DIY enthusiasts will agree that that the bench grinder is one of the valuable tools you can have in your home or workshop. It is versatile and can take on duties like rounding over threats, sharpening cutting equipment, and more. Typically, a bench grinder comes with a motor with both ends equipped with spindles. There is so much a bench grinder can do for you if you set it up and use it well.
In this guide, we will explore the best bench grinders you can get in the market at present. Our best overall pick is the DEWALT Bench Grinder, 8-Inch (DW758). It is durable and can run up to 3,600 RPM, yet sustaining its consistency and quality. The Dewalt DW758 is versatile for both small scale and large scale projects thanks to the ample distance between the wheels.
The bench grinders recommended in this review give you the best value for your money. They stand out for their power and speed, versatility, and durability. We will regularly revise this list to reflect the best bench grinders you can currently get in the market.
14 Best Bench Grinders Rrviews
1. DEWALT Bench Grinder, 8-Inch (DW758)
This bench grinder is versatile, capable of handling commercial and home improvement jobs, thanks to its 3/4 horsepower induction motor.
This grinder can run sustainably at 3600 rpm, without losing any of its consistency or quality. The motor is safer, courtesy of its overload protection.
The DEWALT Bench Grinder, 8-Inch (DW758), is sturdy and durable, provided optimal maintenance is provided. It has a tough cast iron base with each wheel well separated by a distance of 12.5 inches. This gives you enough workspace to do big and large jobs.
This bench grinder also features a tool-free adjustable guard. This enables you to flexibly adjust or quickly install this bench grinder. Notably, the wheel guards are supplied with rear exhaust ports, making the overall operation smoother.
Nonetheless, this bench grinder is significantly susceptible to vibration, which could provoke the wobbling of the wheels. This can make your job harder.
Pros
- Fantastic speed of 3600 rpm
- It is tough, sturdy and durable
- Sufficient workspace between wheels
Cons
- The vibrations can be unsettling
2. JET 577102 JBG-8A 8-Inch Bench Grinder
This is more of an industrial-grade grinder. The JET 577102 JBG-8A 8-Inch Bench Grinder works with a 1-hp motor and boasts speeds up to 3450 rpm.
This makes it suited to your grinding jobs that are relatively heavy duty. No doubt, this is a high-end bench grinder that could be too up for those on a very tight budget.
This bench grinder boasts impressive stability and quietness – working with minimum vibration. This reduces the number of potential disruptions when the grinder is running. This, you will agree, reduces the damage proneness.
This bench grinder is equipped with a heavy-duty guarded toggle switch. It also comes with wholly enclosed pre-lubricated ball bearings, dust vents, cast-iron wheel guards, and one-piece quick adjusting spark guards. It is also furnished with sizable eye shields to keep you safer while at work.
Pro
- It can take on industrial-scale jobs
- It is long-lasting with a rugged build
- It has a 3450 rpm motor
- It comes pre-lubricated
Cons
- There is no adjustable knob which is crucial to speed regulation
3. Rikon Professional Power Tools, 80-805, 8” Slow Speed Bench Grinder, Powerful Shop Table Tool, Perfect for Sharpening, With Anti-Vibration Rubber Feet
The Rikon Professional Power Tools comes with a durable 1/2 hp motor, which can run as fast as 1750 rpm. It doesn’t quickly heat up, making it very suiting to sharpening applications.
This bench grinder boasts impressive anti-vibration features like rubber feet, being designed with a rugged iron base.
The grinder comes with white aluminum oxide wheels. You will love the fact that the wheel flanges are stamped.
The left tool rest is outfitted with a groove that comes handy in sharpening your drill bits. You need not worry too much about your safety, thanks to its spark resisters and safety eye shield (which is adjustable). Also worth noting is that this bench grinder comes with a diamond wheel sharpener.
