can change, even on one holiday trip. And that’s where this grinder would fit me, I think the black version would disappear in a toiletries bag. Zero compromise on the grind and lots of options for day trips or changing circumstances. If lost, it cost $40-get a new one! I haven’t been brave enough to even consider taking my BCG out of the house, the ZAM wouldn’t sting quite so much.

*-brief aside-*
Thanks again @lazylathe for the epic write up and very nice pictures, you know exactly what I want to get out of a grinder review and part of that is PROOF. Show me the grind. I’m interested and want to know all the details and why this concept is different & better, but show me what it can do. I just wanted to say that over time, you have turned me onto some good stuff to spend money on. You, sir, got me on the BCG train very early on so yeah, your recommendation means something to me. To ALL OF US*.

Okay @Ramahs and @szai time for y’all to bring the heat! You two know a little something about grinders and I’m expecting great things from you both. Lazy’s alright and everything, for a Canuck, but I need to hear it from red-blooded ‘mericans! I mean, those Canadians are much too nice and polite to ever really trust**. And then there’s the language barrier, I’m not sure what they’re saying all the time and I’m pretty sure that it’s about me. USA!

*Us in this case being all of the voices residing in my head. :haw: not jk :uhoh:
** That’s why I married one.
 

ZAM

Grinder Maker
Manufacturer
Sorry for the absence from the thread but the last week and a it have been crazy around here...
The one consistent thing has been the ZAM Grinder!
When I first saw the prototype pics and when I first handled it my first thought was, those holes are big and will give a coarse grind. I despise coarse ground bud and stick to fine or between medium and fine.
Surprisingly this is the exact grind the ZAM produces!! A beautiful, fluffy pile of ground herb each and every time.
I have collected hardly any kief which tells me the grinder is doing it's job very effectively.
Just looking at the bud, you will see it shimmering in the light.

It is a bit small for my large, arthritic hands to deal with constantly but for a quick grind on the go, it is absolutely perfect! Stash enough bud in the top for a decent vape session or a sizeable spliff!

I have been trying to grind all my different herbs with the ZAM!
So far the ZAM Grinder does prefer drier type herb that is not super sticky as this herb gums it up pretty quickly and most of the herb is stuck in the longer teeth and lid. A pain to get out. LOL!
This herb also gums up my other grinder after a while and my KannaStor GR8TR cannot even process it.
Sometimes a pair of scissors and a shot glass are your best friend.

So far I have taken the ZAM Grinder to a friends place and did not notice it in my pocket at all, it was full size as well. Friend was very impressed with it and how you could play Tetris with it for hours...LOL!

I like using my ZAM grinder and it stays on my desk right next to my Brilliant Cut Grinder!
Trying to keep the black one pristine and clean.

More coming...

Love it. Thank you.

About the grinder getting gummed up from some sticky-icky. I think I might try and reduce the hole depth as I've gotten a comment or two that the holes are unusually thick. This would make it easier for bud to fall through the holes, helping to prevent the grinder from getting gummed up from that glue-like cannabis ya'll have (jealousy).

Another thing I'm curious about is the side spikes. Initially I thought that these would help propel the cannabis back in to the blades, but I'm wondering if a flat side/inside perimeter would handle the dank a little better. From anyone that has a ZAM, I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I wonder if the magnet adjustment is something that can be done now, for this initial release or something to be changed for the next batch? @ZAM I saw that you said it’s an easy fix but that’s not the same as quickly; do you have to sell 10,000 that are in stock before the revision can be implemented? I guess what I want to know is, did you do a small run to get feedback and iron out any wrinkles or do you have a garage full of ZAMs? Please understand, I’m not trying to be a dick, I dig your vibe and your attitude; what you said to @Alexis was the nicest thing I’ve seen in a while, on a forum that is chock-full of niceness. Disgustingly so, sometimes.


So I really like all the features packed into this cool little grinder and again, like BCG, dude outta nowhere comes up with valuable innovation, not gimmicks, to a product and blindsides the market leaders who have been doing the same thing over and over for years. New teeth and hole patterns, sometimes colours, was enough evolution for them. I love these guys that appreciate their customers because they were a customer who wanted something better and determined to run his business with honesty and integrity. Somewhere big companies lose that, it’s all numbers. I love that our hobby’s Industry has some really intelligent, kind souls who want to earn an honest living and be good people at the same time. A remarkable amount.

But I really like that you get it all: “Blam, there’s the lot of it! Now put it together in whatever configuration you want.” For forty US buckaroos, ZAM gives you everything, which is great because what you want/need can change, even on one holiday trip. And that’s where this grinder would fit me, I think the black version would disappear in a toiletries bag. Zero compromise on the grind and lots of options for day trips or changing circumstances. If lost, it cost $40-get a new one! I haven’t been brave enough to even consider taking my BCG out of the house, the ZAM wouldn’t sting quite so much.

*-brief aside-*
Thanks again @lazylathe for the epic write up and very nice pictures, you know exactly what I want to get out of a grinder review and part of that is PROOF. Show me the grind. I’m interested and want to know all the details and why this concept is different & better, but show me what it can do. I just wanted to say that over time, you have turned me onto some good stuff to spend money on. You, sir, got me on the BCG train very early on so yeah, your recommendation means something to me. To ALL OF US*.

