Bench Grinder
Affiliate link — we may earn a commissionA bench grinder is a stationary tool with two grinding wheels mounted on opposite ends of a motor shaft. It bolts to a workbench. One wheel is usually coarse (36 to 60 grit) for shaping and heavy material removal. The other is fine (80 to 120 grit) for sharpening and finishing. Standard wheel size is 6 inches for home shops and 8 inches for professional shops. You bring the workpiece to the spinning wheel instead of bringing the tool to the work. A tool rest in front of each wheel supports the workpiece at the correct angle. Bench grinders also accept wire wheels and buffing wheels.
Why It Matters
A bench grinder sharpens chisels, plane irons, drill bits, lawn mower blades, axes, and just about any edged tool. It's also the fastest way to shape metal stock, deburr cut ends, and remove rust from small parts. For $50 to $80, a 6-inch bench grinder handles tasks that would take 10 times longer by hand.