12 Best Slow Speed Bench Grinder – Top Picks and Reviews

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Top 3 Best Slow Speed Bench Grinders

Slow speed bench grinders are excellent tools for sharpening, cleaning, polishing, and shaping metal. Finding the best slow speed bench grinder can, however, be challenging.

There are so many options available, all fantastic offering features. In our guide below, we will look at what we consider 12 of the best, and why we believe they deserve a place in our top picks. We will also highlight what we do not like about them.

View the Best Slow Speed Bench Grinder on the Market, Below.

Rikon 80-805 is a sure buy if you are looking for value for money. It is powerful yet quiet. When in use, simply use the mounting holes to secure it to your work table. Some of the key features include a diamond wheel sharpener, enhanced safety with a locking key, and tool rest for the wheels.

The Rikon Professional Power Tools 80-805 8″ Slow Speed Bench Grinder is made in the USA by Rikon Machinery Co., which makes some other great products like their popular Rikon HVLP spray guns (you can check out our review here).

The wheel guard protects against accidental contact with metal objects that may be present in your workspace, such as drills or saws. The light weight means that this tool doesn’t take up much space on its own when not being used – which makes it easy for anyone who wants their tools close at hand while working!

It variable speed control and soft start technology which makes it easy to use even for beginners. The Rikon bench grinder also features dust collection port and tool rest so you don’t have to worry about getting the dust on your hands or clothes when working with this device!

This machine comes with 3 years warranty from the manufacturer which means if anything goes wrong with your product within that time frame, they will replace it free of charge (except shipping fees). This makes this particular model very attractive given how often these things break down over time – especially considering how inexpensive they typically are!

Cons

• You may experience slight vibration and a wobble on lateral

The Jet 577103 Makes it to our list of best bench grinders slow speed due to its powerful motor. It is a favorite amongst professionals and is a beautiful addition to any workshop. The build is durable, consisting of cast iron body, rubber mounts, and pre-lubricated ball bearings. The wheel allows for quick adjusting. The safety features include spark guards, eye shields, and adjustable tool rest. You will, however, need to purchase the improved tool rest separately.

Cons

• It is a bit on the pricey side
• You purchase the improved tool rest separately.

WEN 4286 is compact, but very powerful due to the 3-amp motor. Together with the grinder, you get two aluminum oxide wheels that are 8 by 1 inch. Material removal, finishing, and sharpening are easy with the 60 and 120 grit wheels. Other components include adjustable eye guards, magnifier lens, and a 2-year warranty. It makes it to our best slow speed bench grinder on a budget list because you get excellent value for money.

Cons

• It may overheat
• Slow take-off and shut down.

Delta Power Tools 23-197 is a departure from the normal, due to the variable speed settings. You can achieve material removal and fine sharpening due to the 36 and 60 grit wheels. The light is adjustable, thus better efficiency. You enhance safety with the on and off switch with a lock. The cast iron base minimizes vibrations, and the adjustable tools sets add to the convenience. The water tray is a fantastic addition.

Cons

• Assembling it can be a bit difficult
• It is quite heavy

Rikon 80-808 low-speed bench grinder is affordable end very efficient. It is powerful yet very quiet and does not overheat. You can sharpen, grind or smooth out your iron due to the 60 and 120 grit wheels. We also like that it has an adjustable LED work light, eye shields, and heavy-duty tool rests. Use the mounting holes to secure the grinder to your workbench.

Cons

• Low quality grinding wheels
• The light is dim and difficult to adjust.

Cons

• No lamp
• Heavy

DEWALT DW758 is excellent for beginners and comes in at a reasonable price point. The wheels run at 3600 RPM, and the motor is ¾ HP. It features an overheat prevention feature and has a cast-iron housing for better durability and minimum vibration.

Cons

• Non-adjustable tool rest
• The 36-grit wheel sometimes vibrates

Cons

• No locking shaft on the wheels
• Difficult to mount

Cons

• It is more suited for light-duty operations
• It may vibrate

Cons

• It is pricey
• May Vibrate

Cons

• It is not very powerful
• The tool rests are small.

Cons

Buyer’s Review: How To Select The Best Slow Speed Bench Grinders for your project and budget

1. Power of the motor

the higher the power rating, the better the performance

2. Type of wheel

Type of wheel for different tasks such as leveling, refining, smoothing, or sharpening

3. Safety

Safety features of the grinder include eye shields, wheel guards and a lock switch to keep you safe when working

4. Anti-vibration

Those with a heavy base, rubber feet, and a sturdy cast iron body are stable and safer to use because they do not vibrate.

5. Warranty

Look for a bench grinder with an extended warranty; in case of any issues, you can return them or get after-sales service and parts.

Key Features of The Best Slow Bench Grinders

• Eyeshields protect your eyes from sparks and flying debris.

• Spark resisters prevent sparks from reaching your hands and clothes.

• Variable speeds knob adjust the motor’s performance, depending on the task you are undertaking.

• Wheel dresser to return the wheels to their original shape, expose a different profile or fresh grain.

• Sturdy base for stability and to avoid vibration.

• Cooling tray to cool whatever you are working on; it helps avoid overheating.

• Adjustable tool rests make work faster and easier.

• Wheel guards to avoid injuries arising from grinding wheel mishaps.

Key Advantages of Getting Slow Bench Grinder

• You get to avoid overheating due to the slower RPM.

• You get better precision with whatever you are doing by working at a slower speed.

• Variable speed bench grinders make work easier because you control the speed as you wish.

• They are more suitable for light to medium-duty work.

• Some of them are newbie-friendly, and anyone can use them.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. How do you maintain a bench grinder?

• Always inspect the machine before using it to ensure everything is working as it should.
• Keep it clean by avoiding the build-up of dirt and debris using an air hose.
• Tighten the handles and any other parts that may become loose.

2. What are bench grinders used for?

You use bench grinders for grinding, sharpening, cutting, buffing, removing rust, shaping, and polishing objects.

3. Do I need a variable speed bench grinder?

Not necessarily, but it depends on the job you are doing. It also saves you the inconvenience of turning the motor off and on to slow down the wheel.

4. Can you put a speed control on a bench grinder?

You can, by incorporating a belt pulley, controlling router speed, reducing wheel size, or using a variable frequency drive.

5. Can a bench grinder be used as a buffer?

Yes, you can use your bench grinder as a buffer.

6. How does a router speed control work?

A router speed allows you to control how fast the wheels go. Those with variable settings will enable you to adjust as you wish.

7. When should a grinding wheel be replaced?

Replace the wheel when it is 1″ away from the grinder recess, or when it is no longer grinding correctly. Also, check the Manufacturers expiry date and replace cracked or worn out wheels

8. Can a grinder be used as a polisher?

Yes, you can use your grinder as a polisher.

9. How do I lower my bench grinder speed?

The most common method of lowering the speed of a bench grinder is to change the grinding wheel.

If you have a standard four-inch model, you can use a two-inch grinding wheel to lower it by roughly half. You can also look for slower-speed wheels at your local hardware store.

Other options include using a slower-speed motor or changing the gear ratio in your machine. For example, if you have a 1/4 hp motor and want to run at half speed, you can replace it with a 1/2 hp motor that spins at half speed.

Final Thoughts

The best slow bench grinders provide a lot of functionality and make work easier. We have shared our top picks above, including what we do not like about them. There are other grinders that we have not touched on in our article above. So, do your research well so that you know exactly what to expect when shopping. Otherwise, we hope you will be able to pinpoint the best grinder for you from our article above. We would love to get your feedback on the one you settle for.

Read our full review of the best drill press for metal in the market