Hand Rolls or Rolling Machines?

Pros of Joint Rolling Machines

Joint rolling machines can get the job done quickly and efficiently under most circumstances. Here are some other top features of joint rolling machines:

Efficiency/Speed

Hand-rolling more than a few joints can take a considerable amount of time. Joint rolling machines put out a joint in under a minute; about 20-30 seconds. It is by far the most efficient method. If you want to try to skip the rolling altogether and opt for pre-rolled cones, anyone who’s worked in a dispensary will attest, hand-filling cones is tedious work.

Ease of Use

Joint rolling machines are incredibly easy to use, with simple instructions. There are few moving parts, most are quite durable, and require only minimal fine motor skills.

Uniformity

If you’re new to hand-rolling, your joints might not be the most dependable cannabis delivery method. With a machine, you’ll know what to expect every time. While many mean it as a put-down, the “training wheels” description has some merit to it. Hand-rolling takes practice, so in the meantime, you’ll have something to fall back on. If you’re still getting up to speed and don’t have time, product, or papers to risk, consider a roller.

As with anything in life, there are several cons to weigh in when determining if you want to use a joint rolling machine. At the end of the day though, none of the following aspects are detrimental to your cannabis consumption experiences. However, they are things that should be considered if you’re new to joint rolling and want to learn about all your options thoroughly. Take a look at some of the most common complaints surrounding joint rolling machines:

Bad Machines Make Bad Joints.

We highly suspect that most people against joint rolling machines have either never used one, or only used poorly made ones, and poorly made joint rollers are everywhere, so it’s a decent guess. The key element to a joint roller is the rolling sheath. These can vary in material from high-quality synthetics to old-fashioned vinyl. The vinyl ones, while cheap and readily found, tend to roll joints unevenly or too tight. You’re left with a joint prone to canoeing and tough to draw; ultimately, less desirable to smoke.

Another thing to look for is that some cheaper joint rollers have a loose close, with a tendency to spring open if packed too tight. They’ll sending flower flying if you even look at them wrong. Look for a firm close, but not too tight. A roller should be able to sit closed with product in it without you holding it clasped, but still roll freely.

All machines take a little trial and error to find the right fill amount, but if your joint roller is constantly making bad joints and flinging product at you, it’s worthwhile to ditch it for a better one. Joint rolling machines are fairly cheap, so if you buy one you don’t like, at worst, you’re out $6-8.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

While joint rolling machines are consistent, they are also inflexible. Beyond a small amount of variation, the machines will require a set amount of cannabis each time. Many smokers adjust the size of their joints to whatever the intended occasion calls for. Hand rollers can fit an impressive amount of flower in a standard joint paper, or almost nothing. As you progress in your pursuit of joint smoking, it’s likely that this one-size-fits-all won’t always cut it. If you don’t desire the size or shape that that machine makes, you’re out of luck.