Knife grinders are devices containing a few wheels for sharpening a knife. Every knife grinder more or less does the same work. That is, sharpening the knives. The best knife grinder and best belt for beginners varies depending on the tasks they are used for. One of their tasks is to sharpen and polish knife edges to make them more usable. Not everyone can use a grinder, as most grinders are complicated. Not everyone can use them.
However, some grinders are beginner-friendly. If you choose the best knife grinder, even beginners can use it. In short, the best knife grinder for beginners is a rare machine. Even if it fulfills the criteria of being a knife grinder for beginners, it should be better quality. In this article, I will give a detailed review of 7 of the best belt grinders for knife making that even a beginner can use. Now, without further ado, let’s start with the reviews.
Quick Look: Top 7 Best Knife Grinders for Beginners
Oh! Wait a minute! Before proceeding, something came to my mind. Some of you may be in a rush. I will give you a brief description of the 7 best knife grinders for beginners from my review if you have less time and patience to read the review.
- JET 577248 IB-GB Industrial Grinder
- Bucktool Combo 2” x 42” Belt Sander
- Palmgren 2″ x 42″ Belt, 6″ Disc
- Work Sharp WSSAKO81112
- Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener
- BUCKTOOL Professional Power Tools 8-Inch
- JET IBG-8 8″ Industrial Bench Grinder
If you look around, you’ll find loads of knife grinders of various specifications. But I will narrow it down to only the 7 best beginner knife grinders. So, the seven knife grinders are explained below:
1. JET 577248 IB-GB Industrial Grinder
- Item Weight: 87 pounds
- The Manufacturer: JPW Industries Inc.
- Item Model Number: 577248
Knife grinders must maintain some quality and safety to be appropriate for beginners. The JET 577248 is such a knife grinder. Consider buying the JET 577248 IB-GB International Grinder. The variable speed will provide you with a grinding and sanding experience. You can adjust the grinding speed according to your wishes and start honing your knife.
Internal Configuration
This grinder is made for heavy usage. How do you know it? Its variable speed and an 8-inch grinder can do most of your work easily as it covers more surface area. This grinder is engineered with a powerful motor and some sealed bearings, and it was constructed industrially, strengthening it.
Wheel Efficiency
It contains a digital readout. It will help you observe the SFPM and RPMS accurately. Since the wheels rotate at a high speed, you don’t need to worry about stopping them. The built-in electric motor will stop the rotator even if it rotates at 3600 RPM within 20 seconds. So, you can imagine its efficiency by how fast it works.
What makes it so special? You can learn more about it if you check the features section.
Features
- The features of the JET 577248 Variable Speed Industrial Grinder are given below:
- A heavy-duty motor provides high-speed rotation while grinding. Because of it, wheels rotating at 3.6k RPM come down to 0 in less than 20 seconds.
- Rubber covers the ball bearings to last a year. Typically, metal is used because of high grinding, which creates adverse effects, which are not true in the case of rubber.
- The JET 577248 Industrial Grinder will serve you just as its name suggests. It’s an industrial grinder. That means this knife grinder is strong, and its strength depends on the individual user.
- Since it is a motor-based device, and you know all motors contain ball bearings. So the grinder won’t be helpful if the ball bearings don’t move properly. For that, the manufacturers enclose them after pre-lubricating them.
- The knife grinder is CSA or US-certified because of its strict guidelines, JET combination, and electrical conditions.
- It comes with big goggles to protect the eyes from the sparks that flow during knife grinding.
- There is a sanding belt around the knife grinder for grinding. The manufacturers made it a priority to ensure safety guards around the belt area.
- There are small wheels covered with rubbers. These rubber-covered wheels prevent unnecessary mobility.
Advantages:
- Because of its industrial design, you can use it however you like, whenever, and however much you want to use it.
- This knife grinder is beginner-friendly. Knife grinders are cumbersome devices, but their safety belt and rubber-covered wheels make them safer for beginners.
Disadvantages:
- The Knife Grinder is very heavy. So, if you are underweight, please refrain from using it.
