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Roll joints with a manual roller, injector, or automatic machine
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Using a rolling machine to roll your joints is a quicker and easier alternative to rolling them by hand. There are lots of different machines to roll your joints, including the simple manual roller, the injector or cone filler, and the high-tech automatic roller. In this article, we’ll explain how to use all of these machines to ensure you have a perfectly rolled joint for your next smoke sesh!

Using a Roller to Roll a Joint

  1. Slide down the roller’s front rod and insert a filter.
  2. Add an even layer of cannabis or whatever you’re smoking and close the rod.
  3. Use your fingers to roll both rods towards you for about 20 seconds.
  4. Insert a piece of rolling paper and roll until there’s only a small amount of paper sticking out.
  5. Lick the adhesive on the paper and spin both rods towards you again.
Section 1 of 6:

What is a joint roller?

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  1. Most joint rollers are small devices that consist of 2 rolling parts. The rolling mechanism helps you make evenly rolled joints quickly.
    • Joint rollers are typically made out of wood, plastic, or metal.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Use a Thumb or Manual Joint Roller

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  1. Open the joint roller and add a filter on one side. Look on the side of the joint roller to identify the rod that shifts positions. Then, turn the roller so the rod faces you and slide it down to open up the machine. Simply place a filter on the far end of either side of the roller. [1]
    • Most joint rollers come in 3 lengths: 70 mm (2.75 in), 78 mm (3 in), and 100 mm (3.9 in). They make joints that are about the same width as a standard cigarette.
    • Note : Filters aren’t technically necessary. However, they can help improve airflow and give you something to hold onto as you get to the end of the joint.
  2. Use a grinder to finely grind the cannabis—between 0.5 and 1.5 grams is usually enough. Then, lightly pack it into the joint roller in an even layer between the 2 rods, making sure it doesn’t cover the filter. [2]
    • Ensure you don’t under or overfill the joint roller with cannabis, as too much or too little airflow can cause it to burn unevenly and make smoking your joint less pleasurable. It may take some practice to find the right balance.
    • If you don’t have a grinder, grind the cannabis with your fingers, scissors, a knife, or a cheese grater.
  3. Lift up the front rod to close the roller. You may need to press down on the cannabis as you close the roller to keep it in place. Then, use your thumbs and pointer fingers to roll both rods towards you. Apply even pressure as you roll for about 10 to 20 seconds. [3]
    • Rolling the cannabis helps compact it and form it into a tubular shape.
    • If you overfilled the roller, the excess cannabis may squeeze out of the rods. Simply sweep it off and keep rolling.
  4. Insert a piece of rolling paper with the sticky side up and facing you. Take a piece of rolling paper and turn it around so the strip of adhesive is facing up and toward you. Then, stick the rolling paper between the 2 rods. [4]
    • Note : Make sure you use rolling paper that’s compatible with your joint roller. Most packages list the length and width of the rolling paper on the front of the box.
  5. Use your thumbs and pointer fingers to roll both rods towards you. This starts rolling the paper around the cannabis and creating your joint. Just stop rolling when most of the paper is gone and only the sticky strip is showing. [5]
  6. Lick the sticky strip on the rolling paper to activate the adhesive. Then, keep rolling both rods towards you for 10 to 20 seconds using even pressure. This ensures that the paper sticks together and your joint forms a compact, tubular shape. [6]
  7. Slide down the front rod to open up the joint roller. Then, take out your joint. It should form a tight, uniform roll that burns evenly .
    • If you overfilled your joint, simply roll it back and forth between your fingers to help loosen up the cannabis and improve airflow. If that doesn’t help, you may need to reroll it.
    • If you underfilled your joint, reroll it with a bit more cannabis.
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Use a Manual Cone Roller

