
Best Bench Grinder Review Guide For 2023-2024
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Are you the type of person who likes working with their hands and getting things done? Maybe you like sharpening all of your own tools or maybe you need something that will help you grind down metal pieces.
No matter what your reasoning or your favorite activity, you probably need a little help finding the best bench grinder to get the job done.
You need to consider whether you need a powerful motor, shield guards, different speeds (fast and slow speed bench grinder), whether or not they have a warranty or not and so on.
Read our bench grinder reviews to get the very best on the market. And to see our picks keep reading our Best Bench Grinder Review Guide For 2023-2024.
Wen Bench Grinder
WEN is known for making affordable and budget power tools of all kinds, including a bench grinder for users who are on a budget.
The WEN 4276 bench grinder is present in the 1st position in this article as it is the cheapest option present here.
Although, unlike other budget bench grinder options out there, this offers various handy things to the user. As a result, you get a high value for money with this bench grinder as it is decently powerful for a lot of users with its 6-inch grinding wheel size.
It also means that the overall form factor of this bench grinder is quite small and compact.
As for its electric motor, it uses a 2.1 amp electric motor that is to be expected for the given price. This motor offers a decent motor speed rating of 3450 RPM that should be more than enough for the given grinding wheel size.
Even though this is a budget bench grinder, you still get a 2-year long warranty with it that is always great to have. That being said, its build quality could have been certainly better.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 2.1 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 6 inch
- Motor speed rating of 3450 rounder per minute
- 2-year long warranty
- Small and compact form factor
- 40-watt power consumption rating
Specs:
- Brand WEN
- Material Iron
- Item Dimensions LxWxH 14 x 9.75 x 15 inches
- Style Single Speed
- Item Weight 16 Pounds
About this item:
- 2.1-Amp motor
- 3450 RPM at no load
- 6 in. by 3/4 in. wheels, 1/2 in. arbor size
- Lightweight design weighs in at 16 lb.Lamp:120V, 40W (Bulb not included)
- Worklight for maximum precision and visibility
Pros:
- Affordable price tag with various features for a high value for money
- Offers decent performance for a small and compact bench grinder
- Easy to use controls for adjusting grinding wheel speed
Cons:
- Average build quality
- Motor could have been slightly more powerful
Dewalt Bench Grinderdewalt Bench Grinder
Dewalt is one of the oldest brands of power tools out there that is known for making powerful and heavy-duty power tools of all sorts.
Dewalt’s DW758 bench grinder is present in the 2nd position in this article as it is one of the most powerful options present in this article.
This is due to the reason that it offers a highly powerful 4.2 amp electric motor for powering its grinding wheel. As a result, you get a high 3600 RPM motor speed with this grinder wheel. And it offers this along with a large 8-inch grinding wheel size.
Since Dewalt is known to be quite reputable, you also get a 3-year long warranty with this bench grinder. Its build quality ensures that you can keep using it for a long time without facing any issues.
Unfortunately, this bench grinder is on the larger side and quite heavy as well. It is large because of the 12 ½ inch distance between its two grinding wheels for ergonomics and ease of use.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 4.2 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 8 inch
- Motor speed rating of 3600 rounds per minute
- 3-year long warranty
- Great build quality for longevity
- 12 ½ inch distance between two grinding wheels
Specs:
- Brand DEWALT
- Material Cast Iron
- Item Dimensions LxWxH 17.75 x 12.63 x 10.75 inches
- Style Bench Grinder
- Power Source Corded Electric
About this item:
- 3/4 HP induction motor of the bench grinder provides superior power for industrial grinding applications
- Rugged cast iron base and motor housing of the 8-inch bench grinder provide durability and prolonged life
- Table grinder motor runs at 3,600 rpm for high-speed material removal
- Precision-machined aluminum tool rests allow the user to accurately position work
- Rear exhaust ports in wheel guards for smoother operation
- 12-1/2-inch distance between wheels for larger and longer grinding applications
- 3/4 hp induction motor provides superior power for industrial grinding applications
- Rugged cast iron base and motor housing provide durability and prolonged life
- Motor runs at 3,600 rpm for high speed material removal
- Precision-machined aluminum tool rests allow the user to accurately position work
- Rear exhaust ports in wheel guards for smoother operation; 12-1/2-inch distance between wheels for larger and longer grinding applications
Pros:
- One of the best performing bench grinder models
- Offers easy to use controls for easily adjusting grinding wheel speeds
- Powerful and efficient 4.2 amp electric motor for a proper balance
Cons:
- Quite large and bulky bench grinder
Rikon Power Tools, Bench Grinderrikon Grinder
You can find a wide range of power tool options from Rikon that are highly durable and reliable, just like its bench grinder model.
