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Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 - Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide

Deciding upon a knife grinder can be challenging. This is down to its ever-expanding market with many options, designs and specialities to choose from. Now consumers can be very specific when it comes to what they are looking for in a knife grinder. This market has a plethora of options and will have a product to fit your exact wants and needs.

Whilst the knife grinder market is large, below are the best knife grinder for beginners with a full review to help you decide which one is right for you. These top ten products should be able to give you an insight into what is available in the market right now. It should work as an aid to help you familiarise yourself with the knife grinders out there with ease.

Top Rated Knife Grinder For Beginners - Quick Comparison

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Product Name

Motor Speed

Dimension (in)

Price

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryGrizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander

Grizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander

1725 RPM

30.5 x 16.25 x 15

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryWork Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

-

5 x 9 x 5

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryShop Fox W1843 Knife Belt Sander

Shop Fox W1843 Knife Belt Sander

1725 RPM

29.5 x 39 x 39

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryBucktool Combo Belt Sander 6Inch Bench Grinder

Bucktool Combo Belt Sander 6" Bench Grinder

3450 RPM

25.7 x 20.6 x 12.9

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryDIY Mini Electric Knife Grinding Machine By aikeec


DIY Mini Electric Knife Grinding Machine By aikeec

4500-9000 RPM

9.25 x 6.69 x 5.47

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryGrizzly Industrial Disc Combo Sander

Grizzly Industrial Disc Combo Sander

3450 RPM

12.5 x 16.7 x 11.5

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryWEN 6515T 1 in. x 30 in. Belt Sander

WEN 6515T 1 in. x 30 in. Belt Sander

3450 RPM

11.5 x 11.5 x 15.5

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryNorse Belt Disc Sander Grinder

Norse Belt Disc Sander Grinder

3600 RPM

12 x 18 x 22

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryRIKON 50-151 Belt with 5inch Disc Sander

RIKON 50-151 Belt with 5" Disc Sander

3450 RPM

15 x 12.63 x 14.63

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryEX ELECTRONIX EXPRESS Mini 1 x 30 Belt Sander

EX ELECTRONIX EXPRESS Mini 1 x 30 Belt Sander

3400 RPM

14.5 x 10 x 10


The 10 Best Knife Grinder For Beginners

 1. Grizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryGrizzly G1015 Knife Belt Sander Review

The Grizzly G1015 is a very versatile product, it can be used to both sharpen knifes and to sand a variety of woodworking areas. This is a great product for those people that are interested in DIY or are considered ‘Handy’ around the house. As it is multifunctional the user can get a lot more out of this product, it can be used for buffing wheels, sanding drums or flap wheels.

The belt can be changed really easily, this is down to the quick release mechanism of which it has been designed with. The belt arm can also be fully tilted to best suit the customer and where they intend to use the product. This is a great addition to accommodate the user and ensure no job is unreachable.

The product uses a 2-inch by 72-inch sanding belts and 5/8inch arbour, it has a cast iron body and has a ball bearing construction. This sturdy design looks and works brilliantly, allowing for a full range of usage. The product has received great reviews from professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike.

Things We Liked

  • Multi-functional usage on many surfaces and items.
  • It has a quick release mechanism to release its belt.
  • It has an arm which can be fully tilted.
  • The product is designed with a cast-iron body.
  • The product is designed using an aluminium roller.

Things We Didn't Like

  • There is only one speed which is very fast.
  • The belt tracking is not very sturdy as compared to other products.

 2. Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryWork Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener Review

The work sharp knife and tool sharpener is an easy and quick to use tool which can give you the best results in minutes. The product comes with replaceable abrasive grit belts that will match your sharpening needs, no matter what knife you use. These abrasive belts do not burn or damage steel, they have been carefully designed to offer the best results. They have three different sharpening styles; coarse, medium and fine.

This product also offers precision sharpening guides, these allow of very easy and repeatable results in a matter of minutes. The user can sharpen up kitchen knives to a forty-degree angle and outdoor knifes to a fifty-degree angle. The Work product can be used on many other bladed tools, such as lawn mowers, garden pruners, shovels and shears.

Another great feature of the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener is its size, as it is hand-held it can make an ideal had-held detail grinder too. The product comes with a year warranty and can be ran from various power outages, such as; cars, RVs and boats.

