Herb Grinders NZ
Greenhut · New Zealand
A grinder has one job: reduce dry herb to an even, consistent texture without you pulling it apart by hand. Greenhut stocks herb and herb grinders across New Zealand in two, three, four and five-chamber designs, in anodised aluminium, zinc alloy, stainless steel, plastic and wood-look finishes, from 40mm pocket units up to a 75mm large-capacity body.
Most people arrive here knowing they want "a grinder" and leave confused by piece counts. The two things that actually decide which one suits you are how many chambers it has and what it is made of. Everything below is organised around those two decisions.
Shop grinders by type
- 4 piece grinders — lid, grinding chamber, collection chamber and a kief catcher under a mesh screen
- 3 piece grinders — grind and collect in separate chambers, no kief catcher
- Metal grinders — aluminium, zinc alloy and stainless steel bodies
- Plastic grinders — the lightest and least expensive way in
- Sharpstone grinders — CNC-machined aircraft-grade aluminium
- RAW grinders — RAW Original and the RAW x Hammercraft range
- Best selling grinders — what Kiwi customers order most
2, 3, 4 or 5 piece — what actually changes
"Pieces" counts the separate parts that magnet or screw together. The count decides where the ground material ends up, and whether the fine powder that comes off it is kept or lost.
| Type | Parts | Where ground herb ends up | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 piece | Lid + grinding chamber | Sits on the teeth; you tip it out | Pocket carry, lowest price, nothing to lose or block |
| 3 piece | Lid, grinding chamber, collection chamber | Drops through holes into its own chamber | Tidier than a 2 piece without adding much height or cost |
| 4 piece | Lid, grinding chamber, collection chamber, kief catcher | Collection chamber, with fine particles falling through a mesh screen to a bottom chamber | Most buyers — it is the default for a reason |
| 5 piece | As a 4 piece, plus a separate storage compartment | Same as a 4 piece | Carrying grinder and storage as one unit |
The practical difference between a 2 piece and a 4 piece is the mesh screen. Grinding always produces fine powder (kief). A 2 or 3 piece leaves it mixed through everything; a 4 piece sieves it into a chamber of its own so you can use it separately. If you are undecided, a 4 piece does everything a 3 piece does and adds a chamber you can simply ignore.
Materials, and what each one is actually like
- Anodised aluminium — light for its size, and the anodised layer resists the smudging and wear that bare metal shows. Teeth are machined rather than moulded, so they hold their edge. The Sharpstone and RAW Hammercraft bodies are cut from aluminium rod.
- Zinc alloy — denser and noticeably heavier in the hand than aluminium at the same diameter, and usually cheaper. Most of the coloured and novelty-shaped bodies in this range are zinc alloy.
- Stainless steel — the heaviest option and the hardest to mark. Uncommon; the RAW Original Stainless Steel Heavy is the stainless model in this range.
- Plastic and acrylic — lightest and cheapest. Teeth are moulded rather than machined, so they will not stay as sharp as metal over time, and threads wear faster. A sensible first grinder or a spare.
- Wood-look — a wood-effect finish over a metal or plastic body, not solid timber. Bought for the look.
What size should you buy?
Grinders are measured by the diameter of the body, in millimetres. Across this range that runs from about 40mm to 75mm.
- 40–45mm — pocket sized. Handles a small amount at a time and disappears into a jacket.
- 50–55mm — the most common size, and the one most brand-name grinders are built at. Enough grip to turn easily.
- 60mm and up — large capacity. Grind more in one go, but it is a two-handed object and it will not sit flat in a pocket.
Grinder questions we get asked
What does a 4 piece do that a 2 piece doesn't? It separates the ground material from the fine powder, using a mesh screen and a fourth chamber. A 2 piece has neither, so everything stays together on the teeth.
What is a kief catcher? The bottom chamber of a 4 or 5 piece grinder, sitting below a fine mesh screen. Fine particles pass through the screen as you turn the grinder and gather there.
Metal or plastic? Metal, if the budget allows — machined teeth and metal threads last. Plastic is a real option if you want to spend the least, or want a second grinder you do not mind losing.
What does the magnetic lid do? A neodymium magnet in the lid holds it shut while you turn it, so the contents stay inside and the lid does not creep off. Almost every metal grinder here has one.
How do I clean a grinder? Take it apart, tap the loose material out, then work the teeth and threads with a stiff dry brush. Isopropyl alcohol dissolves the sticky residue on metal grinders; rinse and dry fully before reassembling. Avoid soaking anodised or painted finishes for long periods, and avoid alcohol on plastic and acrylic.
Why is the colour chosen at random on some products? A number of the coloured alloy grinders are stocked in mixed colourways and the listing says so. Where colour matters, check the product page before ordering.
Read before you buy
Two guides go deeper than this page does: Herb Grinders 101 — the complete NZ buying guide covers teeth design, screens and maintenance in detail, and How to choose a herb grinder is the short version if you just want a recommendation.