The Rikon bench grinder is the most durable and reliable option present in this article that is much better than all other options out there.
This is possible due to the fact that it offers a 5-year long warranty to the user for peace of mind. You also get an excellent build quality with it that is great for longevity. You get all of this without paying an extra premium price.
Talking about its performance, you get a large 8-inch grinding wheel in this bench grinder. This grinding wheel can easily perform at decent speeds with the help of its 3 amp electric motor.
Unfortunately, this electric motor has a high power consumption that can be an issue for a lot of users out there. It’s motor speed rating is also quite low at just 1750 RPM.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 3 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 8 inch
- Motor speed rating of 1750 rounds per minute
- 5-year long warranty
- Excellent build quality for peace of mind
Specs:
- Brand RIKON Power Tools
- Material Aluminum
- Item Dimensions LxWxH 16.38 x 10.75 x 11.25 inches
- Style 1/2 HP
- Power Source Corded Electric
About this item:
- HIGH QUALITY – This durable bench grinder includes 1” x8” 60 grit and 120 grit white aluminum oxide wheels.
- POWERFUL – With powerful ½ HP Motor with 1750 RPM this slow speed grinder has more than enough power for small workshops and for carpenters, turners, carvers, and other crafts people working with hand tools.
- STURDY AND SAFE – This grinders base is made of Cast Iron and features anti-vibration rubber feet. No mistakes will be made because of vibrations.
- ADJUSTABLE – The adjustable safety eye shield and spark resistors allow you to feel safe while using the slowspeed grinder. Also, this bench grinder includes a groove in its design for the sharpening of drill bits.
- KEEP IT COOL – This grinder is fully equipped with a diamond wheel sharpener and is ideal for sharpening operations since it reduces heat build-up.
Pros:
- Most durable and reliable bench grinder present here
- Good performing 3 amp electric motor
- Small and compact design with 2 grinding wheels for high flexibility
Cons:
- Low motor speed rating of 1750 RPM
- High power consumption electric motor
Bucktool Bench Grinderbucktool Grinder
When compared with other bench grinders and their brands mentioned in this article, Bucktool is a much smaller brand that makes powerful models.
Bucktool’s bench grinder is one of the more premium bench grinder models out there. It uses a 60 grit and a 120 grit oxide wheel that reduces heat build-up.
Both of these grinding wheels have a large size of 8 inches that is more than enough for most users out there. You also get a 3.1 amp electric motor in this bench grinder that is quite similar to the Rikon bench grinder mentioned earlier in this article.
A great thing about this bench grinder is that it has various adjustment options that ensure that you move and change things as per your needs. Unfortunately, this one is nowhere as reliable as the Rikon bench grinder.