Things We Liked

  • The product comes with flexible abrasive belts.
  • The product comes with 2 guide patterns.
  • Can be used on many items, not solely knives.
  • It is not limited to a certain knife shape or size.
  • It can be used as for tool grinding.

Things We Didn't Like

  • Not the best tool for short blades.
  • Lightweight, but made of plastic so less durable than other knife sharpeners.

 3. Shop Fox W1843 Knife Belt Sander

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryShop Fox W1843 Knife Belt Sander Review

This shop fox product is very popular with knife makers and users alike, it offers customers a 2-inch by 72-inch abrasive belt to meet all your sharpening needs. The tool also comes with an extended buffing wheel shaft for full-access buffing and stropping for all knives and tools.

The sanding belt itself can be used along the platen, either above it for free forming or against the ten-inch rubber-faced drive wheel. This product is an ideal match for customers hoping to sharpen longer knives or chisels.

The tool provides an extremely stable platform for the users. They can use the sanding arm adjustment; this tilt horizontally to allow for more convenient usage. It also is designed with an adjustable tool rest, this can be adjusted and removed to help suit a variety of different operations.

Things We Liked

  • This is a multi-use product for both sanding and knife sharpening on a variety of different tools.
  • It is designed with a cast-iron body and has all ball bearing construction.
  • The tool is designed with a 2-inch by 72-inch abrasive belt.
  • Can be used in various ways, to match whichever tool or knife you are sharpening
  • This is a great product for those customers on a budget.

Things We Didn't Like

  • Some of the buttons or switches are made with plastic and so they are lest durable.
  • The assembly of this product is a tricky process.

 4. Bucktool Combo Belt Sander 6" Bench Grinder

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryBucktool Combo Belt Sander 6 inch Bench Grinder Review

This tool is ideal for general purpose sanding and finishing on most metals, woods, plastics and many other materials. It is versatile in both what it can be used on, and how it can be used, this product’s typical operations include; surfacing, finishing, sanding, grinding, polishing, and deburring.

This Bucktool product is offers a heavy-duty construction which delivers a long-lasting finish. It supplies the needed power to run under heavy loads and its belt can be moved to fit the knife or tool you wish to sharpen. The belt can be positioned both vertically and horizontally to best fit the needs of the users. It is made out of cast iron and comes with a small sander worktable to give the user better support when sharpening.

This product comes with a tool-free adjustable eye shield and an LED light to give users the best opportunity to sharpen correctly. It includes a two-inch by forty-two-inch metal sanding belt and a brush wheel for quick rust removal with ease. The Bucktool also has front-mounted safety switches with a key to ensure the safest possible experience is had by its customers.

Things We Liked

  • Safety conscious design.
  • It is built with a tool-free adjustable eye shield and LED light.
  • It has a free movement design to accommodate most knives and tools.
  • This product can be used on many different items.
  • This product has many different operational uses.

Things We Didn't Like

  • Users have noted that this product vibrates more than expected.
  • The construction of this product takes longer than other models.

 5. DIY Mini Electric Knife Grinding Machine By aikeec

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryDIY Mini Electric Knife Grinding Machine By aikeec Review

This product is great for those with a smaller working space, it is conveniently sized to work in all spaces. This allows the user to be able to travel with the product and do their work wherever they need to.

Regardless of its size, it offers high precision with complete CNC machining. The product has a built-in double bearing which is non-slip, it also avoids dust entering the inside of the machine and damaging the bearing. The product also comes with a small, but very strong, motor with a no-load speed of 9000RPM.

The product satisfies any job and works great with grinding metals, wood, acrylics and other materials. The belt size is 330-milimiters by 10-milimeters, which sounds small, but it is very durable and can be used on many knives and tools. Due to its size it does not product a lot of noise, it is low of 75-85db which is an acceptable level.

Things We Liked

  • Smaller design to allow you to travel and use the product wherever you need it.
  • It offers high precision and brilliant finishes.
  • It comes with a high-powered motor.
  • This product works with many different materials.
  • This product does not produce a lot of noise.

Things We Didn't Like

  • This product could be too small for every customer needs.
  • Users ask for more sand belt options as a nice addition.

