smatter

Well-Known Member
I'm partial to a $14 Hamilton Beach grinder I bought at Wally. This'll be the one I have. Works perfectly with a range of 1-4 grams that I've tried out personally. I can get it down to a powder, turn it over, and take the lid off full of my herb. Then I can scrape off all the delicious kief that sticks to the lid and get an ass-kicking crazy-good trench :freak:

That does sound delicious! Do I have to do anything special once it's ground in terms of storage?
 
smatter,

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
That does sound delicious! Do I have to do anything special once it's ground in terms of storage?
Usually what I'll do is break up my bud into smaller pieces, varying in size from a dime to a nickel. I'll let the flower sit out for an hour or so to dry out, and then grind it. The grind seems to get a bit of residual moisture out, so after I grind it I'll dump it out into a small tray to dry out a bit more, then I'll just put it in the plastic jars that my stuff comes in. The biggest thing to worry about when storing your bud is to make sure it's not damp or anything. Damp environments attract molds, which probably won't get you high and might even get you sick/kill you if it's a toxic mold. I've never had problems with it molding post-grind, but like I said I like to let it sit out for a bit to dry out. After it's in the jar and all, I shake it a few times. I've noticed that it seems to stick to itself a bit in the jar when I agitate it, but after a day or so it dries out and takes on a consistency of sand. I "burp" the air out maybe once or twice the day I grind it all up, and the day after (by burp I mean open it so that there's air exchange.) This applies more to higher quantities being processed, the odd gram in there doesn't have as much moisture or chance of molding compared to the 4-8 grams I usually grind in one go.

Sorry for the length, I tried to be detailed. If you need any further clarification, I'd be happy to help :)
 

smatter

Well-Known Member
Usually what I'll do is break up my bud into smaller pieces, varying in size from a dime to a nickel. I'll let the flower sit out for an hour or so to dry out, and then grind it. The grind seems to get a bit of residual moisture out, so after I grind it I'll dump it out into a small tray to dry out a bit more, then I'll just put it in the plastic jars that my stuff comes in. The biggest thing to worry about when storing your bud is to make sure it's not damp or anything. Damp environments attract molds, which probably won't get you high and might even get you sick/kill you if it's a toxic mold. I've never had problems with it molding post-grind, but like I said I like to let it sit out for a bit to dry out. After it's in the jar and all, I shake it a few times. I've noticed that it seems to stick to itself a bit in the jar when I agitate it, but after a day or so it dries out and takes on a consistency of sand. I "burp" the air out maybe once or twice the day I grind it all up, and the day after (by burp I mean open it so that there's air exchange.) This applies more to higher quantities being processed, the odd gram in there doesn't have as much moisture or chance of molding compared to the 4-8 grams I usually grind in one go.

Sorry for the length, I tried to be detailed. If you need any further clarification, I'd be happy to help :)

You're instructions are crystal clear, thank you for the detail. I have a couple more questions. When I agitate the box after a hit, quite vigorously I might add, some of the material stays stuck in the corners of the trench anyway, not much, just a little. I don't bother opening the lid and loosening it. Is this an indication that the herb is not dry enough, or just standard ops in the box. I also notice some of the contents of the trench getting into the air channel under the lid, again just a tiny bit. This is trivial I'm sure but I thought I would just put it out there. Maybe there is some technique in the snapping of the wrist while shaking in triads :~)
 
smatter,

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
Sounds run of the mill. I think what happens is that as the trichomes vaporize, the plant wax that comprises the trichomes "melts" and becomes a bit sticky. A few hits farther down the line, when it starts to fully brown, it stop sticking for me. I assume this is the point where the plant waxes have vaporized and broken down enough to not be an issue. I get the same thing happening with the first hit of a trench, I'll twist and turn and shake it like I'm having a seizure, but there's a layer of herb at the bottom touching the screen that seems to stick. What I've found is that if I give it a bit more juice on the second hit than the first, it "unsticks" itself. My old and new box does it, regardless of the strain I use. Like I said, after the second or third hit it stops being an issue. I have not noticed any screen damage occur because of this. In fact, when I can "afford" it, I like to load trenches of just kief. Takes less hits to get me going than it does with flower, let me tell ya... :science:

