For DIY fanatics and handy individuals, the idea of making your own knives might be a project you can’t wait to begin. Having a high-quality belt grinder in your tool arsenal can make this task much easier to achieve.
A decent grinder is efficient, durable, and powerful enough to speed up your knife-making projects. But the high end of prices can often reach into the $1,000-$1,200 range. That’s why we want to provide readers with options that won’t break the bank.
In this guide, we’ll be reviewing the best belt grinders for knife making on Amazon, prioritizing value and affordability. Each of these products has been carefully researched and well-reviewed by customers to create this list. Keep reading to see which budget-friendly picks are ideal for making your own knives at home.
Our Lineup
We’re highlighting the following products, their benefits and features, and what makes them worth your money:
- WEN 6515T Belt Sander, 5-inch Sanding Disc
- Happybuy Belt Grinder for Knife Making, Two-in-One with LED Lamp
- Palmgren Belt and Disc Bench Finishing Machine for Knife Making
- Norse BDSG 9681119 Belt Grinder and Disc Sander
- RIKON 50-151 Belt and Disc Sander
- Rockwell Combination Belt and Disc Sander
WEN 6515T Belt Sander, 5-inch Sanding Disc
The latest (2019) model rings in at an affordable $84.55 and is the runner-up on Amazon’s Editorial Picklist. With nearly 2,000 customer reviews, it has an average of 4.6/5.0 stars to speak for its value. It has also garnered the following exceptional ratings for individual features:
- 4.2 stars for accuracy
- 4.4 stars for ease of assembly
- 4.4 stars for ease of use
- 4.4 stars for value for the price
Check out this belt sander on Amazon now
This WEN belt sander and miter gauge is ideal for making knives at home with its sturdy and compact base. It has two dust ports for minimizing the mess while working. It also comes with two beveling tables. It’s relatively small and lightweight for the amount of power you get out of it.
Features
Benefits
Customers note in reviews that this product makes it easy to change belts and grind knives. The included miter gauge is great for achieving precision with angled workpieces (up to 45 degrees), and the dust ports include attachments if you want to add hoses. You also get a 2-year warranty included with your purchase.
Specifications
This belt grinder and sander combination tool has the following design specs:
- Amp capacity – 2.3 amps (3160 FPM for the belt, 3450 RPM for the disc)
- Dimensions – 11.5” x 11.5” x 15.5”
- Grit – Medium (80-grit disc, 100-grit belt)
- Colors – Black and Orange
- Disc dimensions – 5”
- Belt dimensions – 1” x 30”
- Weight – 16 lbs
- Power – powered by a power cord
Happybuy Belt Grinder for Knife Making, Two-in-One with LED Lamp
Happybuy’s 2-in-1 belt grinder for knife making and disc bench sander is slightly more expensive. However, it’s still a great budget buy for the value you’re getting. It has plenty of customer reviews averaging at 3.9/5.0 stars on Amazon. It also has the following average ratings for individual features:
- 3.7 stars for value for money
- 3.6 stars for ease of use
Features
Your purchase includes a belt sander/grinder combo, a replaceable belt, two pairs of gloves, and a set of installation tools. Its design is sturdy, solid, and durable, featuring an LED work light and detachable water sink. With the angle range, you can achieve both vertical and horizontal sanding, which is great for making knives.
Benefits
One benefit of this grinder is that it’s versatile, working beyond metal applications and including wood, copper, and acrylic. It also creates minimal noise when in use with its full copper motor. Overall, it’s a pretty efficient product that comes with 24/7 customer support and a 30-day free return policy.
Specifications
This belt grinder and disc bench sander has the following design specs:
- Dimensions – 15.7” x 14.5” x 13.8”
- Weight – 27 lbs
- Color – Black
- Voltage – 110V
- Power – Corded electric
- Disc sander dimensions – 6” (½” arbor hole)
- Belt dimensions – 2” x 28” (with 80 mesh)
- Copper motor wattage – 250W
- Bevel angle – 90 degrees
- Speed – 3450 RPM (belt linear speed 18 m/s, disc linear speed 35 m/s)
- Durability – heavy-duty with cast steel frame and rubberized feet
- Dust collector dimensions – 1-¼”
Palmgren Belt and Disc Bench Finishing Machine for Knife Making
The Palmgren grinding belt and disc bench machine combines high-value and high-quality. This belt is still affordable but has garnered better customer reviews due to the design. On Amazon, this product averages at 4.4/5.0 stars (more than 300 reviews) and was also well-rated for:
- 4.0 stars for sturdiness
- 4.3 stars for value for money
- 4.5 stars for ease of assembly
- 4.2 stars for accuracy
Have a look at the Palmgren Belt on Amazon
Features
This versatile machine is ideal for knife making, as it does sanding and finishing tasks on metal, wood, plastic, and more. You can turn the belt both vertically and horizontally depending on your preference, the table’s tilt, and you can easily change belt tension.
It also features a cast base to keep the machine sturdy while in use, and the disc table has slots to accept a miter gauge.