 6. Grizzly Industrial Disc Combo Sander

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryGrizzly Industrial Disc Combo Sander Review

The Grizzly industrial combo sander offers customers a belt sander and workstation in one product. The benchtop sander comes with a one-inch by thirty-inch belt sander and a five in disc sander in one compact, portable unit.

This product is ideal for customers looking to sand intricate parts or interested in contour sanding and dry sharpening, it is a product that can do it all and is compatible with various items. The belt and sanding table are flexible, meaning they can tilt to a forty-five-degree angle. The product also comes with a removable belt platen and roller guard, this makes sanding and the functionality of the product really simple to use.

A great feature of this product is its built-in dust ports, this allows for the user to continue working without debris slowing them down. It is fashioned with machined aluminium tables and manual belt tracking capabilities to help the user reach their desired outcomes with ease.

Things We Liked

  • It comes with dual dust ports
  • The product offers users a manual belt tracking adjustment
  • There is a removable safety key to help ensure safety standards are kept at all times.
  • The product is designed with a rubber foot mounting.
  • The product has machined aluminium tables for ease of use.

Things We Didn't Like

  • The product is quite noisy.
  • The product gives off a lot of vibration when in use.

 7. WEN 6515T 1 in. x 30 in. Belt Sander

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryWEN 6515T 1 in. x 30 in. Belt Sander Review

This two in one sanding machine has both a one-inch by thirty-inch sanding belt and five-inch disc on the side. It comes with a 2.3 A motor; this provides up to 3160 FPM for the belt and 3450 RPM for the disc add on.

The product comes with a sturdy base, this helps to prevent and movement whilst the product it in use. It also comes with two dust ports which are separate from each other and allows for maximum efficiency when it comes to removing dust and debris whilst the machine is in use.

The WEN product has been designed with ease of use in mind, this product is compact enough to use anywhere. It is easy to both transport and store but is powerful enough to get the job done to a high level. This product comes with a worktable to provide a sturdy and reliable source of support for the users work pieces.

Things We Liked

  • Designed with a 2.3 A motor.
  • Comes with a worktable to allow for more support whilst in use.
  • Fashioned with two dust ports.
  • Compact but mighty.
  • Has a 2-in-1 sanding capacity.

Things We Didn't Like

  • Some reviews give the indication that the sander speed is a little too high.
  • Gives a squared off finish due to its tracking.

 8. Norse Belt Disc Sander Grinder

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryNorse Belt Disc Sander Grinder Review

The Norse BDSG2x6 belt disc sander and grinder offer customers a 1/3H motor, this allows for more aggressive material removal to be a breeze. The product operates with a two-inch by forty-two-inch abrasive belt and a six-inch PSA abrasive disc.

This product comes with a table and miter gauge, this helps to ensure an accurate miter and bevel sanding outcome. The belt arm can be set between ninety degrees to forty-five degrees, allowing for ease of use and opening the machine up to different tools.

The machine itself weights thirty-five pounds making it easy to carry and transport. The grinder has received some good feedback and the company are well-known and reputable.

Things We Liked

  • The product has a 1/3H motor fitted.
  • It offers both an abrasive belt and disc.
  • The belt arm is fully functional and moveable.
  • It is not very heavy, weighing thirty-five pounds.
  • The product comes with a table and built in miter gauge.

Things We Didn't Like

  • Some customers didn’t think the table was a very useful addition to the product.
  • Many had to modify its frame to accept course grit belts.

 9. RIKON 50-151 Belt with 5" Disc Sander

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryRIKON 50-151 Belt with 5 Disc Sander Review

The Rikon power tool offers customers a one-inch by thirty-inch belt and a five-inch disc sander. The machine is great for users that are looking to work on small craft projects. Customers have purchased this product to make home decorations, jewellery, dolls furniture or for repair works as well as knife sharpening.

The machines small motor is really efficient and quite soundless, it is a recommended machine for light-duty usage. The product includes a belt tracking nob to help for more precision when using it. It also has a two-inch dust port to ensure the cleanest working environment.

This product has a safety on and off switch, which is a great addition to the product. It also offers a belt table which can tilt to a forty-five-degree angle making it more usable for a plethora of projects. This product is possibly more suitable for a beginner or new user to knife sharpeners. It also opens the door to more usage of the product by its focus being on craft-based works.

