Bench Grinder Wheels for Knives

Bench Grinder is a useful tool that is used to carry out significant tasks of woodworking and knife repair. The bench grinder wheels for knives are spun at high speed to trim off wood, metal and plastic or sharpen blades. Most professional knife sharpeners use bench grinders for employing their craft. They are highly effective as it is cheaper to sharpen a knife instead of buying a new one.

Essentially, the cost factor is truly important in case of chefs who invest thousands of dollars for purchasing their knives. Below we try to illustrate and provide tips for getting a perfectly sharpened edge on a blade by using a bench grinder.

#1 Avoid using a Vice:

Most often due to the speed of the bench grinder, people tend to use a vice. It keeps the blade in a single place as the knife is ground down to a sharp edge.

However, we recommend avoiding using the vice as the process to sharpen the blade is not a linear process. Hence, for getting a proper edge, it is important that the blade moves naturally along the grinding wheel.

#2 Perfect Angle:

A common mistake that people often make is keeping the blade flat on the bench grinder wheel. It is always advised of not sharpening the blade with the side faced against the grinder. Doing the opposite increases the shine but does not sharpen the blade. For sharpening the edges, the blade has to be a kept at an angle of 45 degrees towards the grinding wheel.

#3 Natural Curvature:

Flat knife blades mostly come with a curvature. While using a bench grinder, it is important to keep it in line with the natural curve of the blade.

While the process of sharpening the blade using the grinding wheel is carried out, it automatically starts to pull the blade towards at along this line. Hence, instead of fighting the grinding wheel, it is best advised to follow that naturally.

Moreover, as one holds the blade over the grinding wheel, it should never be in a single place. This is because the grinding wheel moves the blade and hence it’s important to control the blade instead of fighting the natural friction of the grinding wheel.

Lastly, make sure the blade is moved along the grinding wheel in an even yet timed manner. It will eventually allow the blade to be sharpened

#4 Allow the Bench Grinder to Operate Freely:

Most of the first time users try to put a lot of force on the blade while grinding.

However, it is not the right way forward. Doing this can make the blade chip and further destabilize the control you have over the blade. The fact that the grinding wheel spins pretty quickly, it doesn’t need the user to sharpen the blade.

The only thing that you should be doing is setting the blade on the grinding wheel in the right angle to allow it to do the work itself along the natural curvature of the blade.

Sharpening the Knife

Sharpening your knife makes it a lot easier to operate and carry the basic operations smoothly. Sharp tools are said to be dangerous when not used with the right care, but applying force when using blunt tools might be a lot more dangerous. It may cause an accident in case the tools slip while applying the extra force.

Bench grinder wheels for knives are an easy tool that helps in getting the sharpness back. With constant use, the sharpness tends to fade away and hence it becomes more than important to sharpen the knife from time to time.

DO’s & Don’ts of Bench Grinder Wheels for Knives

Always handle the grinding wheels carefully
Before using do a thorough inspection of the wheels for any cracks or damages
Closely check the machine speed against the safe operating speed
Use mounting blotters supplied with the product
Thoroughly inspect the mounting flanges for equal relief, size around the wheel hole
Ensure that the flanges you are using are flat, clean and smooth
Make sure a proper wheel guard is used on the bench grinder
Ensure that the bench grinder is equipped with an adjustable work rest that kept at a distance of 1/8 inches or less from the face of the grinding wheel
Ensure that the bench grinder is clubbed with an adjustable tongue guard or spark arrestor
Let the mounted wheels run at its operating speed for a minute before starting the grinding process
Make sure you are not standing in front or in-line with the rotating wheels while operating
Keep the working space clean and free from elements that might accidentally strike or come in contact with the grinding wheel

Now the Don’ts

Never use the wheels that are damaged or dropped
Do not force the wheel on the machine or try altering the size of the wheel’s mounting hole
Never exceed the speed marked on the grinding wheel
Don’s use the mounting flanges where the bearing surface is not clean, smooth or flat
Never tighten mounting nut more than needed
Don’t start the machine till the safety guard has been securely put in place
Don’t try adjusting the work rest or the spark arrestor when the grinding wheel is in use
Never stand in line or in front of the grinding wheel after starting the grinding machine
Never grind on the sides of the wheel
Don’t jam the work on the wheel
Never try to grind materials that are not meant to be used with the wheel
Don’t use the bench grinding wheels if you haven’t reviewed all its safety materials and understand the way it has to be operated

Therefore, with the right setup, the right technique and keeping the above things in mind, you can use the grinding wheels to sharpen the knives yourself.