2. Bucktool Combo 2” x 42” Belt Sander
- Product Dimensions: 24.7 x 19.6 x 11.8 inches
- Item Weight: 39.1 pounds
- The Manufacturer: BUCKTOOL
- Material: Stainless Metal
Background
Bucktool is a well-renowned brand that manufactures powerful tools. It started in 2008 and has been supplying quality products since then. Bucktool is an expert in making woodwork devices and volunteers to show appreciation for the people doing the woodwork.
Specialty
They design their products with more AI die-casting parts; steel is made of a rigid stamp. This increases portability and efficiency.
You can trust it to provide you with great-performing items. Their primary motivation is to reach out to every enthusiast and adequately connect with them. So, you can say that their solo notice encourages us to move forward.
Quality Insurance
So, as a brand, BUCKTOOL will not compromise on quality. They manufacture every grinder with care and courier it if someone lives outside the selling place. BUCKTOOL has spent more than 10 years in the grinder supply chain. They created it to mark their effort in the business and wanted to make it a fast and direct intercommunication bridge with other international enthusiasts.
Features:
- The features of the best knife sharpener are given below:
- This machine is perfect for sanding and polishing any material because of its 6” bench grinder.
- It can do typical tasks like sanding, grinding, surfacing, polishing, finishing, and deburring.
- You can place the belt in any way you want. If you cast the iron belt sander as a worktable, it can provide enhanced support.
- There is an adjustable eye protector, which is tied using a belt. That belt is further enhanced by fast belt tensioning, toll-free belt changes, a full belt guard, a simple belt tracking handle, and a dust port.
- A tall and wide belt, along with a white grinding and brush wheel to remove rust quickly.
- It is CSA listed, and the front mount is safe, along with a key.
- You can change the belt easily and quickly with the help of the tension mechanism and quick-release function.
Advantages:
- The grinder not only grinds very fast but also cleans the materials after grinding, which is very convenient for grinding knives.
- This grinder sharpens and polishes nicely.
- The knife comes with extra belts, which are very convenient as a safety precaution in case the grinder belt gets damaged or torn while honing a knife.
- This is a grinder for beginners who know nothing about grinding machines. Yet they can sharp through it no less than professionals do.
- This knife grinder is super affordable and has excellent sharpening skills. It is tough to find such a knife grinder at such a price.
Disadvantages:
- The knife grinder’s motor is a bit weak, and sometimes, the belt comes off. Although this doesn’t create many hindrances while grinding, it may be unsafe.
3. Palmgren 2″ x 42″ Belt, 6″ Disc
- Product Dimensions: 11 x 20.5 x 22.25 inches
- Item Weight: 35 pounds
- The Manufacturer: Palmgren – Drop Ship
- Item Model Number: 81061
Another suggestion I’ll give you is the Palmgren Knife Grinder. It is bigger and broader, just like regular grinders, but it’s very easy to set up. You can use this grinder vertically or horizontally; it’s entirely up to you.
Functionality
The Palmgren knife grinder is a bench combination of belt and disk. It is the perfect tool for general activities like grinding, polishing, sanding, surfacing, deburring, and finishing. This is a heavy-duty device, so it can perform for a long time.
Internal Configuration
The motor’s capacitor supplies the current necessary to make it work for a very long period. Also, it has a long battery life, so you don’t have to worry about the battery getting drained quickly.
Working Principle
Palmgren’s bench-style belt and disc finishing machine is another appropriate grinding tool for beginners. Besides other works, it can do typical tasks. So, you can understand that even if you have no experience in grinding, its bench-style design will allow you to sit on it and do your work.
Features:
- The features of the best bench finishing machine are given below:
- You can sit on its 6-inch belt and do any honing you need to do.
- It can do typical tasks like sanding, grinding, surfacing, polishing, finishing, and deburring.
- The direct drive belt and disc can complete your job without any hassle.
- The belt can move either in a vertical or horizontal position. So, you can choose any way you’re comfortable with.
- Since the capacitor is heavy-duty, you can work without slowing down.
- The grinder is cast iron, giving you sturdiness and vibration-free task completion.
- You can change the belt easily and quickly with the help of the tension mechanism and quick-release function.
Advantages:
The grinder comes with a huge belt and a potent motor.
- It is very cheap compared with other knife grinders. For this amount of money, you get a very heavy-duty motor. So, even if you get exhausted while sharpening the knives, the grinder will not show an ounce of exhaustion.
