Why have I been grinding my herb? Do you grind or rip?

[Robert-in-YEG]

The first time I tried dry herb vaping, I ground my herb, because 'that's what you do'. Thinking about it, that might not make sense.

When smoking weed, grinding is the norm, so when I dry herb vape, i use ground flower. Today I asked myself "why?", and I didn't have a reason. It inspired me to try something different. Today I used small nugs, or bits of nugs, packed tightly in the vape. For the Solo II, the Vane and XMax V3 Pro, this seems to work better than grinding.

Anyone else try this? What were your results?

Robert-in-YEG

"Curiosity is the process of asking questions, genuine questions, that are not leading to an ask for something in return."
~ Brian Grazer

 

[TheThriftDrifter]

Hi Robert, I mostly vape on nugs and enjoy the convenience plus the extended flavor. Sometimes I'll pull a nug apart other times just pack it in whole. I occasionally will grind up my meds, mostly when I need/want a quicker or harder hitting sesh.

 

[Bad Dog]

you will find different grinds do different things in different vapes. very common practice to hand tear for the firefly 2+ also very popular withe the Collyland crowd. session conduction typically is recommended a fine grind packed tight so the heat can more effectively penetrate the load, however vapes like the crafty/mighty do whole nugs well. the courser the grind the slower the extraction, finer faster. flavour is usually better more corse grind.

 

[Shit Snacks]

Yeah it depends on the vape, the chamber, the herbs, and what I'm in the mood for... What is fun is doing whole nugs or super chunky grind in the TM with the multi-WPA because it has a glass honeycomb screen, amazing flavor, then I will pop it out and break it up to put it in a regular WPA with a basket screen to get the full extraction... I've never had any success with a whole nug or chunky ground with session conduction type vapes though, they prefer a more consistent grind, I mean most things do for more even extraction and better cloudage, but yeah the general rules are kind of fine grind type pack for conduction and coarser looser pack for convection... There's a lot of overlap though, plus hybrids, so yeah you will find a lot of people here who like to vape whole nugs, and what the best vapes for that are... You really need to get some more different vaporizers in your arsenal dude!

 

[Robert-in-YEG]

Yeah it depends on the vape

Yes. Absolutely agree.......

What started all this was the Xmax V3 Pro, I've been using yesterday and today. I'm enjoying the taste, but it hasn't been delivering big psychoactive effects.

It's takes time to figure out a new toy.

Robert-in-YEG

 

[Relaxed]

I used to tear/rip also, but once I switched to the brilliant cut grinder I haven't looked back. Better clouds, and the herb lasts longer.

 

[Cannabiker]

After the recent harvest I've got a few bags of little popcorn nugs sitting close at hand. I kept them to make bubble hash, but I started popping them into the Dynavap a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't used a grinder since. It extends the flavor through an extra cycle or two. I've been impressed at how even a cook I'm getting. I tried it in the Mighty with good results as well. Some of those terpenes are so volatile they're released with grinding, so I think keeping the flower whole provides a little extra freshness in each hit. Of course, I may be imagining things. It's happened before.

To give credit where credit is due, thanks, @stickstones--I was hearing your voice when I plugged that first nug in the oven.

 

[Shit Snacks]

I used to tear/rip also, but once I switched to the brilliant cut grinder I haven't looked back. Better clouds, and the herb lasts longer.

Haha yeah, I have an itchy trigger finger for my fourth BCG (regular with coarse plate, already have regular with fine plate and regular with medium plate, plus large with medium plate) though I also like the Flower Mill, particularly the extra course plate, to emulate the whole nug experience, but with a more even extraction from chunky grind!

 

[Robert-in-YEG]

a few bags of little popcorn nugs sitting close at hand

Me too......

Yesterday might be the last time I grind for DHV. So far ripping, crumbling, or just tiny nugs, it works fine.

Robert-in-YEG

 

[Ramahs]

I've experimented with whole nugs in different vapes, but I've found that I very much prefer to grind my flower.
I prefer the vapor I get that way.

 

[Bad Dog]

You really need to get some more different vaporizers in your arsenal dude!

we can't all have a 100 vapes like you @Shit Snacks !!! some of us are satisfied with less!!! I'm very happy with my 99! thank you very much!.......... wait a minute ???? didn't I just get on the toad list?!? and I do want one of those heady atlas's ............ and a viking!....!!!!!!!......??????? I'm doomed!!!!!! curse you FC!

 

[Shit Snacks]

we can't all have a 100 vapes like you @Shit Snacks !!! some of us are satisfied with less!!! I'm very happy with my 99! thank you very much!.......... wait a minute ???? didn't I just get on the toad list?!? and I do want one of those heady atlas's ............ and a viking!....!!!!!!!......??????? I'm doomed!!!!!! curse you FC!

Haha yeah I don't think that's necessary, but the member I was replying to only has a few Chinese session vapes really? Solo and v3pro now, but yeah I meant they need to try some more types of vapes...

 

[Texus]

As others have said, grind and grind size is very vape dependent, as well as the type of hit you are going for (in general, for max extraction, the finer you grind the more extraction. Until you get to a grind that might make combustion a stronger possibility). But here is my experience with some of my vapes:

MIghty: Needs medium to fine grind
FW7: Again medium to fine grind is best, though it can handle a nugget.
VapBong/OAB: Here ripped up bud is great. Finer grind => denser hit though
CH Baller V-Rod: Finer grind the better
Herborizer: Medium to fine grind (at least enough to cover the screen, so air is going thru flower instead of around it.
Tafee Bowle: Can accommodate any size. But make sure that nug covers screen completely (again, want air to go through, not around)
Dynavap: Can accommodate any size.