Pros
- Very helpful in sharpening cutting tools
- The wheels are of premium grade
- Outfitted with adjustable eye shields and spark resisters
- This tool is additionally kitted with a grinding wheel dresser
Cons
- The tool rests should have been sturdier and more adjustable
- At 1750 rpm, this isn’t the most powerful motor for your bench grinder
4. Sunex 5002A Bench Grinder with Light, 8-Inch
Sunex stands out for the distinction of its bench grinders. It has a sturdy cast iron base that makes it steadier and more durable. It is versatile and works with a wide range of metals.
This bench grinder gives you more illumination for your workspace, courtesy of its led light. This Sunex 5002A Bench Grinder boasts a ball-bearing construction, which provides you with more fluid working experience with this grinder.
It has an impressive 3/4 HP motor, boasting a no-load speed of 3450 rpm. This bench grinder is also outfitted with tool rest and eye shields.
Pros
- Impressive finish
- It is nonslip with a strong base
- The motor isn’t noisy
- It has useful safety features like adjustable eye shields and spark guards
- Smooth to work with because of ball bearing construction.
Cons
- Needs an improved instruction manual
5. WEN 4276 2.1-Amp 6-Inch Bench Grinder with Flexible Work Light
This bench grinder is suitable for high-speed operation, given that it has a powerful 2.1 amp motor which with speed peaking at 3450 rpm. It has an attractive look with great tool rest.
The WEN 4276 6-Inch Bench Grinder sports a 36-grit and 60-grit grinding wheel. This doesn’t negate the fact that you can fit it additionally with a vast array of wheels.
This makes it more versatile and speedier to work with. This bench grinder allows you say a well-deserved goodbye to all those rattling grinders. It is tranquil, with grinding wheel ¾-inch wide (and diameter of 6 inches). It has tool rests too.
This grinder has a compact design, also coming with significant wheel guards and eye shields to give you a safer working experience.
Precision and convenience are also assured as this bench grinder comes with an in-built light, giving you that much-needed visibility for your workspace.
You will have no problem mounting this grinder. It has a sturdy case that can be optionally supplemented with extra cast iron stand for those who wouldn’t be mounting their grinders on a bench.
Pros
- Gives you so much high speed for far less cost
- Fantastic visibility due to inbuilt light
- Weighing just 16 lbs, it is undeniably one of the most portable grinders out there
Cons
- After sustained use, the speed can drop, making it harder and longer to work
- The wheels are prone to wobbling
6. POWERTEC BGSS801 Slow Speed Bench Grinder, 8″
This bench grinder stands out for its uniqueness. It is an 8-inch grinder, which is understandably not the fastest out there with a maximum speed of 1725 rpm.
This grinder works with a 1/2 hp motor. Nonetheless, this motor is very slow to overheating as well.
The POWERTEC BGSS801 is far from those noisy grinders you struggle with. It operates almost discretely. This grinder is easy to use, thanks to its wheels of 1-inch width. The wheels are produced with white aluminum oxide.
The sturdy steel base of this grinder goes a long way in negating the vibrations from this grinder. Such an anti-vibration feature makes your work more stable and less exhausting.
Take note that this grinder would struggle for industrial application (as it doesn’t have enough power) but would excel in basic sharpening duties.
Pros
- It isn’t noisy
- The vibrations are far less
- The wheels have a good width of 1 inch
Cons
- You could struggle with unbalanced wheels
- Power not enough for heavy-duty grinding
7. SKIL 3380-01 6-Inch Bench Grinder
This bench grinder is reasonably stocked with vital features that make your bench grinding operation seamless. It is versatile, taking on traditional home improvement tasks up to commercial use. It has a stunning speed of 3,450 rpm.
The SKIL 3380-01 6-Inch Bench Grinder has an excellent build, sporting a concise footprint. You will not lack visibility as this grinder comes with LED lights (sitting over each wheel) for brightening your workspace.
It also furnished with coarse and medium wheels. This bench grinder doesn’t lack adjustable tools rest either.