- It is designed for beginners to grind and sharpen items like professionals.
- The knife grinder comes at a cheap price. No wonder it could be among the top 7 best grinders for beginners!
- The grinder is very easy to set up. Grinder normally is very tough for a beginner to handle because of its bigger and more scattered parts, but this one seems to be the opposite.
- They will fit in any place you put them. They will give you full performance right from the start, and it takes as little effort as needed.
- Comes in a box and is packaged safely. There is no safety issue even if you are using it.
Disadvantages:
- The down part of the grinder might be a bit tighter around the wheels, so it gives considerably less speed than its potential. However, I think the manufacturers made this design considering the safety of absolute beginners.
4. Work Sharp WSSAKO81112 Blade Grinder
- Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 3 x 7.75 inches
- Item Weight: 7 ounces
- The Manufacturer: DRIL9
- Item Model Number: WSSAKO81112
- Material: Stainless Synthetic
- Warranty Description: Manufacturer Warranty
Internal Configuration
Work Sharp WSSAKO81112 is the best blade grinder attachment. The Ken Onion Edition enables multi-sharpeners into a bigger belt sander or grinder. Its ‘heavy sharpeners’ will correspond with bigger and longer grinding belts.
Angular Configuration
A larger belt grinder will enable you to get the desired result easily. While you’re sharpening, you can adjust the sharpening angles between 20 and 35 degrees. The horizontal part on the grinder will help you maintain your knife position so that you can see your progress while sharpening.
Belt Speed
This differs from a multi-sharpener with a blade-grinding attachment, which differs from regular grinders. You can adjust the grinding belt’s speed, preventing the knife from overheating.
Ball Bearer Speed and Effects
The manufacturer will deliver this machine along with five different grinding belts. Their sizes range from excellent (12000 RPM) to coarse (120 RPM). The most helpful fact is that the grit will automatically change when the previous one is degraded.
Features:
- This blade-grinding attachment can create any angled sharpness. So, any knife can be sharpened with this grinder.
- It has double abrasive belt width. This means you can sharpen it faster and with fewer passes.
- Though it is designed for beginners, it is modeled after industrial sharpeners. So, you can sharpen your accessories as a professional would, without worry.
- This grinder can handle any workload. So, it is a super heavy-duty knife grinder.
- It uses 1”x18” engineered belts with a 4-pulley system, along with some other adjustable properties so that you can sharpen your items as much as you like
Advantages:
- The grinder is very easy to use, and the knife edge gets perfectly honed. Because of its sharp skills, you can use it easily in your house and continue using the same knife for an extended period.
- You can easily control the grinder completely. It will sharpen your knife exactly how you want it. It is best for kitchen knives.
- You can sharpen your knives quickly, from regular to cheaper to expensive ones. After using it for a few months, you can sharpen even the mirror-sharp edges used on a knife in a lanky system in less than 10 minutes.
Disadvantages:
- The user manual is a bit complicated to understand, but once you understand the format, it becomes pretty easy.
5. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener
- Product Dimensions: 5 x 9 x 5 inches
- Item Weight: 1.9 pounds
- The Manufacturer: Work Sharp
- Item Model Number: WSKTS
Main Function
The Work Sharp Knife and Tool Sharpener is designed to sharpen any knife. It has flexible abrasive belts and can sharpen sharp, curved, jagged, hooked, and tanto blades, as well as plain knives.
Sharpening Other-shaped Knives
You can use a precision angle-sharpening guide to sharpen every knife precisely, regardless of shape. There are options to share all kinds of knives, including kitchen knives (20 degrees) and outdoor knives (25 degrees).
Other Tasks
The Work Sharp Knife and Tool sharpener can also sharpen your other tools, such as scissors, garden shears, axes, mower blades, hatchets, etc. Because of its versatility, it proves to be an irreplaceable sharpening item, keeping your equipment razor-sharp whenever you need it.
Features:
- It can create sharp knives and other accessories quickly and easily.
- The abrasive grit belts that come with the grinder can easily be replaced.
- The grinder’s abrasive belts are made of durable material and won’t be damaged easily.
- The precision-ensuring guide will give you fast, simple, and constant results.