Benefits
This product is made with durable, heavy-duty construction and a long-lasting motor. It also features a safety switch for extra project security. Additionally, your purchase includes a 2 years parts and 1-year labor warranty.
Specifications
This grinder and disc bench meets the following design specs:
- Dimensions – 11” x 20.5” x 22.25”
- Belt dimensions – 2” x 42”
- Disc dimensions – 6”
- Weight – 35 lbs
- Colors – dark gray and black
- Amperage capacity – 2.5 amps
- Grit – medium (80)
- Speed – 4400 SFPM belt, 3500 RPM disc
- Motor – 120/240 VAC
- Dust collection port dimensions – 1-½”
- Power – 72” cord
Norse BDSG 9681119 Belt Grinder and Disc Sander
The Norse BDSG belt disc sander grinder is a heavier yet still affordable option for beginner knife makers. It has an abrasive belt and has garnered an average of 4.3/5.0 stars based on customer satisfaction. It has also been well-rated for:
- 4.0 stars for value for money
- 3.7 stars for longevity
Check out this Belt Grinder on Amazon
Features
In addition to the sander/grinder, this purchase features a disc table, belt table, and a 2-½” x 2” belt work stop. It has been made in China and may require a few small modifications to make it ideal for advanced knife makers. The adjustable belt arm moves easily from vertical to horizontal positions.
Benefits
One of the most valuable benefits of this purchase is that it’s well-rated for how it measures up to its cost. It’s a simple setup for knife making, which is good for beginners. And the abrasive style of the sander is ideal for the task at hand. Furthermore, because of its 35 lb weight, it’s decently stable to use while working.
Specifications
This grinder belt and disc sander has the following design specs:
- Dimensions – 12” x 18” x 22”
- Abrasive belt dimensions – 2” x 42”
- Abrasive disc dimensions – 6”
- Belt table dimensions – 9” x 6-¾”
- Weight – 35 lbs
- Voltage – 120 V
- Motor – ⅓ HP
- Power – 78” power cord
RIKON 50-151 Belt and Disc Sander
The RIKON belt and disc sander is an extremely affordable option for beginner knife makers. With more than 1,000 customer ratings averaging 4.6/5.0 stars, it’s a hot budget commodity. It’s also acclaimed for four different individual features:
- 4.3 stars for value for money
- 4.4 stars for sturdiness
- 4.6 stars for ease of use
- 4.3 stars for ease of assembly
Features
This product has a brushless induction motor, which is designed for longevity. It also features adjustable support tables, high-quality materials, and sealed ball bearings for product support.
Those concerned about safety can rest assured with the built-in safety switch, and you also get a belt tracking knob. It’s a fairly quiet machine with a weighted base so that it won’t shake while in use.
Benefits
One of the benefits that make this grinder stand out from others, though, is the 5-year warranty. It’s also lightweight, which could be good for portability if you take your tools to different locations. You can also rest assured that you’ll be satisfied.
This product is backed by a #10 ranking among power belt sanders and #2 among power combination disc ; belt sanders on Amazon.
Specifications
This knife making belt grinder and sander disc meet the following design specs:
- Dimensions – 15” x 12.63” x 14.63”
- Belt dimensions – 1” x 30”
- Disc dimensions – 5”
- Weight – 18 lbs
- Color – blue
- Horsepower – 0.33 HP
- Amperage capacity – 2.3 amps
- Grit – any (50)
- Power – corded electric
- Belt table tilt – 0-45 degrees
- Voltage – 120 V
- Dust port dimensions – 2”
Rockwell Combination Belt and Disc Sander
While not the same setup as other products on this list, the Rockwell belt and sander is great for shaping knife handles. It’s priced at a budget-friendly $169.99 (list price) with more than 600 customer reviews averaging 4.5/5.0 stars. It also ranks well for the following features:
- 4.1 stars for sturdiness
- 4.3 stars for ease of use
- 4.2 stars for value for money
Features
It’s the heaviest machine on our list but also one of the most powerful in terms of amperage capacity. It features a hex key, miter gauge, sanding disc, and sanding belt. The adjustable sanding table moves between 0-45 degrees, while the adjustable belt platform moves between 0-90 degrees.
Benefits
This machine is very user-friendly, with a safety switch and quick-release tension lever for changing sandpaper grit. It also includes a 1-year manufacturer limited warranty.
Specifications
This product meets the following design specs:
- Dimensions – 13” x 11” x 22”
- Amperage capacity – 4.3 amps
- Belt dimensions – 4” x 36”
- Disc dimensions: 6”
- Power – corded electric
Final Verdict – Best Knife Grinders for the Money
These six best knife grinders have exceptional value for their cost, making them high-quality and affordable at the same time. Amazon buyers have given all of these products overwhelmingly high reviews.
Overall, we think that the WEN 6515T gives the best value for the cost. It has great benefits and features for beginner knife-makers. Otherwise, the other five options on this list are all ideal and have comparable advantages.
