If you are confused between these tools, which one is better for work? Both have their excellent points, which make them a handy power. And, of course, they both are designed for some special work. So today, we are going to make a comparison between bench grinder Vs belt sander. After reading the article, hopefully, we will clear all your confusion about the bench grinder and belt sander.
Bench Grinder Vs Belt Sander for Sharpening Differences:
Bench Grinder:
- Bench Grinder: The bench grinder is designed to sharpen metals such as blades, knives, saws, scissors, and many other metals. The grinder is best for converting rough edges into smooth ones.
- Design: The bench grinder consists of two grinding wheels, which are located on the side of the motor housing. The machine has an abrasive, usually rough surface, and when the wheel rotates, it does not sharpen.
- Operation: The bench grinder is usually the claim of an abrasive wheel. While performing your work, you have to move the object towards the wheel because the tool is immovable. By using a buffer or wire wheel, the bench grinder can polish and clean many tools.
- Power: bench grinder specially designed or heavy-duty work. When it comes to power, of course, the Bench grinder has more energy than the Belt sander, and their power is the other important factor that is why it is used for heavy-duty work of sharpening. Because of high power, the Bench grinder didn’t heat up as compared to the Belt sander.
These tools come with different sizes of horsepower motors in which, for home use, the ½ motor is perfect that is medium size.
Belt Sander:
The belt sander uses sandpaper, which looks like a built. The main purpose of the machine is to smoothing the rough surfaces. But the surface must have been made of plastic, wood, or other kinds of soft metal—the machine mostly used for sanding furniture.
- Design: The machine has two tube-shaped drums that loop close to coarse paper and travel. Works like a bike chain, their building is composed of long sandpaper attached to a rotating built of a sander. Through rotating the machine can grind any rough surface and make it smooth.
- Operation: The belt sander, built, is fixed attached to the machine, but now their new models can create moving. In the latest belt sander feature, you don’t have to move the item. Move the tool on the model where you like to smooth. These new models of belt sander are very helpful and also make it easier to do work quickly.
- Power: They provide powerful motors in all of their models to do work easily and quickly. They are designed for such light-duty work, so of course, don’t use them for any heavy-duty work. We will not recommend it for smoothing any hard surface. A medium-size belt sander will be perfect for home use.
Similarities:
- As you see, the difference between a bench grinder and belt sander, the same. There are a lot of similarities between these tools.
- Both machines can be used for making smooth and sharp the surface of items. The one used for heavy work such as metals and the other used for light work such as woods and plastics
- Both bench grinder and belt sander are composed of rotating abrasives.
- The bench grinder can change wheels, and the belt sander can change belts.
Bench grinder pros:
- The machine comes with powerful motors, which are excellent for heavy-duty work. The grinding wheels of the bench grinder are effortless to exchange.
- Done their job efficiently and quickly.
- Machines are safe for any hard and smooth work.
Cons:
- Sometimes, the machine grinding wheels break.
Belt Sander pros:
- The machine does the job very quickly and easily.
- Provide different kinds of grits, and their use is very easy.
- Sandpaper exchanges are effortless.
- You can remove any materials or tools quickly and easily.
Cons:
- You have to keep moving the machine. It causes damage to the surface of the item.
Comparison Chart:
| Bench Grinder | Belt sander |
| Used for heavy-duty work | Used for light-duty work |
| Design for sharpening of metals and other hard materials | Design for smoothing of wood and other soft materials |
| Changeable wheels | Changeable Belts |
| Immovable tools | Immovable tools |
| Parts can be removed easily and quickly | Parts can be removed easily and quickly |
| Easy to Use | Easy to Use |
How To Choose Bench Grinder
- Size: Size is an important part that affects the different types of which you will be going to work. The small size Bench Grinder is perfect for cutting, only able to scratch the workpiece’s surface. Simultaneously, the large size is ideal for trimming and getting rid of smaller components.
- Speed: The speed machine motors speed is measured in RPM, which is related to a bench grinder’s horsepower. If you want to finish your metalwork quickly, then go for a high-speed machine, and their speed depends on horsepower. For challenging work, 3000 RPM is right and for softer work, go for 1750 RPM.
- Motor: Motor directly affects your work performance. Cutting of tough metals 1 HP motor is perfect, and for heavy-duty work, go for ¾ HP motors.
How To Choose Belt Sander
- Size: Size by width and length, the size of a belt sander is measured. If you use it for heavy-duty work, then go for a 4×24 size machine belt. On the other hand, for regular duty work go for a 3×21 size belt machine.
- Speed: The speed at high speed, the machine is perfect for removing any materials. But the adjustable speed belt sander will be significant because with the variable speed you can adjust the speed for different kinds of work.
- Motor: Motor belt sanders come with ¼ or ½ horsepower; the higher power rating motor gives better performance than small rating motors.
Conclusion
After all, when choosing between a bench grinder & belt sander, you have to consider your work for what you will use it for. Any hard and heavy-duty grinding workbench grinder is perfect. If you need it for any smoothing work, then go for a belt sander.
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