- Although the manufacturers don’t recommend using power converters, you can still run it with a 12V inverter from a motor vehicle.
Advantages:
- If you use the right blade with the right belt, you don’t need to exert much effort. You can carry out your job pretty conveniently.
- Work Sharp Knife and tool sharpener can sharpen tools faster and easier once you get the hang of it.
- It is the most preferred sharpening tool among beginners, as they get the most output from it. Even experts support this tool to sharpen their products.
- Even though you have technical problems with it, the outstanding customer service Work Sharp provides will satisfy you greatly.
Disadvantages:
- When you use this device while sharpening your knife or any other tool, it might be difficult to polish the edges of the tools.
6. BUCKTOOL Professional Power Tools 8-Inch
- Product Dimensions: 23 x 14.5 x 12 inches
- Item Weight: 45 pounds
- The Manufacturer: BUCKTOOL
- Material: Alloy Steel
My last recommendation is the Bucktool combo Knife grinder. Bucktool is a popular brand, and to date, its rating has been the best among all other grinding machines. It is an all-in-one tool that you can use for many purposes. Its perfect size, motor power, and everything else will give you the facilities.
Efficiency
BUCKTOOL is the most preferred choice for both professional and personal use. It is ideal for sharpening knives and other items like scissors, screwdrivers, blades, and so on. It may look compact, but it is a powerful tool that gives unparalleled progress on even the most complex tasks.
Internal Configuration
It has a 3.1A motor to ensure satisfactory and effective performance. Depending on your demands, you can grind knives using a wheel speed of about 1725~3450 rotations per minute. If you want to improve the balance of the grinding wheels, you can get help from the built-in, precise flange.
Features:
- 5HP dual-speed motor to ensure smooth performance and a balanced wheel rotation regardless of the speed.
- The wheels are made of Aluminum Oxide, including 60 and 120# grit to reduce heat production.
- There are two aluminum tool rests. The rests can be independently adjusted to compensate for wheels and achieve different angles.
- In addition to sharpening, there is a buffing wheel if you want to polish the item you were sharpening.
Advantages:
- It has a two-speed tool that plays a significant role in sharpening objects without overheating them.
- It is a good grinder that can provide you with the best quality while being durable.
- The Aluminum wheels give much more speed with the least vibrations.
- You can get more grinding options that are suitable for grinding any knife.
Disadvantages:
- Some of you may not be satisfied with the grinding wheels, but for the price, you get this more convenient sharpening tool.
7. JET IBG-8 8″ Industrial Bench Grinder
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 13.75 x 14 inches
- Item Weight: 44 pounds
- The Manufacturer: JET
- Item Model Number: 578008
- Material: Cast Iron
- Warranty Description: 2-Year
Motor Configuration
The Jet brand is very well-known among the best industrial bench grinder products. Jet 578008 is one of them. Like all other JET products, JET 578008 is very durable, and you can use it for heavy-duty purposes. It has a motor of 1HP, which is the maximum you’d get in any bench grinder. This heavy-performing motor, along with a robust design, makes this grinder undoubtedly the best in the market.
Design and Safety
This grinder also provides safety features, which are rare among bench grinders. Though it has been designed for industrial purposes, even beginners can use it effectively because of its simple design.
Features:
- There is a heavy-duty capacitor motor, so you don’t have to worry about the motor being exhausted of too much knife sharpening.
- The bearings are sealed within the device to free the grinding from external hindrances.
- Since the JET company follows strict usage rules, the CSA/CUS recognizes and certifies them.
- It can cope with any sharpening demand you put it up to.
- There is a safety key that you can toggle while using. It is added as an extra precaution to prevent accidents.
- Because of its advanced safety precautions, it is also said to be an OSHA-compliant product.
- You don’t need to drill the bases to place it on workbenches or stands. They are already drilled for that purpose.
- The equipment used in JET 578008 follows the standard. That is why their brand is so well known.
- There is a wheel dresser and an adjustable safety shield to ensure further safety.
Advantages:
- It is quick to start. You can start working right off when you press the switch.
- This grinder is designed for home use by beginners, so its design is appropriate and user-friendly.
- It is much cheaper than any other knife grinder used in industries that have the same functions and quality.
