Review Summary
The Tectonic9 is a manual grinder with an electronic dispensing action that makes it easy to use while keeping it portable-friendly. The grind consistency was good, and you can drop the herbs directly into your vaporizer. However, the additional complications involved with operating this grinder, plus the fact that it needs to be charged, means that it is not for everyone.
Pricing Info ⓘ
Specifications
Tectonic9
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|---|---|
| Score (1-5) |
4.4 Current Review |
| Retail Price |
$59.00 |
| Release Date | August 2019 |
| Compatible With | Dry Herb |
| Body Material | Aluminum |
| Battery Type | Internal |
| Battery Capacity | 320mAh |
| Charge Time | 1-2 Hours |
| Charger Type | Micro-USB |
Design and Features
Design
The Tectonic9 looks similar to most manual grinders at first glance. However, you will no doubt notice the clear viewing window that makes it stand out. On clmenoser inspection, you’ll notice a sliding panel just below that window. When you give it a really good once over you will see a button on the back with a USB port beneath it, and on the base, you will see a mysterious folding part. All of these design features are unusual for a manual grinder, but that’s because the Tectonic9 is not an ordinary manual grinder.
It has a vibration function that dispenses the herb through a small spout that folds up from the base and directly into your vaporizer. So, while the grinding action is much the same as it is with other manual grinders, the way the herb is dispensed is completely different. This means that the Tectonic9 has way more moving parts than other manual grinders. What it doesn’t have is a kief catcher, so if you like to catch and use that kief powder, you’re out of luck.
The Tectonic9 is a solidly built device that is made from anodized aluminum and has a nice heft to it. With all the electronic stuff inside, it’s no surprise that the Tectonic9 weighs more than other manual grinders. It’s also a little taller than other manual grinders so it’s not as pocket-friendly as they are. The Tectonic9 has twenty-eight CNC manufactured diamond-shaped teeth, which are on par with other manual grinders. The top attaches to the rest of the Tectonic9 magnetically and it has a textured finish around the edge that makes gripping it easy as you grind.
Features
As you would expect, the vibrational dispensing feature is what sets the Tectonic9 apart from all the other manual grinders out there.
How To Use
- Remove the magnetic lid, place your herb in the chamber, and then replace the lid.
- Start grinding by twisting the lid back and forth.
- Once grinding is complete, flip up the spout, and then slide the access panel open.
- Dispense the herb by pressing the power button and holding the spout over the herb chamber of your vaporizer.
Performance
Grinder Performance
The grinding action of the Tectonic9 is smooth and easy on the wrists and the ground up herb is nice and fluffy, which is about what you would expect from any of the best weed grinders. So the real test of the device is the dispensing action, and it works pretty well for the most part. The vibrating action helps to push the herb through the spout which makes it easy to aim the herb into your vaporizer oven. You might occasionally get some pieces of herb stuck in the spout, but for the most part, the dispensing works well.
The question is whether this dispensing function is worth all the extra effort. After all, you don’t have to worry about charging up other manual grinders or rearranging them when you’re ready to use the ground-up herb. For new and casual vapers, the Tectonic9 is a good option since it can streamline the whole process while creating very little mess. However, for veteran vapers who already have their grinding and vaping routine down cold, they may not find it necessary to change up their habits for this new grinder. Also, they may not like the fact that the Tectonic9 doesn’t have a kief catcher, which is something that probably won’t concern new or casual vapers too much.
There is also the question of how long the Tectonic9 will last since it has way more moving parts than manual grinders. We will have to wait and see how it compares to the generally trouble-free and low-maintenance manual grinders.
Battery Performance
The Tectonic9 uses a 320 mAh battery that can be used up to 120 times per charge. Recharging takes about an hour, but even though you can’t use the vibrational dispensation feature while the battery is dead, you can just pluck the herb out of the chamber yourself.