Not only is the build quality on the average side, but you only get a 1-year warranty with it. This also makes this bench grinder quite expensive when compared with similar options out there.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 3.1 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 8 inch
- Motor speed rating of 3450 rounds per minute
- 1-year long warranty
- Multiple adjustments for flexibility and precision usage
- Small and compact form factor for ease of use
Specs:
- Brand Bucktool
- Material Aluminum, Iron
- Style 6″ Slow Speed
- Power Source Corded Electric
- Maximum Rotational Speed 1750 RPM
About this item:
- LOW-SPEED: BUCKTOOL slow speed bench grinder equipped 1/3HP motor, provides 1750RPM speed, more suitable for accurate grinding operations, making your work more precise
- VARIABLE GRINDING: Includs a 60-grit Brown Aluminum Oxide Wheel and an 80-grit White Aluminum Oxide Wheel, suitable for grinding various materials
- DETAIL DESIGN: The work rest can be adjusted without tools for easy work, and the cast aluminum base with rubber feet reduces vibration and improves stability during grinding
- SECURITY FUNCTION: The bench grinder equipped with transparent eye shield to prevent damage to your eyes, and the spark arrestor can effectively block most of the sparks generated during grinding
- WARRANTY: We have a two-year warranty, contact us if any quality problem, our support team is always at your service
Pros:
- Silent and efficient ½ HP electric motor
- Great performing 8-inch grinding wheels
- Highly stable with case aluminum base and support structure
Cons:
- Only a 1-year long warranty
- Build quality could have been much better
- Highly expensive price tag for the given features
Jet Bench Grinderjet 587
Jet is another brand of power tools that is quite small and new in comparison to others that also make similar bench grinder options.
This Jet 578008 bench grinder can be a great pick for a lot of users out there who are looking for a highly powerful model.
It offers a highly powerful 4.1 amp electric motor to the user that should be more than enough for most users out there. Just per its name, this electric motor powers a large 8-inch grinding wheel for optimum performance.
Just like most other options out there, you get a 1-year long warranty with this 1 HP electric motor.
While the build quality offered by this bench grinder is quite decent, it is slightly large and bulky, and that is something that you should keep in your mind. It uses heavy-duty cast iron construction for peace of mind.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 4.1 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 8 inch
- 1 HP electric motor
- 2-year long warranty
- Cast iron base for extra stability
- Efficient and silent electric motor for silent operation
- Comes with CUS and CSA safety certifications
Specs:
- Brand Jet
- Material Cast Iron
- Item Dimensions LxWxH 21 x 13.75 x 14 inches
- Style Industrial Bench Grinder
- Power Source AC/DC
About this item:
- PLENTY OF POWER: Heavy-duty 1-1/2 HP motor spins wheels at 3,600 RPM.
- VERSATILITY: Fine (60-grit) and coarse (36-grit) vitrified grinding wheels.
- ADAPTABLE: Pre-drilled base for mounting on a stand or workbench.
- CSA/CUS CERTIFIED: This grinder follows strict guidelines and electrical requirements.
- HEAVY-DUTY: Cast iron construction can handle demanding environments.
Pros:
- Offers great performance from 4.1 amp electric motor
- Large grinding wheel for heavy-duty applications
- Easy to use bench grinder with simple control scheme and options
Cons:
- A bit on the larger and heavier side
- Slightly higher price tag
Delta Bench Grinderdelta Grinder
If you are familiar with powerful and heavy-duty power tools, then you must have heard about Delta Power Tools, as it also makes a highly powerful bench grinder.
The Delta Power Tools 23-197 bench grinder is the most powerful option present in this article. This is possible due to its large-sized grinding wheel. It uses an equally powerful electric motor for power that is rated at 5 amps.
Due to this, you can go up to 3400 RPM motor speed while using the 30 grit and 60 grit grinding wheels offered by this bench grinder that is more than enough even for industrial and heavy-duty usage.
Another great thing about this bench grinder is that it is highly durable and reliable. It offers an excellent build quality that means that this bench grinder can easily last for a long time.
