Angle Grinder vs Bench Grinder. Pros & Cons. Cordless bench grinder

Angle Grinder vs Bench Grinder. Pros Cons.

Throughout multiple trade-oriented industries, the angle grinder, and bench grinder are two of the most utilized forms of tooling. Both are known for their practicality and efficiency when conducting tasks such as the grinding, sanding, and shaping of materials; but what is the real difference between these two machines?

Let us explore these differences in the following article.

Difference Between Angle Grinder and Bench Grinder

In a nutshell, an angle grinder is a portable grinder with a rotating disc that spins at high speed to cut, sand, and polish workpieces. On the other hand, a bench grinder is a fixed machine tool with two rotating grinding stones. Bench grinders are primarily used for sharpening drill bits, cutting tools, blades, deburring, grinding, etc.

Angle Grinder

The angle grinder is a handheld-portable power tool that is most commonly used for grinding, cutting, and polishing works.

All angle grinder models will contain either a small motor (or an air compression system) which is used to power a gear head with a spindle. On the spindle, different angle grinder discs can be attached and fastened through the tightening of a nut. When the grinder is switched on, the gear head and attached disc will rotate rapidly and can be applied to the material for abrasive cutting, grinding, or polishing purposes.

Protecting the operator from injury (such as flying debris) is a grinder guard which is located directly behind the gear head/disc. Different discs are designed for different tasks and are generally made to be consumables.

Bench Grinder

The working principles of the bench grinder are similar to that of the angle grinders, but without the ability to cut-off materials.

A bench grinder is a stationary benchtop machine that is mainly used for the grinding, sanding, and polishing of various materials. The most common design seen houses two adjacent wheels attached to a gear head with a motor located centrally.

When the bench grinder is turned on, an electric motor powers these two wheels (often simultaneously), and the desired work can be conducted via the application of the material to be worked upon. Much like the angle grinder, the abrasive wheel (in this case) is interchangeable to suit one’s needs although as mentioned, bench grinders are predominantly designed with the purpose of grinding, sanding, and polishing in mind.

Portability

An angle grinder is as portable as a power tool gets. It is generally powered by electricity or air compression and it is limited with its freedom of movement only by the location of electrical or air compression output and the length of the electrical lead/air hose on hand.

A step further, there are angle grinder models available that completely eliminate the necessity for a direct power source and are powered by rechargeable batteries. It is important to mention, however, that when interchanging from a direct power source to a rechargeable battery (at least with angle grinders) the lifespan of the tool and power output is less.

On the other hand, the bench grinder is not at all considered a portable tool. These machines will often be found completely stationary and fastened down to a bench or heavy stand which prevents you from carrying it around unless the mounting has wheels. For this reason, a bench grinder is usually considered a shop floor machine tool.

Despite this lack of portability, the bench grinder is not a massive tool in terms of heavy machinery and the location can be changed as desired with a little manpower.

The Angle Grinder

The angle grinder can be used for tasks upon a range of materials such as metal, wood, ceramics, concrete, and plastics, to name a few. Generally, we would see the angle grinder used upon these materials for purposes such as:

• Grinding
• Polishing
• Sanding
• Cutting rebar, screws, bar stock etc.
• Weld clean-up
• Paint and Rust Removal
• See more uses of angle grinder.

Bench Grinder Uses

We don’t see such a variety of applications from the bench grinder although, it indefinitely makes up for this with its efficiency. Like angle grinders, the bench grinder is useful to work upon materials such as metal, wood, ceramics, concrete, and plastics.

Following are some of the common uses of a bench grinder.

• Grinding
• Lathe Tool Sharpening
• Sharpening drill bits
• Deburring and chamfering
• Polishing
• Sanding

Can You Use a Bench Grinder to Cut Metal?

Bench grinders are not designed for cutting metal since they utilize wide grinding wheels. To cut metal you need a thinner abrasive disc or a saw blade.

On a bench grinder, you could cut metal screws and bar stocks with relatively small cross sections (½ inch or less) using the sharp corner of the grinding stone. However, it will take a lot of effort and wastage of material.

You are much better off cutting metal using an angle grinder or a die grinder with cutting discs.

Versatility

Angle grinders have an excellent range of flexibility when working upon metals of different sizes. This makes them an excellent tool to use throughout multiple industries, such as woodworking, concreting works, and metalworking, where material sizes change often. When material sizes do vary, one can simply change the grinder discs to better suit the workload at hand, or otherwise, a completely different grinder size can be utilized.