- The grinding wheels are heavier. You can find these kinds of wheels in industries. Heavier wheels are more efficient in grinding objects.
Disadvantages:
- Though it is a great grinder, it has only one drawback: It produces too many vibrations, which can be a problem while grinding.
Features of a Good Knife Grinder
- The exceptional features for a good knife grinder are:
- A heavy-duty motor and greater wheel rotating efficiency is a knife feature for the best knife grinder.
- The operating motor should be powerful with movable ball bearings
- A good knife grinder should offer a knife grinding
- Should be available within balanced weight rather than overweight
- Capable of performing multiple tasks like grinding, sanding, surfacing, polishing, and deburring
- Can powerfully perform and complete all tasks vibration-free
- Can adjust the belt speed of the knife grinder according to the need
The Importance of Using Knife Grinders
Importance in a Nutshell
Knives are irreplaceable tools in a kitchen. However, they often lose their sharpness over time. You can dispose of them or recycle them by resharpening them. Disposing of kitchen knives seems like a great waste, considering their high-quality steel. So, you can resharpen your favorite knife and use it longer.
How to Sharpen the Knives? What to consider?
Now, how can you resharpen your knife? Do you rub it against stones or other hard surfaces? That’d damage the polished knife you had. So, experts use knife grinders. A smart choice!
Almost all beginners have seen this sharpening method or how experts sharpen their knives using it. Unfortunately, few knife grinders are available for beginners.
The Secret Behind…
The rotation of the wheel and the belt sharpens the knives upon contact. Once you sharpen it, the grinder polishes the knife to maintain its beauty.
Manually polishing knives with stones or any other way. It creates irregularities, rough surfaces, and similar other defects. However, with grinders, you don’t have to face this problem.
Primary Task of Grinding Machines
The most significant task of a grinder is keeping knives and all other materials, especially knives, in usable conditions. For this, grinding machines must be reliable, easy to use, and functional. Since I’m mentioning the best knife grinder for beginners, beginners with no previous experience should be able to use such machines.
Use of Electric Grinders
The electric grinders I mentioned have a variety of applications, which can be difficult and risky for beginners. Even if they can use them smartly, their skills won’t be perfect. There would be irregular sides or sharpened areas, and so on. But with careful honing skills and keen observation, even beginners can sharpen their knives using these best knife grinders.
Other Tasks of a Grinding Machine
One of the major tasks of proper grinding is preserving the perfect grinding angle and making the cutting edge appropriate for its purpose. Although the grinder for beginners is too versatile, which is a good thing, it often sidetracks the primary task it is bought for, which is sharpening knives.
Other than that, grinders for beginners with appropriate honing skills will facilitate you with the following tasks –
- Precise grinding
- Easy installation
- A variety of grinding angles, befitting for each purpose.
- Appropriate control while grinding
- Better results by using the widest part of the abrasive materials
- You can also grind to create complex shapes
- Ideal for beginners and small workshops
- These grinders come at an affordable price.
So, these are the essential things to have a grinding machine. If that grinding machine is made for beginners, it’s like a cherry on top. Careful usage of the machines will even surpass the expensive knife-grinding machines.
Belt Grinder Vs. Belt Sander–What is the Difference:
There’s a minor difference between a Belt Grinder and a belt Sander. Well, a Belt sander is unsuitable for metalwork and preferable for woodwork.
A belt sander has a lower speed than a belt grinder, while a belt grinder can offer an incredible speed of about 8,000 rotations per minute. So belt grinders are highly suitable for sharpening, making, and polishing.
Choosing the Best Knife Grinder for Beginners [ A Buying Guide]
Now that I have enough information about knife grinders that suit even beginners, you might wonder how you can choose the most appropriate knife grinding tool for yourself.
You already realized that the best belt grinder for a knife is appropriate when honing a blade. However, choosing the best belt sander for knife making might be a problem among all the other parts. Since I narrowed your choice to only 7 of the best knife grinders in this article, you don’t have to worry anymore.
Now, the question is how you’ll choose the best belt disc sander for knife-making. Worry not! I will present you with facts you must consider before buying the best belt grinder.