You also get a 5-year long warranty with it that is the best when compared with various other bench grinder models out there. Its inbuilt water tray allows you to use fluid coolant along with it to get proper performance without any overheating issues.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 5 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 8 inch
- Motor speed rating of 3400 rounds per minute
- 5-year long warranty
- Excellent build quality for longevity
- Inbuilt water tray for ease of use
Specs:
- Brand Delta
- Material Stainless Steel
- Item Dimensions LxWxH 9.5 x 14.5 x 16.5 inches
- Item Weight 44.25 Pounds
- Voltage 120 Volts
About this item:
- Variable speed control offering you convenience and versatility in your grinding, sharpening, buffing and polishing operations
- Upfront variable speed dial allows you to easily control speeds from 2,000 RPM to 3,400 RPM
- Features a 5 Amp induction-type motor for powerful performance
- Incorporates 36 and 60 Grit Wheels for sharpening and grinding
- The left hand tool rest has a drill bit rest milled into the surface so you’ll get the correct angle on the tip at all times
- Two piece tool rests are independently adjustable to compensate for wheel wear and to achieve different angles
- Water tray to help keep workpiece cool while grinding
- Work light with a separate on/off switch and flexible goose neck provides illumination for set up and while grinding
- Cast iron base for durability and reduces vibration during operation
Pros:
- Best performing bench grinder present in this article
- Highly durable and reliable option with a 5-year long warranty
- Inbuilt shield and water tray for ease of use while using coolant
Cons:
- A bit on the expensive side
- Grit could have been better
Genesis Bench Grinder
At the end of this article, we have Genesis, which is another power tools brand that should be considered before buying a bench grinder.
Genesis’ GBG800L offers a decent performance when compared with other similar options out there. Just per its name, it offers a large-sized 8-inch grinding wheel to the user.
This wheel is powered by a 2.1 amp electric motor. While it could have been certainly better, you cannot expect more at this given price tag.
As you would expect from any other budget offering, it comes with a 2-year long warranty. Thankfully, its build quality is quite great for the given price tag and offers decent strength. Its ½ HP electric motor is quite silent and reliable.
Best Features:
- Motor power rating of 2.1 amps
- Grinding wheel size of 8 inch
- ½ HP electric motor
- 2-year long warranty
- Small and compact design
- Decent build quality for peace of mind
Specs:
- Brand Genesis
- Material Aluminum
- Item Dimensions LxWxH 16 x 11 x 12 inches
- Power Source Corded Electric
- Color Green
About this item:
- Powerful – 1/2 HP Induction Motor for Quiet, Smooth Performance | ½ HP for sharpening blades, chisels, and other grindingsharpening applications
- Safe – Two Flexible Goose neck Lights, Adjustable Tool Rests, and Eye Shields | Protect your eyes and keep the work safety positioned for your next project!
- Great for the shop _ Pre drilled Heavy Duty Cast iron base with Rubber Feet for Bench top or stand use | Setup on the bench or bolt to a stand to save bench top space for your next project!
- Equipped – Includes (1) 36G Wheel, (1) 60G Wheel and Light Bulbs
- Support – US Based Warranty Support with a 2 Year Warranty | Genesis Customer Support is based in South Carolina!
Pros:
- Large-sized bench grinder for a budget price
- Decent build quality for the price
- Good performance from the 8-inch wheel and ½ HP motor
Cons:
- A bit on the expensive side
- Grit could have been better
Best Bench Grinder Buying Guide For 2023-2024
Features to Consider:
If you’re going to look at a bench grinder you want to make sure it has all of the features that you need in order to accomplish any task you’re going to put before it.
You don’t want to spend a whole lot of time and money on something only to find out you’re going to need to replace it rather than be able to do what you need to.
We’ve found a series of great features that you’ll want to at least take a look at before you make a choice about the bench grinder that you want for your workshop. Each one is up to you, but it could make your job easier.
Worklight:
One of the first things that you want to consider is whether the grinder that you’re looking at actually comes with a worklight. You’ll also want to look at what type of worklight it actually has because this can be an important aspect as well.
For example, some worklights are flexible and attached directly over the center of the unit. Others may be built directly into it and they may even be located over the wheels instead.
Some units actually have more than one light attached, which helps to make it easier for you to see what you’re doing in different areas of the grinder.
Wheels:
You want a system that is going to offer you a number of different wheel options at least, even if it doesn’t come with all of them.
Most systems are going to offer you a coarse and a fine or medium wheel right with the kit, but not all of them will.
Make sure you know what you’re getting and also that you know what type of wheels are going to fit so you can purchase after-market add-ons and accessories as well.