Grinder disc interchangeability is equally excellent with a huge variety of cutting, grinding, and sanding discs available as well as other more unique discs/tools available for potential usage. For example, one of the most commonly used discs on an angle grinder is the flap disc which is not a grinding wheel, yet works very efficiently at removing material. Angle grinders can even be used for woodworking and carving.

Also, important to note is the obvious portability of the angle grinder which allows an operator to work anywhere that electricity is available.

Bench grinders are certainly much more specialized than the angle grinder which does limit their flexibility of use as a portable object or as a tool with multiple functions.

Despite this, there is a wide range of different grinding wheels available (of different coarseness, thicknesses, and functions) which indefinitely widens the potential applications from simple grinding tasks to include polishing, sanding, and occasional cutting also.

Power Source

Another important distinction is the type of power used to drive the motor of the tool. I have briefly mentioned this in the portability section.

An angle grinder is usually powered by one of three following methods.

• Compressed air in the case of pneumatic angle grinders
• Electricity for corded grinders, and
• Battery-powered cordless angle grinders.

On the contrary, bench grinders are usually powered by electricity.

Metabo Bench Grinder PM6707

Price

The Angle Grinder: 20- 300USD

An extremely budget-friendly 4.5-inch to 6-inch grinder could be purchased for as low as 20USD (though it would be indefinitely lacking in the department of durability and quality).

The cost of the tool usually depends on the size, type of power source, and brand. The price range for a quality angle grinder of any size is likely to range between 80USD – 300USD or more.

The Bench Grinder: 50 – 800USD

Starting at 50USD, one can pick up a light-duty bench grinder for basic home use but when requiring a grinder with a little more power and potential lifespan, the price will likely start from 200USD and continue into the thousands.

Which Grinder Should You Get?

The answer to this question will depend completely on your own individual task at hand; try to utilize the information below for a clear route to selecting the correct tool for your project.

Angle Grinders are most suitable for:

• If portability is important for you, then an angle grinder wins hands down.
• The industrial (or home-based) grinding, sanding, polishing, and cutting of materials where manual-control, accuracy, and flexibility are the requirements.
• Working indoors and outdoors at a location with/without access to electricity.
• For those who need to complete a wide variety of tasks at a variable price.

Bench Grinders are most suitable for:

• Fast/efficient grinding, sanding, and sharpening of materials in a fixed location with industrial and residential environments alike.
• Working upon projects requires production-line efficiency and repetition.
• Tasks require the operator to have hands free (the angle grinder can be seen as more limited within this area of work).

In conclusion, the bench grinder and angle grinder are both highly practical tools to be used throughout a variety of tasks. Ideally one would have access to both tools for complete flexibility. However, if on a budget one should select the tooling most suitable for their workload.

bench grinder 150mm 170w

When it comes to the main power tools in any professional or DIY workshop, having a good bench grinder can not only be used to sharpen your tools, but it can polish, buffer or even cut different metal parts. A good and heavy-duty bench grinder should have a strong and fast motor and grinding wheels while having safety features such as an eye shield and a wheel guard. Ronix 3510 bench grinder is a powerful and versatile grinding machine that meets all of the important criteria for a robust bench grinder. With its 170 watts motor equipped with two 150mm grinding wheels that can rotate up to 2950 RPM, this beast of a machine can reshape and sharpen heavy-duty and hard materials while being capable of precise sharpening work.

Ronix 3510 bench grinder is a powerful tool with a wide range of use cases, offers a robust performance against strong materials, and is precise enough to sharpen and reshape delicate objects.

Ronix 3510, 170W 150mm Bench Grinder:

As a well-known and international company, Ronix has made its promise and mission to provide sturdy and heavy-duty power tools to professionals and DIYers in every corner of the world. Ronix 3510 isn’t any exception to that promise and in this text, we will cover its most important features.

Motor:

As the pumping heart of a bench grinder, many regard the motor of a bench grinder as the most important part, and Ronix 3510 not only delivers on that front but goes above and beyond. Utilizing a voltage range of 220 to 240 volts with a frequency of 50 to 60 Hz, the Ronix 3510, 170W Bench Grinder can rotate its two grinding wheels to make 2950 revolutions per minute. This means that you can sharpen any blade or tool, reshape any kind of metal, polish and clean the most robust part and also remove rust from older parts to breathe new life into them. All this and so much more are possible by using the Ronix 3510 bench grinder.

