A variety of grinders, which are machines that are used to smooth surfaces, remove material and deburr metals, are used in metal working. A belt grinder is one common type, and they are used for a wide variety of applications. For example, belt grinders are commonly used in knife making.
The biggest difference between belt grinders and other types of grinding machines: Belt grinders use a fast-moving coarse belt, similar to sand paper, to contour metals. Other types of grinding machines, though, typical use a metal blade or grinding bit to remove material.

Belt Grinders vs. Belt Sanders
There’s some common confusion about the difference between these two devices. They both work in a similar manner. The motor powers a fast-moving stationary belt, which the operator then engages the materials to make them smooth and add contour. But that’s where the similarities stop.
Of the differences, belt grinders are typically designed to be used with metal workpieces, whereas belt sanders are used primarily with wood. Additionally, the differences include:
- Belt grinders tend to have faster belt speeds, from 70 to 135 feet per second. This is needed when working with metals.
- Their motors have more horsepower.
- And they’re designed to be used with flat or rubber platens.
Due to the grinders greater power output and faster belt speeds, these machines tend to have the ability to remove material from the workpiece and smooth metals. Using a belt sander with metals will result in damage to the machine and/or undesirable results.

Belt Grinder Applications
In metal working, belt grinders are used for a variety of tasks. There are three main tasks though:
- Deburring: Metal burrs can form on the surface of workpieces. Belt grinders remove these burrs. Additionally, they are used for edge breaking and rounding metal materials.
- Surface Finishing: Like belt sanders, grinders are used for sanding, smoothing or roughing the surface of a material. This can also include removal of tiny burrs, polishing and cleaning the material, removing mill marks and edges.
- Removing Material: Belt grinders are commonly used to sand metals and remove material. For example, belt grinders are commonly used in knife making to shape metal blades. Typically, belt grinders are designed to remove tiny bits of material with each pass.
Considerations When Buying Belt Grinders
It’s important to match the belt grinder to the work that you will be doing. And to accomplish this, there are many considerations you will need to make. The two biggest include:
- Belt size: Belts for grinders average from about 1.5 to 6 inches in width. Wider belts are used for larger work pieces, while narrower belts allow for more precision. If you want to use a range of belt sizes, choose a grinder that can accommodate more than one width.
- Belt Speed: Typically, faster belt speeds are required for removing material more quickly. Slower speeds are best-suited for smoothing and deburring metals. Choose a belt grinder that has a selectable range of belt speeds.
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