As for material getting into the air channel, yeah that's due to the recessed form of the air channel. I think it was OF that told me that you can place a small strip of electrical tape at the end of it closest to the trench and it will prevent about 95% of the material from getting through there, but it doesn't seem to restrict the air flow when I draw. This is how mine was configured.

Ug14l.jpg
 

smatter

Well-Known Member
Sounds run of the mill. I think what happens is that as the trichomes vaporize, the plant wax that comprises the trichomes "melts" and becomes a bit sticky. A few hits farther down the line, when it starts to fully brown, it stop sticking for me. I assume this is the point where the plant waxes have vaporized and broken down enough to not be an issue. I get the same thing happening with the first hit of a trench, I'll twist and turn and shake it like I'm having a seizure, but there's a layer of herb at the bottom touching the screen that seems to stick. What I've found is that if I give it a bit more juice on the second hit than the first, it "unsticks" itself. My old and new box does it, regardless of the strain I use. Like I said, after the second or third hit it stops being an issue. I have not noticed any screen damage occur because of this. In fact, when I can "afford" it, I like to load trenches of just kief. Takes less hits to get me going than it does with flower, let me tell ya... :science:

As for material getting into the air channel, yeah that's due to the recessed form of the air channel. I think it was OF that told me that you can place a small strip of electrical tape at the end of it closest to the trench and it will prevent about 95% of the material from getting through there, but it doesn't seem to restrict the air flow when I draw. This is how mine was configured.

Ug14l.jpg

Again, thanks for the detailed response and the sharp pic. I may try the tape mod if I find the crumbs in the channel bother me too much. I apologize for all the questions, I am just geeking out on my new toy.
 
smatter,
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sydnee

Vaporus Majorus
I'm partial to a $14 Hamilton Beach grinder I bought at Wally. This'll be the one I have. Works perfectly with a range of 1-4 grams that I've tried out personally. I can get it down to a powder, turn it over, and take the lid off full of my herb. Then I can scrape off all the delicious kief that sticks to the lid and get an ass-kicking crazy-good trench :freak:

I'll second that. I have the exact same grinder. I like how the bowl of the grinder comes out. I bought a small cheapo paint brush & I use it to get all the goodies out and into my LB. Yummy stuff.
 

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
I'll second that. I have the exact same grinder. I like how the bowl of the grinder comes out. I bought a small cheapo paint brush & I use it to get all the goodies out and into my LB. Yummy stuff.
The part that holds the blades comes off the grinder base as well, which is a plus IMO. Just grind up my stuff, turn it upside down, tap it a few times to knock it all off, spread to dry, and start brushing down the blade part. It's a fun little ritual, although for smaller quantities (up to ~2g) I like to use my 2 piece Space Case.
 

OF

Well-Known Member
As for material getting into the air channel, yeah that's due to the recessed form of the air channel. I think it was OF that told me that you can place a small strip of electrical tape at the end of it closest to the trench and it will prevent about 95% of the material from getting through there, but it doesn't seem to restrict the air flow when I draw. This is how mine was configured.

Yeah, guilty as charged. There seems to be a similar bit of tape on mine right here now that you bring it up....

OF
 

Buildozer

Baked & Fried
tonight i gave one of my LB's to a couple of friends.. they've been liking vaping the desktops lately but didn't have the money for one, so hopefully this keeps them vaping until then... i gave them a crash course, and we vaped a few trenches... magic flight also sent me some launch box user guide booklet w/ my warranty box, so i gave them that too.. it seemed to have all the basics in there for them to reference... with the amounts they use this should work out very well for them. i'll have to check up and show them how to make use of the AVB some time down the line..
 