If I can make any generalization about those that handle nugs, or ripped weed: other than VapBong/OAB it seems to be the ones with the smaller diameter bowls. My theory is that this is because you can wedge things in and air can go through. And less volume of bud to go through than in a wider or deeper bowl like on the . For VapBong and OAB, I think it may have to do with those pieces unique and wide open airflow, but haven't thought through the physics of how that plays out.

Again, this is my personal experience and preference. YMMV

 

[Bad Dog]

just pulling your leg a little exploring the variety that's out there has been rewarding experience. I've never been more in touch with my cannabis use since I've started vaping and you've always been a wealth of information around here bro! so thank you for that

 

[Shit Snacks]

just pulling your leg a little exploring the variety that's out there has been rewarding experience. I've never been more in touch with my cannabis use since I've started vaping and you've always been a wealth of information around here bro! so thank you for that

My pleasure bud! Likewise I'm sure... Yeah it really changed everything for me when I could appreciate all the different types of vapes, rather than just different vapes that worked essentially the same... Now that I have ones that I really like and do everything I need, theres many superfluous vapes that I should get rid of but can't help but collect!

 

[Bad Dog]

so much variety with vaping to be appreciated vs smoking, cause weather it was a j, blunt, snaps in a bong or using a screen, pipe or whatever else it was just different flavours of shit and all pretty much the same. but with things like grind, temp, draw and vape you can get all sorts of different experiences. and finding that right vape and tweaking it to your liking with all the variables is like the perfect storm 🌪

back in the bad old days all I did was smoke hand torn bud cause it was shity outdoor with seeds. we've come a long way baby!

 

[Black_Prrl]

Personally, I don't like to grind. Part of that is laziness. Why go through the extra step of grinding if I don't have to?...and, I hate cleaning grinders.

In general for convection-based devices, the physics would indicate that you get better extraction efficiency with grinding AND tamping. I've heard that tamping is controversial, but I think about it like pulling an espresso shot...less channeling when you tamp. Air will follow the path of least resistance. There needs to be some draw resistance to force the air around and through the herb particles. That said, @Shit Snacks is spot on that the size and shape of the chamber as well as how much herb matters quite a bit. The hole pattern or screening also changes the airflow.

For me, you leave far too many trichomes and oils on the grinder itself and it just seems wrong to mash and abuse my flower. My high seems better and the taste is better when I'm using tiny nugs. However, I chop, stir, and tamp the bowl frequently and after the first pull or two, the particles are as small as if you'd ground... Note: there are exceptions depending on the density of the bud. If it's really dense, I grind. After all, you can't make good coffee with whole coffee beans.

 

[Shit Snacks]

@Black_Prrl with the brilliant cut grinder there is no need to clean, maybe once every two years if even lol That's what's so great about their anti locking no jam design doesn't matter how much moist dense sticky goes through it, you can always still turn it fine even with much resinous buildup... Also yeah dude I have come around on tamping with convection myself, often very effective, with a separate bowl, regardless of the grind!

 

[Black_Prrl]

@Black_Prrl with the brilliant cut grinder there is no need to clean, maybe once every two years if even lol That's what's so great about their anti locking no jam design doesn't matter how much moist dense sticky goes through it, you can always still turn it fine even with much resinous buildup... Also yeah dude I have come around on tamping with convection myself, often very effective, with a separate bowl, regardless of the grind!

Looks like I'll need to get myself a brilliant cut! Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Texus]

Looks like I'll need to get myself a brilliant cut! Thanks for the suggestion!

And while we are talking grind size, shoutout to the Flower Mill too. The kit with different size grind plates is a very cost effective way to get different grind sizes. And since it has grind plates, no teeth to clean between. I get a touch of kief buildup on walls of the ground herb chamber, but very easily cleaned off.

 

[Robert-in-YEG]

And while we are talking grind size, shoutout to the Flower Mill too. The kit with different size grind plates is a very cost effective way to get different grind sizes. And since it has grind plates, no teeth to clean between. I get a touch of kief buildup on walls of the ground herb chamber, but very easily cleaned off.

As of late, I've been breaking my buds apart by hand. My grinder needs an update, or I need a different grinder. What I would say, is that coarser has been better, for me.

Robert-in-YEG

 

[howie105]

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Sounds indecisive, but some vapes work best with one level of grid than they do with another or no grind at all.

 

[Robert-in-YEG]

Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Sounds indecisive, but some vapes work best with one level of grid than they do with another or no grind at all.

I don't disagree. Every vape is different.

It might also just be a passing phase? Who knows? Every day is different.

Robert-in-YEG

 

[Ramahs]

It might also just be a passing phase? Who knows?

Maybe. I have a pile of grinders for a reason

 

[Robert-in-YEG]

Maybe. I have a pile of grinders for a reason

You mean like buying more stuff? Spending more money??

What the hell; jut do it!

Robert-in-YEG

"Retail therapy? What an idea!"
~ Psychologist who owns a vape shop