When you are doing household projects, an angle grinder might come in handy when it comes to abrasive cutting or aggressive polishing of the material you are working with. However, there is also the option of a bench grinder that uses more abrasive wheels and can sharpen tools and even shape metal before a welding project.
Not everyone can do some of these jobs at home, but if you have the skill to, then both of these grinder options can be useful for specific projects that you have in mind. But, how do you know which you should choose for the job?
Well, we will look closely at what these two tools are and how they differ to help you decide which is the best option for you.
Angle and Bench Grinders: The Basics
Before jumping into what the main differences between these two types of grinders are, let’s define what each option is and what it does. This will allow you to know what each grinder is designed for and which item is best for the project you have.
What is an Angle Grinder?
An angle grinder is a rotary tool that is handheld and is typically used for grinding, cutting pavers, and polishing material surfaces. It has a high speed and tends to be used for larger, more intense jobs thatother tools like the oscillating multi-toolcannot handle.
The tool comes in both cordless and corded versions and can be seen not only in shops but also at a wide variety of worksites. That’s mainly due to its versatility allowed byinterchangeable discs.
What is a Bench Grinder?
A bench grinder is a benchtop grinding machine that usesabrasive wheels. It can be used for sharpening tools like tool bits, drill bits, or chisels. It also can shape metals before they are fitted for a project or welding job.
Generally, it is a much less versatile tool than an angle grinder. Likewise, it is not as easily portable.
Angle Grinder vs. Bench Grinder: What Are the Differences?
Now that you know the basics, let’s take a look at the major differences between the two tools.
Portability
The first difference between these tools is how portable they are.
An angle grinder is a handheld tool that weighs around eight pounds. This makes it easy to hold and maneuver with when you have a small project to do. A bench grinder, on the other hand, is a stationary option that sits on top of a workbench and allows you to control the material you’re working on, as opposed to the machine itself.
That difference also means that while an angle grinder is often taken to a worksite, a bench grinder spends its useful life in a workshop.
Vibrations
When you are working with any kind of tool, you will likely feel at least a little bit of vibration from the power and speed of it. However, the angle grinder vibrates much more than the bench grinder does.
A bench grinder is made to be placed on a flat surface, which means that the weight of the grinder and the flat surface both help to keep the vibrations to a minimum. An angle grinder, on the other hand, is a handheld tool making it less stable.
The actual level of vibrations will, of course, depend on the exact model as well as on the material you are working with.
Use of Machine
Though both of these options are grinders that can be used for that specific purpose, they don’t do exactly the same thing.
A bench grinder is ideal forsharpening and shaping materials. It is not exactly a versatile tool. That said,an angle grinder is versatile and has many uses. Among other things, it can cut different materials and is often used for metal since it is strong enough through it.
Speed
When it comes to speed, there is one option that is much faster than the other.
The angle grinder is portable and easy to move, which makes it a great option for fast jobs. You can finish small cutting jobs within minutes and be done faster. The bench grinder does not cut as fast but can be much more precise.
Number of Wheels
A bench grinder is a tool that generally comes with two wheels. These can both be attached and used simultaneously. This is unique to the bench grinder as the angle grinder only uses one wheel at any time.
While it is not a significant difference, it saves the time of having to switch to a different disc when using an angle grinder.
Flexibility
With the angle grinder being a handheld option that can handle many jobs, it has many more applications than the bench grinder. Because the bench grinder is stationary, you have to work around it.
This makes it less versatile and unable to handle certain jobs. However, the angle grinder can work from different angles and has a wider variety of applications that it can handle.
Which of the Two Should You Use?
When it comes time to choose which option you want, you should think about what you will be using your tool for. If you want to sharpen blades of your lawnmower or edge trimmer, then using the bench grinder will be the best choice for you.
On the other hand, if you will need to cut pavers or metals, an angle grinder is a clear choice. It is also a clear choice if you need to take your tool to a worksite with you.
However, if you are willing and able to afford both options, then having both machines in your workshop will allow you to decide between both for each job. In either case, should you decide that an angle grinder is a must-have for you, make sure tocheck my favorites here.
Summary
Both the bench grinder and the angle grinder are great tools for certain jobs, but if you need to decide which will work better for the job you need to do, then knowing the differences can help you decide which option is the best for you to use.
The handheld grinder will allow for more movement and better angles, but the bench grinder is very precise and has two wheels that you can use at the same time. Both have advantages, and they both have disadvantages.
To recap it quickly, for all your grinding and polishing needs, the angle grinder is your best option. For all cutting, sharpening, and shaping needs, a bench grinder will be the top choice.