I can't imagine my life without my grinder! :smokin: I don't remember the days of breaking up my weed. It's so much cleaner and neater this way. I have had this wooden one for 5 years and I smoke everyday. I LOVE it. It doesn't matter how you grind it- it should move losely when the weed is nice and crushed up fine. It moves harder at first and then loosens up. A good quality grinder won't break it's teeth even with the most compressed trees. SOMETIMES, with certain trees and after alot of use the teeth can get a little bent -you can always bend then back with pliers or something.