Skip Traditional Bench Grinders: Amazon Has A More Compact Solution For Small Spaces

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Bench grinders are kind of like a quiet blue-collar cousin, not showy or flashy, but when you need to get something done, they are there in a pinch. Grinders do scores of tasks and are particularly popular when you need to sharpen common homeowner tools like chisels, knives, drill bits, and gouges. Their polishing wheel smooths and shins metal and plastic with ease. But full-size bench grinders are substantial tools that take up shop space even when you are not using them. Enter a compact grinder that will do a lot of those traditional grinding tasks, without the footprint of a traditional bench grinder. Often called mini-bench grinders, machines like this TruePower 3" mini-bench grinder from Amazon are a solid alternative for many DIYers.

These mini-grinders are small, light, and easily stored when you are not using them. They run on 120V current and feature two wheels, a grinding (120-grit) and a polishing wheel. These wheels are much smaller than a traditional grinder's wheel, coming in at just 3 inches in diameter. This version from TruePower generates 2,000 to 11,000 revolutions per minute. This setup allows you to do light to medium grinding easily. The cherry on top for this machine is the addition of a flexible shaft tool.

With a mini-grinder there are obviously limitations to its capabilities. Grinding large or extremely rough pieces are beyond its scope. But for sharpening drill bits, it's perfect. All types of knives: kitchen, carving, and shop knives and chisels, no problem. Even sharpening lawn mower blades can be done with the mini-grinder using the flexible shaft tool.

The flexible shaft tool is just what it sounds like. A flexible shaft is attached to the side of the grinder and the shaft has a power head that accepts an amazing variety of bits. Grinding, removing rust and polishing tools, carving, cutting, etching, drilling, and engraving are all tasks for which a flexible shaft tool is capable. While the TruePower machine only comes with one bit for the flex shaft, there are tons of them available (sometimes called Dremel tool bits) at affordable prices. Great for making jewelry or model making, you may find the flexible shaft tool the most valuable component of the grinder.

The TruePower 3" mini-bench grinder requires a small amount of assembly before you can use it, but the assembly is not a complicated task. As handy as your blue-collar cousin, this mini-grinder may be just the ticket for your DIY needs.