Das Filter Blog
How to Roll a Pinner (a Thin Joint), Step by Step
Quick answer: A pinner is a very thin joint. To roll one, use a single wide paper and a 6mm tip, grind your flower fine, and lay a small, even line of it along the crease. Roll it back and forth into a thin, straight tube, tuck the paper tightly under it starting at the tip, roll up and seal. It's the same method as a regular joint, with less flower and a tighter tuck.
What is a pinner?
A pinner is a joint rolled about as thin as a pencil, or thinner. It's a short, light smoke, handy when you only want a little. Unlike a cone, a pinner stays the same width from end to end.
What you need
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Single wide paper (or 1 1/4) | Less paper to wrap around a small fill. See rolling paper sizes. |
| A 6mm tip | Matches the thin body. Wider tips leave too little paper to seal. |
| Finely ground flower | Big pieces poke through thin paper and leave gaps |
| A tray or mat | To catch what falls |
Step 1: Grind fine
Grind a little finer than you would for a normal joint, but stop before it turns to powder. A thin roll has no room for chunks, and a single stem can tear the paper. Powder packs so tight it won't draw. More in how to grind weed for a joint.
Step 2: Set the tip
Crease the paper, glue strip up and along the far edge. Put a 6mm tip in the crease at one end, flush with the edge. The tip sets the width: you'll roll the rest of the joint to match it.
Step 3: Add a small, even line
Lay a thin line of flower along the crease from the tip to the far end. Keep it the same thickness the whole way. It should look a little smaller than the tip.
Step 4: Shape it
Pinch the paper and roll it back and forth between your thumbs and fingers until the flower packs into a thin, straight tube. Check that the far end is as thick as the tip end. If it flares out, you're rolling a cone; push some flower back toward the tip.
Step 5: Tuck tight
Start at the tip. Tuck the near edge of the paper under the flower, using the tip as a guide, and work the tuck along the length. With so little inside, a loose tuck is easy to miss and the pinner sags. More on the tuck in how to roll a joint.
Step 6: Roll up, tear and seal
Roll up toward the glue strip. With a single wide paper you'll have a little extra; with a 1 1/4 you'll have more. Some rollers tear off the extra paper just above the glue strip before sealing so there's less paper to burn. Wet the strip lightly and press it shut from the tip out. See how to seal a joint if it won't stick.
Step 7: Pack and twist
Tap the tip end on the table, pack the open end lightly with something thin, like a toothpick, and twist it shut.
Common problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Won't draw | Rolled too tight, or ground to powder | Roll it gently to loosen it; next time grind fine, not to dust |
| Keeps going out | Too loose near the tip, or chunks leaving gaps | Grind finer and tuck tighter at the tip end |
| Fatter at one end | Uneven line of flower | Push flower back toward the thin end before you tuck |
| Burns down one side | Uneven packing | See why does my joint canoe |
| Paper won't close | Tip too wide or too much flower | Use a 6mm tip and less flower |
Pinner vs a regular joint
| Pinner | Regular joint | |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Single wide or 1 1/4 | 1 1/4 or king size |
| Tip | 6mm | 7mm to 12mm |
| Fill | A small pinch | About half a gram is a common start |
| Smoke | Short and light | Longer |
For the full range of tip sizes, see the filter tip size guide.
Our Slim Jim tips are 6mm x 28mm, sized for single wide papers and pinners, in packs of 20 or 40.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pinner?
A pinner is a very thin joint, about as wide as a pencil or narrower. It holds much less than a standard joint, so it's a short, light smoke.
How much weed goes in a pinner?
There's no set amount, just a small pinch, well under what you'd put in a regular joint. Use less than you think; an overfilled pinner is just a regular joint.
What paper do you use for a pinner?
Single wide papers are the classic choice. A 1 1/4 paper also works; you'll just have more paper to wrap, and you can tear off the extra.
What size tip goes in a pinner?
6mm. A wider tip makes the mouth end wider than the rest of the joint and leaves too little paper to seal.
Why does my pinner keep going out?
It's usually rolled too tight or the flower is ground too coarse for the thin paper. Grind finer and roll so you feel a little resistance when you draw, not a wall.
Products are for adults 21+.
