Bench grinders are one of the most common kinds of power grinders. Walk into any welding shop, mechanic’s garage, or fabrication business, and you’ll likely see at least one or two of them. Bench grinders typically mount to a table or other sturdy work surface. They can contain one or more wheels, and you’ll frequently see bench grinders with one grinding wheel and one wire wheel. They also usually include guards to protect the user from sparks and flying debris, as well as a ledge where you can rest the tools or objects you’re grinding. Bench grinders can contain wheels for grinding, polishing, sanding, or buffing. You may see them with wheels made from aluminum oxide or other abrasives, and you may also encounter bench grinders with soft, fluffy polishing wheels.
Bench grinders are primarily used to sand, sharpen, and polish smaller objects. You may use one to sharpen a knife, remove paint or corrosion from a piece of metal before fabrication, polish up an old tool or a bit of piping, or remove slag from a fresh weld. They’re not ideal for large-scale jobs, like buffing a car or floor, but they have various applications that span industries from automotive repair and construction to custom fabrication and plumbing.
