Editing Bench grinder (section)

{{Short description|Grinding machine}}[[Image:Rotating grinder.gif|frame|right|Rotating abrasive wheels on a bench grinder.]]
[[Image:Bench Grinder Brush 1.jpg|thumb|right|{{convert|8|in|abbr=on}} wire brush mounted to bench grinder (tool rest in foreground).]]
A '''bench grinder''' is a [[workbench|benchtop]] type of [[grinding machine]] used to drive [[grinding wheel|abrasive wheels]]. A '''pedestal grinder''' is a similar or larger version of grinder that is mounted on a [[wikt:pedestal#Noun|pedestal]], which may be bolted to the floor or may sit on [[bushing (isolator)|rubber feet]]. These types of grinders are commonly used to hand [[grinding (abrasive cutting)|grind]] various [[cutting tool (machining)|cutting tools]] and perform other rough grinding.<ref name="KrarEtAl2003">{{Harvnb|Krar|Gill|Smid|2003}}</ref>

Depending on the bond and grade of the grinding wheel, it may be used for sharpening cutting tools such as [[tool bit]]s, [[drill bit]]s, [[chisel]]s, and [[chisel#Gouge|gouges]]. Alternatively, it may be used to roughly shape metal prior to [[welding]] or fitting.

A [[wire brush]] wheel or buffing wheels can be interchanged with the grinding wheels in order to clean or [[polishing (metalworking)|polish]] workpieces. Stiff buffing wheels can also be used when [[burr (edge)#Deburring|deburring]] is the task at hand. Some buffing machines (buffers) are built on the same concept as bench grinders except for longer housings and arbors with buffing wheels instead of grinding wheels. 

Bench grinders are standard equipment in [[metal fabrication|metal fabrication shops]] and [[machine shop]]s, as are handheld grinders (such as [[angle grinder]]s and [[die grinder]]s).