Grinding wheels:

As we said, the 170 watts motor of the 3510 Bench Grinder can rotate its grinding wheels up to 2950 RPM. Ronix 3510 is equipped with two grinding wheels, one for more delicate reshaping and grinding, and another for more heavy-duty and robust workloads. These wheels are attached to the engine using a ball-bearing shaft that ensures a long service life for this beast of a tool. This means that you can rely on this machine to reshape the hardest of metals and tools, while simultaneously reforming fragile parts that need accurate sharpening.

Body:

This machine is one of the most compact and light models in the market, weighing only 5.5 kg. This not only means that you can easily fit this formidable machine on your workbench, but you can also move it without much hassle, should the need arise. Also, the compact size of the Ronix 3510 model results in a small footprint which means more space to work on your workbench or to put more tools and equipment. In also worth noting that Ronix 3510 uses an anti-dust on-off switch that avoids any dust from getting into the machinery of the tool, expanding its lifetime.

Safety and useability:

Ronix is committed to safety in every workplace and DIY workshop and has equipped its 3510 Bench Grinder with two flexible eye shields that can be readjusted based on the operator’s angle to avoid any shrapnel or a sharp object hitting his or her eyes. In addition to that, Ronix 3510 has a tool rest for each grinding wheel to act as a support for your hands and to improve your grip on the part that’s being worked on. Also, this compact, yet powerful bench grinder rests on rubber feet to reduce vibration. This feature also minimizes the noise from the rattling of the parts and your workbench, lowering unwanted noise in the workshop.

Packaging:

Now that we are familiar with the most important features and aspects of the Ronix 3510 bench grinder, we can take a look at its presentation. This power tool comes in the iconic Ronix-designed color box.

-Versatile and powerful grinding machine with fine and coarse grinding wheel for repairs and shape corrections as well as precise sharpening workRobust metal compact construction with ball bearing shaft and rubber feet for low-vibration running, best grinding results and a long service lifeEasily adjustable, sturdy work rests to suit any task.Large transparent spark protection lenses and encapsulated sanding discs for maximum safetyIdeal for all grinding, sharpening and polishing workDust proof switch for extra long life span.Heavy duty construction for demanding environments

BENCH GRINDER 6-INCH 1/3HP PRO-EB250

Adjustable according to the measure you are looking for to cover yourself from sparks or/and parts that the product can release with the work.

Perfect for your tools

If you need to sharpen. polish or even grind, it is the perfect tool.

What you were looking for to support your tools

It has the perfect base to support your tools and work efficiently, and achieve the result you are looking for.

reviews for BENCH GRINDER 6-INCH 1/3HP PRO-EB250

Great deal. Great value, I have owned several bench grinders in past and let me tell you I have wore them all out! I don’t believe that this unit is going to fail anytime soon. It is seriously built like a brick house. It comes up to speed very quickly and is very quiet. The torque is very impressive, I have leaned on it pretty hard and it honestly has never even shown me any sign of slowing down. That’s very impressive. In a nutshell I’m very happy with this unit and can say wholeheartedly that this will be my last bench grinder. It’s inconceivable for me to think this unit is going to ever quit on me. I do recommend this product. I hope you have found this to be useful. Thank you.

This grinder might well deserve five stars, but the manual barely deserves three stars. Some assembly required. Should not have been difficult, but the parts list and assembly diagram were for some other grinder! I wasted an hour trying to reverse engineer the parts I did find in the box without success. Fortunately, there was a picture of the grinder on the shipping box. With that I was able to find a use for all of the parts. (Duh!)

What is better an 8 inch or 6 inch bench grinder?

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “what size bench grinder should I get” the short answer is, “an 8-inch model”. When it comes to bench grinders, ‘bigger’ usually means ‘better.’ All other factors being equal, a big grinder will be less prone to wear and tear than a smaller model. And will also give you more space to work with.

A bigger grinder is a lot more comfortable to work with compared to a smaller model with a bigger grinding area.

When should you use an 8-inch bench grinder?

Should you go for a 6” or 8” bench grinder? Eight-inch bench grinders are better suited for professional jobs and heavy-duty work.

Although 6” bench grinders are arguably more compact, 8” bench grinders are unbeatable for sheer power.

Eight-inch grinders are especially suitable for work that requires buffing wheels or wire brushes.

You won’t have to change the wheels on an 8-inch grinder as frequently as you would with a 6-inch model, and they generally require much less maintenance.

Bigger table grinders make all kinds of jobs easier with a more open working area, making it easier to sharpen all your tools, even big outdoor tools like axes and shovels.

If you want a low-maintenance alternative to a 6-inch grinder, definitely go for an 8-inch DeWALT bench grinder for small workshops.← Click to find out about other bench grinders in the link.

