The United machining Grinder has finally arrived in the holy land!
the international process was very short - less than a week since payment, to process the package, domestic movements and international national flight (thanks USPS!). But the local process took more than two weeks of waiting!
The grinder is as big as my 2previous grinders: one is some earlier version/imitation of Phoenician. and another is the wooden Futo.
all three grinders are about the same diameter but the United is bigger by few millimeters than the rest. and also has the biggest - wide & deep - flower grinding compartment.
It’s very comfortable to hold and turn to grind. The teeth are super sharp, nothing stands their way. But I need to find some way to avoid the weed from getting jammed on the flat top part of the teeth.
The grounded herb comes out fine or super-fine -depends on using the yellow hole reducer. I’m still not sure which way I like most. But very much enjoying both and most of all - enjoying the consistency of the grounded herb. my aluminum grinder was never that sharp, fine or consistent.
I was surprised that the blue part is another anodized aluminum. From the picture - I used to think it looks like plastic. although the sleek insertion & removal - I don’t know how it will react for the long term with some wear&tear, But I definitely trusted the “100% stainless steel” mention. and willing to upgrade this part to be stainless.
another small issue I have with the United grinder is the small step inside the bottom part for the kief... Instead of a round bowl there’s a small step with 2 angles for the trichomes to get stuck and a flat surface where the blue part sits - for trichomes to crush and compress every time you remove and return the blue bowl.
Although the grinding process sounds pretty sleek - I think an oring is missing between the two grinding parts. Without it the two metal parts scraps against each other, wear & make noise.
(Actually the grinding noise of the United’s stainless steel parts is much more soft & sweet than aluminum equivalent that sounds like grinding two stones together)
I tried to collect kief with the small copper scrapper but it dragged and smeared the kief instead of collecting.
I always used a fine brush for collecting & moving kief. But now that’s a problem with the small step in the bottom part.
one good surprise I had! Is the bottom closing mechanism - the magnets are working wonderful! At first I was worrying of accidentally opening the bottom part during grinding turns, or just forgetting it open - for it to drop when lifted not carefully- but no! there are 3 teeth that restricts the turn and gives enough tolerance for the magnets to re-order and lock back, in case you haven’t planned to open the compartment
all in all I really like the United machining grinder!
I love it’s size, weight, sleek look, texture, grinding consistency and the overall feeling of holding a premium product on your hands. It was worth the two years patience since I’ve first seen it - and got my wish fulfilled - 2.5” diameter instead of 2”