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Buying The Best Bench Grinder
When looking at bench grinders and trying to figure out which is the best bench grinder for you there are a few basic things to consider. One is you have to think about what you are going to be using the bench grinder for. If you are mostly going to be using the bench grinder on wood, then you don’t need as powerful of one. If you are going to be using the bench grinder on metal or to make parts, on the other hand, you will need one with faster speeds. If you don’t know what you are going to be using your bench grinder for, then you might want to consider a variable speed bench grinder.
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Delta Power Tools 23-197 8-Inch Variable Speed Bench Grinder | 
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What To Look For In Your Bench Grinder
The next thing to consider when looking at bench grinders is how big of wheels do you think you will be using on it. If you need to work on larger surfaces, then you will want a bench grinder that can support larger wheels.
On the other hand, if you are going to be doing precision work, then you may not need a bench grinder with large wheels. The size of the bench grinder is also important when it comes to mounting. You don’t want to be looking at large bench grinders if you only have space for a smaller one.
Bench grinders are a great tool and can be super helpful in any shop. You can use your bench grinder to round edges, repair tools, and a whole lot of other things. Due to the fact that bench grinders can do so much, you should find the best one that will work for you and your needs.
This list below will have a lot of great bench grinder options so you can make an informed decision on which one is right for you.
Our Top Recommendations
We have assembled 8 bench grinders that we believe will include the best bench grinder for you. They range in price, quality, and material so surely one will fit your needs.
Consider the following:
WEN 4276 6-Inch Bench Grinder
The Wen 4276 6-Inch Bench Grinder is a great little bench grinder that can easily mount to most benches. It has a 2.1-amp motor which allows it to spin at 3450 rpm under no load which is on the faster side compared to most bench grinders. Check latest prices here >>
Some perks of this bench grinder are it comes with a 60-grit wheel as well as a 36-grit wheel. This means you can start buffing things or sharpening things right out of the box.
Mentioning the box, though, some people have had issues with parts missing. This could just be that they got a return unit or something, but it is something to keep in mind.
The Wen 6-inch Bench Grinder can also be a little tough to mount because you have to remove the wheels to get to the holes easily, but this is a small issue.
The bench grinder only weighs 16 pounds, but still, has a durable cast iron base making it so it will stay put once mounted. Another great thing about this bench grinder is it comes with a flexible light attached to it. This makes seeing what you are working on extremely easy.
If you are looking for a small bench grinder to do the basics like sharpening mower blades or simple things, then this one is a good option. It is priced competitively, it is a top quality product that will last, and it does the job well. Read more here >>
DEWALT DW756 6-Inch Bench Grinder
Another smaller 6-inch bench grinder is the DEWALT DW756. DEWALT makes great tools and this is another one that does the job well and is top quality for material. The bench grinder has a cast iron base that mounts easily to your work bench.
The tool rest are made out of aluminum and allow you to get the right angle to sharpen things. This bench grinder is a little heavier at 26 pounds, but that is due to the top craftsmanship.
The motor inside this bench grinder is five-eighths horsepower and this allows the wheels to spin at 3450 rpm. Due to the quick speed, you can use this grinder to remove material fast and also to remove harder material. Like the others, this one comes with a 36 grit wheel and a 60 grit wheel.
One feature of this bench grinder though is it has rear exhaust in the wheel housings to help keep them cool.
This bench grinder does have a few flaws, though. The wheels are about even with the motor housing which makes it hard to get the right angle for certain things. The wheels are spaced about a foot apart though which is a plus, but the housing can sometimes get in the way.
Also, if you don’t mount it correctly and attach the wheels correctly this bench grinder can have issues vibrating due to the fast speed, but that is an issue of most bench grinders if you don’t use them properly. Read more here >>
Delta Power Tools 23-197 8-Inch Variable Speed Bench Grinder
Getting to a little bigger bench grinder we have the Delta Power Tools 23-197 which is an 8-inch bench grinder that is also variable speed. The motor in this particular bench grinder is 5 amps and thanks to the variable speed control it can run from 2000 rpm to 3400 rpm. Variable speed is nice because you can work slower if you need to and not have to be precise with your touch which is really important for people that are new to working with bench grinders. Check latest prices here.
Like most other bench grinders this one comes with the standard 36 grit and 60 grit wheels. Some unique things about this particular bench grinder though are it has drill bit rest premade into the tool rest so you can get the perfect tip on all your drill bits. Also, the tool rest are adjustable so you can compensate for wheel wear and get the perfect angle for all your grinding and sharpening needs.
Another great thing about this bench grinder is it has a water tray. A water tray allows you a spot to dip the thing you are working on into it so it will cool off. Heat building up can be one of the most dangerous things of working with a bench grinder.
This grinder mounts easily to the work bench and has a strong metal base. The weight of this bench grinder is 44 pounds which are about on par with the size of it. The material and parts are all good except some people to have issues with the washers. The wheel washers are only stamped metal which means they are thin and can lead to wobbling. If you change this out though then the machine works really well for the simple grinding task. Like a few others, this one has a light to make seeing what you are working on easier. Read more here >>
SKIL 3380-01 6-Inch Bench Grinder
Skil is a brand that is known for making quality and affordable tools and their Skil 3380-01 6-inch bench grinder is no exception to this. Like most other bench grinders of this size, this one has a 2.1 amp motor and the wheels spin at 3450 rpm. Check latest prices here >>
This grinder mounts easily with its metal base and weighs around 20 pounds. One thing unique to this bench grinder compared to some of the other bench grinders we have seen on this list is it has rubber feet on the base. These are a nice added feature and really reduce the vibrating as you are using it. Also, the lights on this model are LEDs, so they are brighter than most of the other lights and last longer.
