Belt Grinder vs Sander

Are they the same or just similar? How about this one: truck…or pickup? Many would use these terms interchangeably, but an 18 wheeler capable of some serious work - 13 speeds, towing 50,000 lbs, or a pickup, great for loading up coolers and pulling a boat to the lake are not the same. The same goes for belt sander vs belt grinder. A belt sander is useful when working with wood or putting a light finish on metal. The slower belt speed keeps heat from burning or glazing over the grain in the wood but makes metal grinding and material removal much more tedious and time consuming. Horsepower requirements on sanders are usually much lower and belt speeds are usually in the 1,000-2,000 feet per minute range. You will find these at lumber yards, hardware stores, and big box stores in the tool department.

If you want to get some serious work done on metal, a high-speed belt grinder is the tool for you. Belt speeds are typically 4,000-8,000 feet per minute resulting in rapid material removal. They are designed to use either a rigid backing platen or a rubberized contact wheel grinding surface. Serious fabricators will recognize names like Burr King, Multitool, or RadiusMaster. The high-speed belt action allows much of the heat to leave with the grinding chips and dust, plus keeps the belt cool as it spins. As you can imagine a belt grinder needs some serious HP and a robust belt tracking system to handle the high pressure often placed against it. Typically the belt construction will consist partially of Zirconia or Ceramic material on a heavy backing that can handle the rigors of steel removal. Side Note: Don't make the mistake of using an abrasive designed for wood on your metalworking project or you may blame your grinder for not performing up to par.

The moral of the story here is this; when choosing a belt grinder or sander, make sure you select the right machine with adequate power, speed, and of course long-lasting quality to get your job done right. There are a lot of options and if you have questions, feel free to contact one of our Solution Specialists to discuss any of them!