Pros
- Extra visibility from LED light
- An impressive speed of 3,450 rpm
- Adjustable tool rests
Cons
- Vibration despite rubber base and mounting hole
- Prone to overheating
8. Delta Power Tools 23-197 8-Inch Variable Speed Bench Grinder
This bench grinder comes with a 5-amp motor, which is pretty robust. It is yet exciting that this motor can run up to 3400 rpm, thanks to its variable speed control (ranging from 3400-2000 rpm). The motor housing material is made from tough material as well to get it to stand the test of time.
The variable speed control feature is very accessible at the front of the grinder. This allows you to quickly reach out to modulate the speed as you handle operations like polishing, grinding, or sharpening.
The Delta Power Tools 23-197 is equipped with 60 grit and 36 grit wheel. This makes it very quick to get your job going. The wheel guard of the grinder is made of solid material. You would be excited to learn that this grinder also comes with a water tray and lighting.
Pros
- This grinder has variable speed control
- The motor is powerful with impressive speeds of 3400 rpm
- It is stable with lesser disruptions from vibrations
- Comes with water tray
Cons
- It is challenging taking off the eye guard in the course of wheel replacement
- It is not the most straightforward grinder to assemble
- Not portable due to its relative heaviness
9. Sunex Tools (5001A) 6″ Bench Grinder with Light
Sunex comes again with the Sunex Tools (5001A) 6″ Bench Grinder. The grinder is operated by a 3/4 horsepower and can run up to 3450 rpm. This ensures you get your jobs done much faster.
This grinder is very portable, thanks to its far reduced weight of 13 lbs. This portability will be a valuable addition if you have projects you need to execute offsite. Overall, this grinder is very suited to light-duty projects as typical of home improvement tasks.
This bench grinder is easy to install in your workspace (say your bench). Such ease of installation can be attributed to it being equipped with 2 sizable mounting holes on the grinder’s base.
Seeing your tasks is no problem as this grinder is supplied with a 40-watt work lamp (goose-neck) for enhanced visibility. Note that this grinder is not ideal for commercial applications as typical of heavy-duty projects.
Pros
- It has a lightweight design, yet retaining its stability
- Fewer disruptions as the rubber feet hold your jobs firmly
- Bright lighting
Cons
- This grinder struggles with heavy-duty projects
- Possibility of accidental bending due to flexible steel makeup of the tool rests
- The quality of the wheels could be improved
10. CRAFTSMAN 921154 6″ Variable Speed Grinding Center
This bench grinder is one of the highest quality grinders out there in the market currently. Its wheels of 6 inches are strong and long-lasting.
The CRAFTSMAN 921154 6″ Variable Speed Grinding Center is outfitted with an adjustable tool rests built-in water cooling tray that comes in handy in preventing overheating.
We can’t risk forgetting that the motor of this grinder boasts variable speed. You also stand to enjoy sufficient lighting (regardless of the ambient lighting conditions of your workspace) thanks to the incandescent fitted to the body of this grinder. This gives you more accuracy as you see the job you are working on better.
The versatility of this grinder is enhanced courtesy of the capacity to separate the wire wheels and the grinding wheels.
Pros
- It comes with a water cooling tray
- The grinder has a variable speed motor
- Incandescent light is attached to the body
Cons
- It vibrates significantly
11. Metabo – 8″ Bench Grinder – 3, 570 Rpm – 4.8 Amp (619200420 200), Bench Grinders
This bench grinder comes with a 1-1/8 HP motor with incredible power and much-reduced vibration. Yes, the motor performs excellently in spinning the 1-inch arbor. All these extend into elongating the lifespan of the Metabo – 8″ Bench Grinder.
Very bench grinders can boast the unbelievable 3, 570 rpm speed of this Metabo creation. Compared to the standard 6-inch grinders we see all about the market, the sizable 8-inch wheels of the German Metabo – 8″ Bench Grinder lasts longer.
Featuring the longevity and strength German crafts are famed for, this bench grinder will aptly handle your heavy-duty jobs as well as lighter home jobs.
Despite the glamor that comes with this grinder, we will be honest enough to point out that the plastic shields of this grinder have a poor design. They obstruct the conspicuousness making it a struggle to see your jobs as you work on them clearly.