This grinder comes with the standard medium and course wheels, so it is ready to use right out of the box once it is mounted and the power switch is easily located on the front.
The tool rest are also adjustable making it easy to get the perfect angle on things. Another great thing about Skil products is they offer a great warranty and are a reliable company. The only downside to this grinder is it is small and only meant for the small simple task. If you try to use it for heavy duty work, then the motor will over heat so keep that in mind if you have a more advanced task for your bench grinder. Read more here >>
Craftsman 9-21154 Variable Speed 6-Inch Grinding Center
The craftsman 9-21154 Variable Speed 6-Inch bench grinder is another all-around great bench grinder that can tackle a lot of jobs thanks to its variable speed. The motor inside of this bench grinder is one-fifth horse power which equates to 2.5 amps and it allows this grinder to run from 2000 rpm to 3400 rpm with no load. Check latest prices here >>
Some people have complained that this grinder suffers from vibrating, but that is probably due to being mounted wrong because this bench grinder has an extra wide caste iron base to help with stability. This unit also weighs in at 33 pounds which are on the heavier side for a six-inch model, so I don’t think if mounted right it would vibrate.
It also has an oversized tool rest to make it easy to work on large pieces of material. On top of that, the tool rest have spots for your drill bits to make getting the right tip easy. This is one of the other bench grinders that has a water dipping tray, so you can work longer on your tool without having to wait for it to cool.
Like other models, it comes with the standard wheels, but this bench grinder also comes with a wheel dresser to help keep your wheels lasting longer. This is important because the wheels are the things doing the actual work and the motor is just what is spinning them.
The wheels are actually the main part of the grinder. The eye shields on this model are also large to help protect you and a solid clear plastic to make it easy to see where working still. Read more here >>
TruePower 199 Mini Multi Purpose Bench Grinder
If all the other bench grinders on this list have been bigger than what you are looking for, then you might want to consider the TruePower 199. This mini bench grinder is only 3-inches, but still, has a lot of the same features as the bigger ones. Check latest prices here >>
It still has a safety guard, tool rest, wheels, and the tools you need to change the wheels. The motor in this model is 150 watts that run off 110 volts at 60hz. This allows the wheels to spin from 0 to 10000 rpm.
Since the wheels are smaller it is easier to get them spinning at a faster speed meaning you can remove material fast. Also, since the wheels are smaller it makes it easier to work on smaller things or areas that need precision.
Some people complain that this model is too small, which makes it hard to work, but if you are using it for the smaller task it is great. If you need to buff or cut gemstones, then this is a good option. Also, any other small task would be really good on this grinder.
If you try to do heavy duty work, though, then the wheels and motor will bog down. Other than that this is a great small bench grinder that is only 7 pounds.
POWERTEC BGSS801 Slow Speed Bench Grinder, 8"
Another one of the larger bench grinders on this list is the POWERTEC BGSS801 8-Inch bench grinder. This bench grinder has a half horse power motor that is extremely quiet but only runs at 1725 rpm. This can be an advantage though because it keeps things from overheating. Also, the wheels on this model are larger than the ones on the 6-inch bench grinders. Check latest prices here >>
The wheels are made of white aluminum oxide, which produces less heat. This means that you can grind longer on harder metals than you could with other bench grinders from this list. This bench grinder is also high quality and made of heavy steel. This keeps it stable on the work surface once mounted as long as you mount it properly.
Some people have issues with a slight wobble in the wheels, but the machine doesn’t vibrate because it weighs in at 36 pounds. Also, compared to some of the other bench grinders on the list this one does cost more, but the extra cost is worth it. You are getting a quality bench grinder that is great for buffing things and will last a long time. Read more here >>
Black+Decker BG1500BD 6" Single Speed Bench Grinder
Finishing up this list of bench grinders is the Black and Decker BG1500BD 6-inch bench grinder. This is another grinder that has a good warranty and is great for the small task. It mounts easily with a heavy cast iron base. The rest of the grinder is light though as the whole thing only weighs 15 pounds. Check latest prices here >>
The wheels that it comes with are great for the simple task such as sharpening mower blades or working on garden tools. If you are going to do heavy duty work, though, then you may want to consider another option. The motor on this bench grinder is comparable to the others and this one spins at around 3400 rpm like most of the other 6-inch bench grinders on this list.
The tool rest also do their job as intended and the design is good with this grinder. It is easy to set up and use. This bench grinder is simple but isn’t a bad option for a first-time buyer or someone that just wants to try an affordable bench grinder out to see how much they will really use it. If you decided to upgrade later you aren’t out much because this bench grinder is affordable. Read more here >>
Conclusion
This list of bench grinders is a great starting point for figuring out which one is right for you. You really can’t go wrong with any of the bench grinders on this list. They will all do simple task extremely well, and some of them can be used for more advanced jobs. After reading this you should have a pretty good idea of what is the best bench grinder for you based on what you plan on using it for and your needs.