You don’t want something that only has a small number of wheels available. You also want to look at what type of material the wheels are actually made of.
Vitrified aluminum oxide is a material that’s primarily used for grinding steel. On the other hand, silicon carbide is better for things like cast iron and nonferrous materials.
There is also a range of other stones that you could choose from. It’s going to depend on your personal preference as well as the type of material that you’ll be working with most frequently.
It’s also going to depend on your price point because different types of stone and other materials are going to cost you a little more than others.
Size:
There are plenty of different sizes when it comes to bench grinders. We’ve looked at miniature options that are only 3” and larger ones that are 8”, as well as several in between.
You’ll want to look at the type of projects that you’re primarily going to be doing and then make a decision about which size wheels are actually going to help you the most.
Whether you want something large or small is primarily going to be based on that and your own personal preference as well.
Speed:
Finally, you want to take a look at the overall speed of the unit. You need something that is going to give you enough speed to really get the job done.
The faster it spins the more it’s going to do and the faster it’s going to do it, which is definitely a benefit for you. With most systems getting between 3,000 and 3,600 revolutions per minute you want to get something that can at least go that far.
On the other hand, there are plenty of options that will go higher than that if you want even more power. The key is not getting something too strong for your intended purpose, but strong enough to do what you need.
There are also variable speed options that can allow you to change between high and low power.
How to Use a Bench Grinder?
One can easily gain expertise or skill on its usage with a bit of practice. All you need is steady hands and precision to make it use correctly.
Or else, you may sharpen the tools in the wrong way or make oddly or uneven shaped workpieces. Ensure to wear proper work gear like safety goggles or gloves before starting a bench grinder.
It is essential to know the type of wheel you need to use for your task. Usually, wheels vary in coarseness levels, which makes them suitable for various applications.
After determining the required wheel, you need to turn on the bench grinder and wait till it starts rotating at its maximum speed.
Then pick an item or object you are looking to grind by getting in contact with the spinning wheel. Ensure to maintain at an acute angle to the wheel – 25° or 30°.
Initially, avoid pushing or bringing the object too close to the wheel. Now move the object slowly towards the wheel, so that you won’t end up overdoing it.
While grinding the metal, the grinder tends to get hot in the process, and this heat might damage the tool or object, which is quite essential for proper usage of the bench grinder.
So, you have to keep a pot or bowl of water handy to stop the grinding often and dip the tool into water.
If dealing with small objects, make sure to use pliers to hold them to prevent fingers from getting close to the spinning wheel.
Also, it is a bit difficult to handle small objects while wearing work gloves. So, prefer to use pliers for a better grip over those small objects/items.
While sharpening the tool’s blunt edge, the sparks will fly downwards. Alternatively, the sparks will fly upwards when the tool gets sharp enough.
Mounting Tips of a Bench Grinder:
If there is a space available on the workbench, most people like to mount a new bench grinder to keep them stable when smoothing or sharpening the parts and tools.
Generally, bench grinders are heavier, which means bolting them to worktable within the holes given in their base is ideal.
Here are some tips that let you know how to mount a bench grinder properly.
- Locate the bench grinder where you want to place it on the workbench.
- Mark all the four base holes of the grinder on the workbench by using a pencil.
- Then use a drill machine to drill through those pencil marks.
- Insert bolts via its base holes, and you drilled holes in the workbench to attach the bench grinder. Finally, secure the bolts in place with provided nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What are the best uses of a bench grinder?
Ans: One should know for what a bench grinder is used before they invest in it. Even though it is not an essential tool for DIYers, yet it is a more versatile tool that can be used in various applications (beyond your thinking).
Apart from grinding down metals, they can be used to sharpen tools, polish or buff metal, cut metal or wood, remove hardened grunge or dirt from tools, remove rust, smooth & shape the edges of metal or wood, and be used on craftworks like model building or jewelry making.
Q: What is the optimal grit to sharpen knives on this grinder?
Ans: For a razor-sharp edge on the kitchen knives, the best to use a medium-fine 60-grit wheel.
Q: Shall we use a bench grinder on wood?
