The Best Belt Grinders – Reviews 2020

Our choice for the best grinder is this Bucktool Combo, which matches a low price with good features. It has a 120V 1/3-horsepower motor and a six-inch grinder that sits right next to the belt sander to help you do finishing and sanding. You can use the grinder in a vertical or horizontal orientation.

With the included eye shield, you can protect your eyes and adjust the shield based on how you use the tool. Bucktool also gives you a cast iron table and a tracking mechanism for replacing the belt.

Key Features:

• Combo design
• 2 X 42-inch belt sander
• 1/3-horsepower motor
• LED light

Pros:

• Cast iron table keeps the grinder from wobbling
• Works in both horizontal and vertical orientations
• Eyeshield to keep your eyes safe
  
• Brush wheel quickly removes rust
  

Cons:

• Belt loosens as you use it
  
• Better for home than pro work

Though Kalamazoo charges more for this belt sander than other companies do, it's worth that cost because of the tilting work table. You can easily adjust the angle of the table as you grind or sand. It works just as well for sanding and grinding plastic as it does with metal and wood.

With the 1/3-horsepower, 110V motor, this belt sander can handle most jobs with ease. You get both a four-inc contact wheel and a 1 X 42-inch belt sander with extra support to keep the belt tight.

Key Features:

• 110V, 1/3-horsepower motor
  
• Four-inch contact wheel
• 1 X 42-inch belt
• Solid base

Pros:

• Weighs only 32 pounds for easy moving
• Worktable tilts to change directions and orientations
• Sands and grinds wood, plastic and metal
  
• Extra support keeps the belt tight

Cons:

• The motor mounts are a little loose
• Doesn't work well for knife sharpening

For a solid belt grinder under $100, you can't go wrong with the WEN 4276, which is a six-inch belt grinder. This is the only model we found with a built-in work light that you can adjust as you work. With the eye guards, you can keep debris from flying off the tool and hitting you.

Included with this 3,470-RPM belt grinder are two grinding wheels that each have a different grit. You'll find that the durable base keeps the grinder from shaking and that you can use it with the optional stand that WEN makes.

Key Features:

• 3,470 RPM
• Built-in work light
• Eye guards
• Durable base

Pros:

• Works with an optional cast iron stand
• Features two sanding wheels with different grits
• 2.1-amp motor runs quietly
  
• Built-in tool rest keeps your tools close by

Cons:

• Not as strong as other belt grinders
• Guides are flimsy

As you search for the best 2x72 belt grinder, you might consider this TACKLIFE 3X18 belt sander. Thanks to the handheld design, it can go everywhere you do and can handle the same jobs that a belt sander can. It features a 10-foot power cord that lets you move as quickly as you need.

This five-amp power tool features a variable speed dial on the front that helps you easily set the speed that you need and change speeds as you sand. With the dust collection system, you can remove dust from the items that you sand, but it will also work with a separate vacuum system.

Key Features:

• Includes 13 sanding belts
• Dust collection system
• Handheld design
• 450 to 750 RPM range

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Works with vacuum systems for fast cleaning
• 10-foot power cord lets you move freely
  
• Control knob allows for convenient speed changes

Cons:

• Can't handle large jobs
• May lack the speed/power that you need

The heavy-duty design of the Jet 578008 belt grinder makes it a popular choice for machine shops and experts who need a fast machine. The one-horsepower motor runs quickly to help you sharpen knives and finish work. If you ever need to stop the motor, you can use the toggle switch on the front.

With the sealed bearings and dust chute, you can reduce the debris that the grinder produces and keep the surrounding area clear. It also has adjustable shields on the front and two grinding wheels that each have a coarse or fine grit.

Key Features:

• One-horsepower motor
• Toggle switch
• Sealed bearings
• Dust chute

Pros:

• Includes both coarse and fine sanding wheels
• Compatible with lamps and stands from Jet
• Runs fast than similar grinders do
  
• Adjustable shields to protect users

Cons:

• Tool rests don't work well
• Requires removing parts to replace the wheels