Things We Liked

  • This product opens upa myriad of other uses for a knife sharpener.
  • It has a small, discreet motor.
  • The product comes with a belt tracking nob for precision.
  • The product is designed with a two-inch dust port.
  • There is a safety on and off switch included.

Things We Didn't Like

  • The five-inch disc add on is made from aluminium.
  • This is not specifically made for knives; it is more universal so might not be the best fix.

 10. EX ELECTRONIX EXPRESS Mini 1 x 30 Belt Sander

Best Knife Grinder For Beginners 2020 – Top 10 Picks & Buyer’s Guide - Tools DiaryEX ELECTRONIX EXPRESS Mini 1 x 30 Belt Sander Review

This is a sturdy belt sander that works on many items. The belt sander is one-inch by thirty-inches, making it a great product for many projects. Its motor works on 1/3 HP and runs at 3400 rpm.

The product comes with a table, this is at five-inches by five-inches, it is this feature that adds to its sturdiness. The belt sander also tilts from a zero to forty-five-degree angle, making it easier to use for bigger projects the user may hoping to work on.

The manual that comes with this product is very descriptive and helpful when assembling this product. It is quite a heavy machine, but this only adds to its selling point of being well made and strong.

Things We Liked

  • This product is a miniature model.
  • The belt sander is one-inch by thirty-inches.
  • It operates with a 1/3HP motor.
  • The product has a fully functional and tilt-able belt sander.
  • It comes with a five by five inches table.

Things We Didn't Like

  • The machine is heavy.
  • It has a been deemed in some reviews as weaker than its counterparts.

Why Knife Grinder Is Worth Purchasing?

A knife grinder is defined as either someone that grinds knives, or a device that is used to grind or sharpening knives or other edged tools. They are essential in the re-shaping or making of knives, generally they keep knives up to par and in their best shape.

Knife grinders are usually quite industrial looking machines that use a sanding belt or disk to help shape and sharpen knives. They offer users an opportunity to have a distinct, clean finish on there knives and other tools or materials. They are quite versatile, meaning that they can be used on many items and in various situations or projects.

In essence knife grinders are essential to make aid in the production of knifes and their upkeep. They can come in many different shapes and sizes such as; handheld, bench grinders and belt grinders and other larger industrial grinders. These are to best adapt to your needs and the materials you hope to be working with. They are a great addition to any home or to anyone with a hands-on approach to dealing with issues and projects.

How to Choose the Best Knife Grinder for The Money

There are many things to consider when choosing a knife grinder, firstly you must understand why you are purchasing one. Those who are purchasing grinders for knife making must look for different functions than those purchasing a working on other craft-based works.

Ideal Size

You must ensure that you choose a decent sized sanding belt, narrower belts allow for more control when working on those smaller objects. Larger or wider belts are much better for those users that will be working on larger objects or pieces of bigger material. It is important to know what projects you aim to be working on to be able to choose the correct product.

Consider the Speed

Another important element is the speed of knife grinder. The grinder must run at the right speed for your project and the desired materials you hope to use on it. Cheaper models tend to have less speed gauges or different speed levels. Ultimately, this means that if your grinder is slow it will take longer to finish your projects and there will be more of a load on your motor. This means that the belt will wear down fast.

Performance

Motors with too much power are not the answer either, these can usually run through and ruin a lot of projects. This makes it more of a challenge to complete a task correctly and with precision. It is believed that the material of the model determines it durability, but after reading and reviewing the above top ten products this is not completely true. Naturally, the tools created with steel or other sturdy materials as opposed to plastic will stand the test of time. Nevertheless, these attributes do not always contribute towards this and it has been stated that some of the sturdiest products have been the loudest and shakiest ones.

I believe the best way to choose the knife grinder is to understand what you hope to use the machine for. You should set yourself a budget and keep within it, that way your expectations will be kept in check. It is also important to understand the product you purchase and read their manuals cover to cover, this way the best results will be experienced.

Conclusion

To conclude there are many different styles of knife grinders, all of which can be used by beginners. The knife grinders that are more suitable for beginners are the cheaper, less industrial designs, these are more beginner friendly. They are also usually more adaptable and versatile, meaning if the user falls out of love with knife grinding, they can use it for other projects.

It is important that every beginner looking to move into the world of knife grinding has fully researched and understood what their machines can do. The products are very powerful and operate using a mighty motor, these are not toys and should be used by used according to their safety guidelines and rules.

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