Ans: Shaping, grinding and buffing metal is the main purpose to use this bench grinder, but you can use this power tool on wood as well.
With the usage of the right wheel, you can easily use a bench grinder to cut, shape, sand, smooth, buff, or polish a wide range of wood varieties.
Keep in mind that not to use a bench grinder for very softwoods. They are best to use on hard materials.
Q: Why a bench grinder comes with two wheels?
Ans: Usually, a bench grinder has two wheels to increase the tool’s versatility.
Here the grinder with one grinding/sanding wheel having a light-medium grit is used for light sanding tasks, whereas the other grinding/sanding wheel having a medium-coarse grit is used for tougher grinding works.
However, there are various wheels available for these tools, of which some are specialized.
You can switch to use one or both of these wheels for a coarser or finer grit, a buffing wheel for polishing, a wire wheel for cleaning or shaping metal, a cutting wheel for metal or wood cutting, specialized wheels for cutting or grinding stone and a specialized wheel for cutting gemstones.
Q: What is the difference between a belt sander and a bench grinder?
Ans: Bench grinders are mainly used to sharpen and polish with their two wheels, in which they can be changed to do various tasks.
For example, swap out a solid wheel with a metal brush/wire wheel to clear rust from tools. They are restricted to metal and has to remain fix to their surface.
Belt sanders come with two drums on which a sanding belt is stretched, and they are mostly used on softer materials like plastic. Its speed will damage the material while not used carefully.
Thus, using this to sharpen the tool will cause them to overheat quickly and thereby damages the tool.
Q: Is it necessary to secure the bench grinder with bolts?
Ans: It is a must to bolt down the grinder on a worktable or bench. Or else they tend to strongly vibrate while the grinding wheel turns at a high speed. So, you have to secure the grinder with the provided bolts for its efficient working.
Q: What is the difference – bench grinder VS angle grinder?
Ans: Angle grinders look like a lightweight sibling to these bench grinders.
Yet, not powerful as bench grinders, these are portable and can hold one to make it more accurate. Due to its versatility, there are over 100 different uses of angle grinders.
The single wheel is another key difference, as you need to switch wheels more frequently on angle grinders, which means it lets you cut and shape metal or remove paint from large surfaces with ease.
Q: Which one is better – a 6-inch or 8-inch bench grinder?
Ans: A bench grinder with a 6-inch diameter is designed for DIYers for multi-functional usage (like to sharpen, grind, polish and repair various gears).
While an 8-inch diameter grinder is meant to use for professionals who perform complicated grinding tasks/applications.
Though the 8-inch bench grinder wheel runs slower, it needs fewer wheel changes than a 6-inch grinder, which means 8-inch require less maintenance, yet expensive than 6-inch models.
Conclusion:
Whether you want to sharpen a knife or sand down a given surface, a bench grinder is a highly powerful tool to do so. These offer highly powerful electric motors for powering their large grinding wheels without any issues.
You can learn more about the best bench grinders listed above in this article since we have even mentioned their major features and options.
You can also find a detailed buying guide in there that will take you through the various important aspects and factors of such bench grinders. If you are still confused, then you can pick up a bench grinder from our recommendations:
The Delta bench grinder is the most powerful option present in this article. It comes with a highly powerful 5 amp electric motor that is more than enough for powering its 8-inch grinding wheel. You even get a 5-year long warranty with it.
But if you just want a highly reliable and durable bench grinder without paying a lot of money, then you can go with the Rikon bench grinder. Apart from offering a 5-year long warranty, you also get an excellent build quality with it that should easily last for a long time.
You can also consider the WEN 4276 bench grinder if you are on a budget as it is the cheapest option mentioned in this article.
Even though it is an affordable option, you get a 2-year long warranty with its 6-inch grinding wheel that is powered by a 2.1 amp motor.
If you’re interested in getting one for yourself you can check it out right here and buy it for yourself or check above for links to purchase any of the other options we’ve found.
Thanks for taking the time to read our Best Bench Grinder Review Guide For 2023-2024.