This handicap could necessitate you replacing the shields. If you don’t want to get replacement shields, you may as well want to get premium safety glasses.
Pros
- Little to no vibration
- Fantastic build quality
- It has a powerful motor which yet isn’t noisy
Cons
- The design of the shields needs to be improved
- It is not the cheapest grinder out there
12. DEWALT DW756 6-inch Benchgrinder – Best for the Money
This grinder has a great build and attractive yellow and black coloring (which is the signature look of Dewalt grinders). It has impressive performance, featuring a robust 5/8 horsepower induction motor and speed of 3,450 rpm. It is supplied with a cast iron base.
Considering this remarkable performance from the motor – in addition to its almost quiet running – arguably, the DEWALT DW756 6-inch bench grinder is among those grinders in the market with the highest value for money.
You will be impressed with the sufficient distance between the wheels – coming at 12.5 inches. This gives you that priceless versatility to work on bigger and longer projects effortlessly. It sports a pretty durable aluminum body.
This grinder is versatile and works with a vast array of accessories to make your job easier. The primary concern with this grinder is that the instruction manual needs to be beefed up; otherwise, newbies would struggle to set the grinder up.
Pros
- Powerful 3/4 horsepower motor 5/8 hp induction motor
- It has great speeds of 3,450 rpm
- Good distance of 12.5 inches between the wheels
Cons
- It is quite challenging to assemble due to lacking instruction manual
13. Porter-Cable PCB525BG 6″ Variable Speed Bench Grinder with Work Light
This is another notable variable-speed bench grinder we couldn’t keep out of this review. It is versatile and would be a great addition for professionals working with a vast spectrum of tasks cutting across the sharpening of cutting tools and buffing metals.
The Porter-Cable PCB525BG 6″ Variable Speed Bench Grinder is supplied with a 3/4 horsepower motor. This gives the grinder a variable speed of 2,000-3,400 rpm.
The high rpm speeds are excellent in handling tasks like sharpening your chisel while the low rpm finds application in buffing metals.
You are sure you wouldn’t be starved of lighting when using this grinder. This grinder is furnished with a 40-watt work light for the illumination of your workspace.
The lamp boasts even more flexibility, courtesy of its goose-neck design. This – you will agree – make your job more precise and neatly done.
The Porter-Cable PCB525BG 6″ Variable Speed Bench Grinder comes with 2 sizable 60-grit and 36-grit wheels. These find use in your grinding, polishing, and sharpening projects. This grinder also features two eye shields and spark guards to keep you safer while you work.
Despite all these beauties this grinder features, portability is not a strong point of this grinder. Coming at a bulky weight of 36 lbs, you can expect a battle moving this grinder for offsite jobs.
Pros
- Variable speed motor
- Ample lighting for enhanced illumination
- It is safer, being equipped with eye shields and spark guard
Cons
- It is too heavy and far less portable
14. Grizzly Industrial G9717-6″ Bench Grinder w/ 1/2″ Arbor
The Grizzly Industrial G9717-6″ Bench Grinder has good speed, running at 3,450 rpm. It is not prone to overheating and features a quick starting mechanism.
This bench grinder also features flexible tool rests and adjustable eye shields to protect you while at work.
Overall, this grinder is best suited to light jobs. It will struggle when used for heavy-duty functions due to its low torque.
Pros
- It is effortless to assemble
- It runs coolly for longer
- Commendable speed of 3,450 rpm
Cons
- It is not suited to heavy-duty jobs despite an impressive speed of 3,450 rpm
Thing to Consider Before Buy
Size
You will see bench grinders in various sizes. A lot depends on the spaciousness of your work area when choosing the right grinder size.
For owners of smaller shops, you will be better suited to bench grinders with ½ or ¼ horsepower. For this category of grinders, cutting wheels of 1 – ½ inch will get the job done.
If you have a bigger task on hand, go for bench grinders with bigger wheels, even running up to 8 inches. This increases the surface area for quicker grinding. Of course, such bigger wheels work with bigger motors.
