If you have a thing for the knife making industry and believe it’s your time to get going, I bet getting the best knife grinder for beginners is a must-do. The art has been there for quite a while, and like any other industry, there have been significant evolvement.
In those days, a knife was of much significance, especially for hunting and gathering, a role that made it a life and death tool. Its significance may not be as much today, but you will surely find a knife or two in every homestead.
Invalid table id.That said, we are sure knife making could be your next six-figure job and are here to help you find the right grinder for you.
Best Knife Grinder for Beginners Product Review
While you have the art, a machine will always make things easier. Besides, are you ready to grind your knives against rocks like in the pre-historic times? Well, it doesn’t sound practical in the 21st century.
There are tens of knife grinder brands out there, and picking the right one, especially for a beginner may be a daunting task. However, now that you found this read look no further.
We did a review of the best knife grinders for beginners and here are the best three you can have in 2020.
1. Best Overall- WEN BG9910 10-Inch Sharpening System
With a 9-inch variable torque leather stropping wheel and a 10-inch sharpening stone, we are confident that this wet and dry grinder is the best for anyone starting on knife grinding.
- Features a 10-inch 220 grit sharpening stone and a 9-inch variable-torque leather-stropping wheel
- Water-cooling reservoir prevents knives, chisels, hand tools, and axes from overheating
- 120 RPM motor provides maximum precision during sharpening
- 12mm universal jig support allows for compatibility with a wide variety of sharpening accessories such as the WEN 4-Piece Sharpening Kit (model 42704A)
- Features an onboard carrying handle, a fine-tune adjustment ring, an angle guide, an adjustable water reservoir, and a plane jig
Wen is a brand that has been in existence for a couple of years, and this tool from them comes unique, featuring a water cooling reservoir. Of course, you will expect a lot of heating from the grinding work, but the tank keeps the overheating at bay.
The equipment has a 1.25 amp motor that sees the wheel make up to 120 revolutions per minute, providing enough precision for your work. More precision is achievable thanks to the fine-tune adjustment feature and the adjustable universal support bar.
Pros
- An excellent cooling system
- Compatible with parts from other grinders
- Beginner-friendly
- It is fast and easy to use
- It is mobile
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
Cons
- Stropping wheel unpeels rather fast
Why We Liked It: You will love this grinder’s cooling system that ensures there is no overheating. Besides, the equipment can grind both wet and dry surfaces.
2. Premium Grinder- DEWALT Bench Grinder, 6-Inch (DW756)
As a beginner, you are most probably looking for an easy-to-use grinder, and the DEWALT Bench Grinder is one of the best you can have.
- Powerful 5/8 HP induction motor of the bench grinder is made for heavy-duty grinding operations
- Industrial cast iron base and motor housing of the 6-inch bench grinder provide durability and prolong life
- Table grinder motor runs at 3,450 rpm for high-speed material removal
- Precision-machined aluminum tool rests allow the user to accurately position work
- Rear exhaust ports in wheel guards for smoother operation
It features a heavy-duty 5/8 horsepower motor that goes up to 3450 revolutions per minute, although the high speed may not be quite necessary for knife grinding.
The equipment’s tool rest is of a strong and durable build of aluminum, although the base and motor housing are cast iron. With this tool, you are assured of prolonged life.
The grinder allows users to position the knife in any position, and easily without wasting time. However, its cooling system is nothing compared to WEN’s. It features some exhaust ports at the rear end which serve as the coolers when friction becomes too much.
Pros
- It is lightweight
- High motor speed
- Easy to set up and use
- Durable build
Cons
- Small grinding surface
Why We Liked It: We loved this grinder’s strong build that ensures it serves you long enough. Besides, its size is just perfect for knife grinding tasks.
3. Great Sharpener- Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener
If you have knives of different shapes including straight, curved, serrated knives, filet knives, and any others, this is the grinder you need.
- Sharpen every knife you own like a pro quickly, easily and with repeatable, consistent results. Creates the sharpest blades you've ever had!
- Easily Replaceable Abrasive Grit Belts. Comes with premium abrasive belts to meet all your sharpening needs: Coarse (P80), Medium (P220) and Fine (6000). Abrasive belts won't burn or damage blade steel during sharpening.
- Precision sharpening guides provide fast, easy, repeatable and consistent results. Kitchen Knife guide sharpens blades to a 40° angle – Outdoor Knife Guide sharpens to a 50° angle.
- Can also be used to sharpen a wide range of bladed shop tools and lawn and garden tools such as Lawn Mower Blades, Garden Pruners, Shears, Shovels, Scrapers and more. Also makes the ideal hand held detail grinder
- 1-year warranty – warranty only valid for North American 110v power source applications. Use of power converters for 220V not recommended. Can be run with 12V power inverter (min. 150 watt) from car, truck, RV, boat, etc.
Its precision-angled sharpening guides ensure you get the right results every time you use the equipment. It uses abrasive belts that are flexible and responsible for its ability to sharpen knives of all shapes.
You will sharpen kitchen knives at a 40-degree angle, while outdoor blades will sharpen at 50-degree for perfect results.
The 110 volts equipment comes with a one-year warranty, although it is limited to only North America. The tool can also run from a 12 volts power source.
With this grinder, you are sure of easy, fast, and consistent results. You only need to repeat the procedures.
Pros
- User friendly
- Replaceable belts
- High-quality edge
- Quite robust
- Quality results
Cons
- Lacks a cooling system
- Does not work quite well for short knives
Why We Liked It: We loved this grinder’s ability to sharpen knives of all shapes and with much ease for long knives.
Best Knife Grinder for Beginners Buying Guide
A knife is basically of two parts, the handle and blade. Grinders will greatly help you in making the edge sharp, and you surely need one if planning to engage in the business. However, for a beginner, a guide will surely help you and save you from the confusion in which first time buyers are likely to find themselves.
Here are the crucial considerations to make.
Consider the Ease of Use
The ease of use is the most crucial consideration for a beginner. You do not want to get a tool that will make working difficult and possibly shatter your knife-making dream. Get grinders that are straightforward to use or those with which you will be good to go after a little exposure.
The Motor Speed
If you have decided to make knives for a living, you need a fast grinder, so you don’t spend too much time working on one piece. However, you probably are yet to go large scale as a beginner, so the highest-speed grinders may not be the best choice for now.
Motor Power
Although you are just beginning, a low-power grinder could change your perception of the work if it fails to deliver your expectations. However, you can avoid this by just getting a powerful motor. Besides, if it is easy to use, you will not have to get another one as you increase your productivity. As such, you may want to avoid small grinders with a horsepower of 1/3.
Observe the Contact Point
The contact point is the grinder part that will serve you the most. Here, you only need to check the extent to which you can tilt it for perfect sharpening results. If it can tilt up to 45 degrees, then you are good to go.
Conclusion
As a beginner, you are likely to upgrade to better grinders as you go by, although we found a good match for you at this stage.
We did our research and found WEN BG9910 10-Inch Sharpening System to be the best knife grinder for beginners.
The equipment has the best features, including an excellent cooling system. It is beginner-friendly and compatible with parts from other grinder models.
Its power is just right for beginner tasks, and you will surely love starting with this grinder.