Quetzalcoatl

DEADY GUERRERO/DIRT COBAIN/GEORGE KUSH
My cousin's in the clear from the legal mumbo jumbo!! He's planning on getting a Launch Box himself after a single session with me and some dank Bubba Kush and Strawberry Diesel. All it took was two hits and he was pulling MAD cloud. I swear it's like when I'm there to explain to people how to use it right, they get it. I've turned 3 people onto the LB itself, and made a half dozen friends and friends-of-friends seriously look into vaporizers. You'd be surprised at the amount of people that think it's either the crappy box vapes or the Volcano.

I'm definitely gonna bring the glass and my power adapter :science:
 

smatter

Well-Known Member
I agree, most people do think they have to drop $$$ to get vaping. My favorite thing about the Volcano is that the bag is such a pain to change. My buddy calls me over everytime he needs a new bag because he doesn't have the manual dexterity to do it. I am always happy to help ;~) I am taking my box over to some friend's tonight so they can take it for a test drive before they buy theirs.
 

flouris

Well-Known Member
A 'cheap pair of batteries off Amazon' is probably a mistake. MFLB is actually a very demanding load for the poor little guys. You should probably stick to the proven types if you want good service.

Good luck. I agree, it sounds like you need to replace your batteries, they do get weak.

OF

They arrived today (surprisingly fast shipping) and fortunately they are powerex aai240s, which I think is what MFLB ships them with.
 
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OF

Well-Known Member
i like full trenches...:D

Yeah, me too. But IMO that one is way over filled. Keeping the bud below the top of the trench goes a long way toward keeping deposits from forming on the rails and gets most guys more/better tokes per gram.

Grind fine and dry, use freshly charged batteries, load small, draw slow and shake between hits. Expect happiness. Simple.

OF
 

Buildozer

Baked & Fried
Yeah, me too. But IMO that one is way over filled. Keeping the bud below the top of the trench goes a long way toward keeping deposits from forming on the rails and gets most guys more/better tokes per gram.

Grind fine and dry, use freshly charged batteries, load small, draw slow and shake between hits. Expect happiness. Simple.

OF
ha ya, it's over filled for sure ha.. i like it not full over the rails, but full w/in its functioning limits..

those rail deposits are annoying ha... i stopped caring so much... because i like my trenches over half full and its gonna happen eventually... i find kief really speeds up that process.
 

pakalolo

Toolbag v1.1 (candidate)
Staff member
ha ya, it's over filled for sure ha.. i like it not full over the rails, but full w/in its functioning limits..

those rail deposits are annoying ha... i stopped caring so much... because i like my trenches over half full and its gonna happen eventually... i find kief really speeds up that process.

What people who obsessively clean off those rails often fail to realize is that the deposits don't get worse after they reach a certain level. I rarely clean mine off. The screen is most stressed right where those deposits form and I've always felt that the less scraping and rubbing on that part, the better. The deposits don't affect performance, they're just ugly. I find them easy to ignore, but I guess it depends on your level of OCD.
 

vapirtoo

Well-Known Member
I think that most of us clean the box too often which can be a
detriment to long term reliabilty. Good looks or good performance?
 
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flouris

Well-Known Member
With bud I fill the trench about 3/4 to 4/5 to the top, but with kief I use a sparse amount, just enough to cover the surface of the trench floor/bottom. After one hit, I use the brush to 'flip' the half charred wafer of kief over (like a pancake) and then vape the other side ; >
 
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Vicki

Herbal Alchemist
but with kief I use a sparse amount, just enough to cover the surface of the trench floor/bottom. After one hit, I use the brush to 'flip' the half charred wafer of kief over (like a pancake) and then vape the other side ; >

I've done that too. A lot of times, I'll put in a little more so that I can shake it.
 
Vicki,
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