The Grinder and the Belt Size
You first need to check if you want the best belt grinder for knife making. Don’t choose a grinder that is too big for you to handle. So, select a sander that is easy to install and use. You can also use portable knife sanders, but they are not durable. So, choose them only when you don’t have to grind your knife daily.
Belts are the second most important thing to consider when buying a belt-based knife grinder. Experts say that if you want to grind and sharpen a knife using the same belt, buy a belt around 2” and 74”.
Motor
The power of the grinder depends much on the motor. Usually, the knife grinders have a lesser-powered motor of only 1/3 HP. These are good for beginners. But if you make knives professionally, these knife grinders are not for you. However, there are also powerful motors that have the power of around 1HP.
The best knife grinders with higher power will let you sharpen or grind a knife much more easily and quickly. But they come at an expensive rate, whereas grinders with a less powered motor will do the job if you’re a beginner. Despite their lesser power, these kinds of motors come with variable speed, which will later come in handy.
Point of Contact
A contact point is a place where you hone your knife. Putting your knife there will prevent it from hanging from the outside. Normally, cheaper grinders don’t come with proper quality contact points. You can change them further and put a new one according to your choices.
If it were me, I’d buy the best belt grinder for knife-making whose contact point will let you tilt the part up to 45 degrees. This contact point tilt angle makes sharpening easier.
Speed
The higher the speed of a sander, the quicker it can grind and sharpen. If the speed is low, then much of your time will be wasted. If the speed is too high, the belt will get damaged quickly.
You need to decide what purpose you will sharpen your knives for. Then, you can choose the speed of your grinder.
Dust Collector
This is an uncommon quality for a knife grinder as metals produce very few dust particles. However, if you have a multipurpose grinder that can grind beside sanding wood, then you should check for the vacuum pouch that will keep the dust sucked while grinding or sanding.
Using Difficulty
Last, if your grinder makes your job harder and more difficult, replace it with a new one. Knife grinders are already tricky to use if you have no prior experience. Still, if you choose a grinder that is hard to maintain and use, you realize that all the money you put into that grinder went to waste.
The 7 knife grinders for beginners I mentioned in this article almost all contain features for your comfort, from belt changing to getting started with grinding. After using them for a few months, you’ll be an expert at using those grinders.
Some FAQs:
Why should I use belt grinders for grinding knives?
Belt knife grinders are electric machines normally used to sharpen and smooth knives. They are mostly immovable, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a portable version.
Sharpening knives is one of the hardest tasks available. It has been done since ancient times, but grinding machines like these have made it easier.
Why should you use a belt sander? They are comparatively easier to use and can also be used for other versatile tasks.
Can I make my knife using these knife grinders?
The short answer is yes, you can make your knife using knife grinders. This is the best machine to use if you’re trying to make your knife. Customized knives are also very appreciated; you can feel comfortable using them.
While making a knife, you need to keep a few things in mind.
Making a knife is hard at first, but if you try, it will further hone your skills. Before making the knives, check for the designs, sharpness, and finishing.
These are the three most essential aspects of a knife. However, making a knife can be boring if you’re not into it. So, proceed to making a knife only if you have a hobby.
What is the difference between a sander and a grinder?
That is the most common question. The simple answer is that they are both Sanders with a very minor difference.
Both the sander and grinder polish and hone objects. But sanders have lesser speed than grinders. For this reason, sanding a metal, especially a knife, will not work. Sanders is suitable for woodwork. Still, buying the best belt sander for knife making will make a difference in creating a knife.
The speed of a grinder can go up to 8000 rotations per minute. And this is more than enough to sharpen or hone a metal. For this reason, if you want to polish or sharpen a knife, choose the best belt grinder for knife making.
Final Verdict
The knife grinder for beginners is one of the most useful tools ever. The top 7 best knife grinders serve many purposes besides knife sharpening.
You can also sharpen other metal items in your workshop, such as scissors. These best knife grinders are very handy and durable, so even if you use them for a long time, they will remain the same.
Since you read through the entire article, I think you know better which knife grinder to buy. Buying a knife grinder for beginners will not only make your job easier but also reduce your headache of buying or replacing your knife since it loses its sharpness almost every few months. And now, if you buy the best knife grinder, there will not be any headache for buying new knives, and you can always use your favorite knife.