Okay @Ramahs and @szai time for y’all to bring the heat! You two know a little something about grinders and I’m expecting great things from you both. Lazy’s alright and everything, for a Canuck, but I need to hear it from red-blooded ‘mericans! I mean, those Canadians are much too nice and polite to ever really trust**. And then there’s the language barrier, I’m not sure what they’re saying all the time and I’m pretty sure that it’s about me. USA!

*Us in this case being all of the voices residing in my head. :haw: not jk :uhoh:
** That’s why I married one.

No worries, and a valid question! While I've been working on the grinder for quite a while, I assumed there would be some wrinkles that needed ironing, so thankfully I do not have a garage full of ZAM grinders. (even if they are selling well :))

I am actively making the changes requested for the next run, which I'm placing in the next couple days/week! Hooray!!!!!

To give you guys an idea: My first run was for a quantity of 100 to gather feedback/build some hype. Color split was 50 silver, 50 black. I currently have 3 silver grinders left, and roughly 10 black.

My next order is going to be a quantity of 500 with 2 more colors added. I was thinking of a ruby red and a cobalt blue. What do you think of these colors? What colors would you like to see?

The mass production time-frame quoted to me is 45 days, but I had some trouble getting my first order in the time-frame they originally quoted, so I don't have a great amount of faith on this 45 days holding true.

I would like to get some more grinders before Christmas, but I think that's going to be difficult.

Also, to give you guys a heads-up, I think I'm going to have to increase my prices by $5. Essentially it will be $40 for the grinder and $5 for each teflon lining. Shipping free in the United States. This increase is because I got smacked in the face with a 25% tariff which really hurt my already small margins. Hope you guys understand.

That being said. I'll have a life-time 10% discount code for FC cause y'all my homies, so it shouldn't be any different haha, I just wanted to be transparent.

If you have any suggestions for improvement, or any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.

Thanks,

- Zach
 

pxl_jockey

Just a dude
1) Love the transparency ^
2) Glad to hear sales are good, not surprised given the product
2) Ruby Red, first choice; Black, second
3) I’m in the next batch!
4) Five dollars is no problem, 25% is too much to absorb
5) Appreciate the FC love for life!
 

Zander

Well-Known Member
what about a stainless steel version? I know that was briefly discussed earlier on but I was just wondering if it’s in the works yet? btw I hope it’ll be cheaper than 400$, lift innovations has a 400$ cad stainless steel grinder.
 
Last edited:

ZAM

Grinder Maker
Manufacturer
what about a stainless steel version? I know that was briefly discussed earlier on but I was just wondering if it’s in the works yet? btw I hope it’ll be cheaper than 400$, lift innovations has a 400$ cad stainless steel grinder.

Unfortunately stainless steel is probably months away. With a stainless steel version, I would have to make functional changes that would require making and testing multiple prototypes before even considering a release date.

And even before the steel version, I think I'm going to be focused on releasing a slightly larger aluminum version next. A 1.1" inch portable grinder is cool, it's great for travel and a quick small grind, but it simply won't appeal to a significant portion of the market because of its size. I really like my grinder, it serves a great purpose, but even I don't use it when I'm sitting in front of my TV/computer and I want to grind up an eighth as effortlessly as possible.

These plans could change of course, but I would like to have a 1.1" inch portable(current), a 1.6" dual-use, and then a 2.2" home. Each version would have the patent pending ring magnet as well as the patent pending Teflon linings.

I have a dispenser attachment ready for the portable version too, I just need to get up and running so I can start doing some R&D again.

Honestly there's a lot I want to build. I see many areas susceptible to tinkering.

That was more than you asked, but oh well. haha

- Zach
 

Zander

Well-Known Member
Unfortunately stainless steel is probably months away. With a stainless steel version, I would have to make functional changes that would require making and testing multiple prototypes before even considering a release date.

And even before the steel version, I think I'm going to be focused on releasing a slightly larger aluminum version next. A 1.1" inch portable grinder is cool, it's great for travel and a quick small grind, but it simply won't appeal to a significant portion of the market because of its size. I really like my grinder, it serves a great purpose, but even I don't use it when I'm sitting in front of my TV/computer and I want to grind up an eighth as effortlessly as possible.

These plans could change of course, but I would like to have a 1.1" inch portable(current), a 1.6" dual-use, and then a 2.2" home. Each version would have the patent pending ring magnet as well as the patent pending Teflon linings.

I have a dispenser attachment ready for the portable version too, I just need to get up and running so I can start doing some R&D again.

Honestly there's a lot I want to build. I see many areas susceptible to tinkering.

That was more than you asked, but oh well. haha

- Zach
I completely understand. I think that’s a great idea. :)
 

szai

Well-Known Member
I'm really impressed with how great and usable the design is. I'm using it with a Dynavap and it's such a great match. It's so nice to use that i'm using it to grind small amounts as needed. I've been vaping more than normal because I've been having such fun testing the thing. The length of the teeth ensure that grinding is not messy. it functions like a larger unit might. it doesn't feel that tiny and it's quite easy to turn and flow through is great. It's very smart and functional design. I feel like I'm gushing but testing's been fun tonight!
 
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