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  1. Open the cone roller and add a cone tip and filter . Position the roller so the adjustable rod faces you. Then, slide it down to open the roller. Place a cone tip on one end of the roller with the nozzle facing outwards. Then, place a filter on the opposite end. [7]
    • Cone rollers work similarly to manual rollers except they form cone-shaped joints. These joints have a slight taper instead of the standard cigarette shape.
    • Adding a cone tip on one end helps create the tapered shape, though they aren’t technically necessary.
  2. Finely grind your cannabis with a grinder . Then, add it between the 2 rods and the cone tip and filter. Just lightly pack down the cannabis to ensure it's even and not under or overfilled. [8]
  3. Lift the front rod up to close the cone roller. Then, use your thumbs and pointer fingers to roll both rods toward you using even, consistent pressure. Just keep rolling for about 10 to 20 seconds to compact the cannabis. [9]
  4. Insert a rolling paper with the adhesive strip face up and toward you. Grab a piece of rolling paper and turn it so the sticky strip is facing up and at you. Then, slide it in between the 2 rods of the roller. [10]
    • Make sure you’re using rolling paper that fits inside your roller.
  5. Use your fingers to roll the paper until only the adhesive is showing. Then, lick the sticky part and keep rolling for several seconds to ensure the joint is secure and evenly compacted. [11]
  6. Slide down the front rod to open up the cone roller. Take out your joint and remove the cone tip. Then, twist the excess paper at the top to secure the joint closed. [12]
    • As an alternative to twisting the cone closed, make a Dutch crown. Simply use your finger or the end of a pen to fold the paper over the opening. Just keep folding down the paper until you create a flat top. [13]
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Use an Injector Roller or Cone Filler

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  1. Pull open the top of the injector roller to expose the machine’s trough. Then, grind your cannabis and pour it into the trough. Grab a spoon or spatula and press down on the cannabis to tightly compress it inside the trough. [14]
    • Add enough cannabis so that the trough is completely filled, but not so much that you can’t close the machine.
    • There are also electric cone fillers and injector rollers where you simply add the cannabis and a pre-rolled joint to the machine and press a button to fill it. [15]
    • Compared to manual rollers, injectors can be easier and quicker to use and don’t actually require any rolling. However, they’re usually more expensive.
  2. Place a pre-rolled joint or cone over the tip of the filler. Injector rollers use pre-rolled joints, saving you time and making the rolling process easier. Simply slide the paper onto the nozzle at the front of the machine. [16]
    • Instead of purchasing pre-rolled joints or cones, feel free to roll your own using rolling paper .
  3. Push down the top of the machine so it latches onto the pre-rolled joint. Then, slowly slide the top part of the filler backward. This pushes the cannabis into the joint. [17]
  4. To ensure the cannabis is compacted inside the joint, slide the machine backward 1 to 2 more times. Or, use a small, thin tool, like a pen, to push the cannabis down into the joint. [18]
    • Packing down the cannabis ensures there isn’t too much airflow, which can lead to an unsatisfying smoke session.
  5. Use your fingers to twist the top of the rolling paper and secure the joint or cone closed. Now, you’re ready to enjoy it! [19]
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Use an Automatic Joint Roller

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  1. Place a pre-rolled joint or cone inside the device’s bottom compartment. Most automatic joint rollers come in 2 parts: a top portion where you insert and grind the cannabis, and a bottom portion where you place a pre-rolled joint. Simply twist apart the sections and place a joint face up inside the bottom compartment. [20]
    • Using an automatic joint roller is usually the quickest and easiest way to roll a joint. However, these machines are much more expensive than manual rollers and fillers.
  2. Twist or pull open the top portion of the machine to expose the grinder. Then, add about 0.5 to 1.5 grams of unground cannabis into the compartment and close it. [21]
  3. Put the machine back together with the grinder portion over the pre-rolled joint. Then, press the machine’s button. This grinds the cannabis and pours it directly into the pre-rolled joint. [22]
    • You may need to pack down the cannabis and add more to the grinder to fill the joint to your liking.
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Section 6 of 6:

Pros and Cons of Using a Joint Roller

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  1. Joint rollers are a great alternative to rolling a joint by hand . These simple devices are easy to use and help you roll joints more quickly. They also form consistent, evenly rolled joints.
    • Most joint rollers are inexpensive, too.
  2. One of the few drawbacks of using a joint roller is that it doesn’t allow you to customize your joints as much as rolling by hand. With most joint rollers, you can only roll joints that are the same exact size.
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