Why use a 6-inch bench grinder?

The main selling points of 6-inch grinders are their low cost and versatility.

They are ideally suited for DIY work and even professional projects, and provide sufficient power for most tasks.

Most 6-inch grinders are compact, lightweight, and easy to set up.

They run quieter and are easier to maneuver than their larger counterparts.

Dewalt DW758 Bench Grinder and its pros and cons

Many 6-inch grinders are just as stable and sturdy as 8-inch models.

If you want a more compact grinder and don’t mind slightly reduced surface coverage, a good 6-inch model will do nicely.

A 6-inch bench grinder is still big enough to work on small jobs, and sharpen small tools like your wood carving chisels.

What other sized bench grinders are there?

The differences between bench grinder sizes can be considerable. A 3” bench grinder is about the smallest one you can buy, but these are too small for anything other than hobbies and crafts.

There are also 5” bench grinders available, but if you are thinking of going for a 5-inch grinder, you may as well go for a 6-inch model.

On the larger end of the scale, you will find 14- and 15-inch grinders.

Although impressive, these bench grinder sizes are pretty much overkill for most DIY grinding and polishing tasks.

In most cases, 6-, 7-, or 8-inch bench grinders will be perfect for your needs.

Best table grinder size for grinding metal

For grinding metal, almost any size bench grinder will do.

But for more efficient performance and optimum results, I always turn to my dependable 8-inch grinder.

It’s small enough to maneuver easily yet provides enough power for even heavy-duty jobs.

And if I have to grind down a large workpiece, my 8-inches is big enough to get the job done quickly.

The bigger the grinding wheel, the more you can grind with the more space available.

For example, a larger bench grinder will more easily sharpen bigger blades like a lawn mower blade for example.

Different types of metal grinding wheels

Metal grinding wheels have grit sizes that range from “coarse” to “fine” [ 1 ].

Coarse grit wheels range from 16- to 24-grit, while mediums range from 36- to 60-grit. Fine-grit wheels range from 80- to 120-grit.

There are also super fine grit wheels that are 150-grit or higher.

Most metal grinding wheels are between 24- and 100-grit.

You will generally want to use coarse grit wheels to remove stock quickly and finer grit wheels for a more polished finish.

You may also use a wire brush attachment to remove paint splatters and other surface stains before finishing.

Some of the more common materials used in metal grinding [ 2 ] wheels are:

• Ceramic aluminum oxide. This is harder and sharper than most grains.
• Silicon carbide. A sharp abrasive grain that is harder than aluminum oxide.
• Zirconia alumina. Ideally suited for aggressive stock removal.
• Aluminum oxide. Commonly used for grinding stainless steel, aluminum, and bronze alloys.

Best sized bench grinder for polishing work

For polishing work, you will want a wheel that is large enough to cover a sizable surface space. At the same time, you don’t want it so large that it becomes difficult to maneuver.

A table grinding wheel size of five to six inches should be sufficient for most jobs, allowing you to buff and polish good-sized workpieces efficiently without being too unwieldy.

Different types of polishing wheels

These are some of the most commonly used types of wheels for polishing:

• Abrasive wheels: These have harder and more abrasive surfaces that make them ideally suited for removing jagged edges and smoothening scratches.
• 3M radial bristle discs: These are made of rubber and are used for buffing smaller workpieces without having to use polishing solutions.
• Cylinder, bullet, and pin polishers: These are better suited for smaller workpieces and intricately detailed surfaces.
• Soft buffing wheels: These are commonly used to give surfaces a shiny finish.
• Matting wheels: These abrasive wheels provide a matte or dulled finish to metal surfaces.

Can bench grinders be used with wood?

Most bench grinders can be used for wood. You can use them to smoothen out rough surfaces or buff and polish a relatively smooth workpiece.

Depending on the surface of the wood and the wheel you use, it may not be necessary to apply a finishing compound after you polish the surface with your grinder.

You can do a lot with a bench grinder.

Bench grinders are a lot more versatile than most people give them credit for. You will probably use one mostly to get rid of burrs and jagged edges in metal at first.

Over time, however, you will likely find many more uses for a bench grinder, I say that an 8-inch grinder can do everything a 6-inch bench grinder can do but better.

You can click here to read more to find the best 8-inch bench grinder I have found.

information:

• Grinding wheel information can be found at, https://www.georgiagrindingwheel.com/grindingwheels_basics.htm
• Different types of abrasive grinding wheels can be found at, https://www.nortonabrasives.com/en-gb/resources/expertise/which-grinding-wheel-should-i-choose

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