Power & Speed
The power of bench grinder is reflected in the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the grinding wheels. It is all simple. Bench grinders with faster speed and power get your job done quicker.
Faster speeds are great when you have hard metals to work on. You definitely will not need as much speed when you work on thick steel as when you work on wood. Typically, many bench grinders have their speeds ranging from 3000 rpm to 3600 rpm.
Grinding Wheel type
When buying bench grinders, you have to pay particular attention to the type of grinding wheel it has. First, you have to consider the kind of material you would be grinding.
If you would be grinding cast iron, you should be considering silicon carbide abrasive wheels. On the other hand, when you have to grind steel materials, use aluminum oxide wheels.
The convention is to work softer materials with wheels of harder grades having coarse grit while brittle (and tough) materials are best worked with wheels of softer grades having finer grit.
The following are the prominent types of grinding wheel you see with bench grinders.
- Cylinder wheel: Just as the name suggests, this wheel is hollow and notably large. They find valuable use in producing flat surfaces.
Cylindrical wheels are best used with vertical and horizontal bench grinders. They are wide too, even boasting as much as a width of 12 inches.
- Straight wheel: Straight wheels so to say are the most prominent wheel types. They are very handy when it comes to surface grinding. Hence straight wheels are commonly deployed in sharpening cutting tools like chisels.
- Tapered wheel: These wheels are best suitable for grinding gear teeth. Tapered wheels are used in significantly delicate works. This application is unsurprising, given that towards the edge, this wheel tapers off.
There are other specialty wheel types that are not as commonly deployed as these grinding wheels we have just mentioned. This rarer class of wheels includes diamond wheels, saucer wheels, and cut-off wheels.
8 Inch or 6 Inch
Aside from the type of grinding wheel, you must also be keen on its size. Your choice of the wheel size depends on the intended purpose of the wheel.
Usually, we have wheels or 6 inches, running up to 8 inches. This range will sufficiently take care of the majority of your jobs you will come across.
For home use as is typical of most DIY (Do It Yourself) jobs, you would be fine with a grinding wheel of 6 inches. The majority of this size of wheels run in the region of 4 amps. Their power capacity best suits your home improvement projects.
Thus, most 6-inch grinding machines have a speed range of 3400 to 3600 rpm. They could be heavy. But they are notably quiet.
If you are looking at an industrial project, you should be considering the 8-inch grinding wheel. This works well with wire brushes and buffing wheels. 8-inch wheels don’t need significant wheel changes, although they are sort of slower.
Anti-Vibration Features
You would be in for a hellish experience if your bench grinder vibrates too much. This is because of the constant disruptions would make it hard for your job or hands to stay in place. Undoubtedly, this can be as exhausting as annoying!
Go for bench grinders with suitable anti-vibration features that enhance the stability of the grinder while in operation. This is why most premium quality bench grinders are made with solid cast iron. Such facility reduces the vibration to a reasonable degree.
Spark Protection
Flying sparks are quite normal when you work with bench grinders, but how good is the spark protection? Your choice of bench grinder should be amply supplied with spark deflectors.
These spark deflectors usually cover as much as 75% of the wheel. This leaves the remaining 25% — typically situated at the front – for you to work on.
The job of these spark deflectors, as you would guess, is to keep the sparks from flying right at you. That would be damn catastrophic.
With these deflectors covering a huge part of the wheels, the sparks (or fragment of the material you are working on) are localized so they don’t jump right at you or all your workshop.
The spark deflectors are also valuable in keeping off stuff from falling directly on our wheels and sparking all over. Such accidental falls are not uncommon given that you can mistakenly knock something on the grinding wheel, or the inherent vibration of the grinder could cause other stuff to fall on the wheel.
Built-in Light
When working on your bench grinder, you need adequate visibility. You not only need to correctly see what you are working on to do a great job, but you also need to see well to keep your hands safe.
It would be fantastic if your bench grinder comes with in-built light in the form of LED lamps to light up your work area sufficiently.
Mike Zhang. Founder of FamilyLifeShare