'Belt sander' vs. 'belt grinder'...what's the difference?

[Bolster]

Someone please explain to me the difference between a belt sander and a belt grinder. Is the grinder running slower?

Sander:

http://www.kalamazooindustries.com/images/bigpics/1sm21.jpg

Grinder:

http://www.kalamazooindustries.com/_admin/images/2FS72M-1.jpg

[Bolster]

Here's a guy that implies they're the same thing:

1x42 grinder/sander (http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Tools/1x42Sander/1x42sander.html)

[Hiball]

The first thought that comes to my mind is one is for metal and the other wood, The only difference being the type of belt being driven oxide vs a typcial 80 grit. So what im really saying is.... is.... hell there the same.

[Steve in SoCal]

The only difference is the name; in these type of machines, there are some belted centerless grinders. The word grinder seems like it may impart a more aggressive cut however, you could likely stall either without much effort. In machine opp's grinding generally is regarded as a precision surface finish where sanding is more of merely a smooth surface finish

Steve

[-B-]

Sander run at lower speed and have fixed wheels not much adjustment allowed.

Grinders run faster usually have variable speed different attachments to allow for differing grind lines, there will also be much more adjustment of the belt from slack to stiff.

[cdent]

If you're thinking about buying one, take a look at belt size and make sure you can get the grits and style that you want. 2 x 72" is a good grinder belt size that you can also get many sanding/finishing belts for. You're not likely to get quality belts that can do good work down at the local sears.

The good belt grinders will be more expensive, but like any tool it's a huge advantage to have a solid, smooth, true running machine. A good grinder can add a ton of versatility and time savings for many metal fab projects. 'Three wheel' grinders are nice to move the top part of the belt away from your head in use, but on some of those two wheelers, you can tip the top back and grind against the bottom wheel.

[mjb]

This is my KMG. I call it a grinder because I use it on metal. :)
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/Tinysd/Tinysd3/kmg006.jpg

It is 2hp variable speed and with a 36 grit belt, eats metal.

Here are some of the different attachments and wheels.
http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/Tinysd/Tinysd3/kmg010.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/Tinysd/Tinysd3/kmg008.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/Tinysd/Tinysd3/kmg009.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q194/Tinysd/Tinysd3/kmg005.jpg

[Bolster]

Those KMGs are the bees knees.

Can't afford one myself. But would like to get something that had a little versatility and decent quality.

I was going to get a Grizzly 1" belt sander but I don't think the quality is there. Hard to tell without having one to play with.

Griz has two lower quality, and two upscale ones...the following are their better quality but I'm not sure they'll pass muster. The first has plastic wheels. The second one doesn't get great reviews here (http://sites.google.com/site/vorpalcustomknives/shop-techniques-3/grinders).

1x42, $140 (http://www.grizzly.com/products/1-X-8-Belt-Disc-Sander/H8192)

knife model, $400 (http://grizzly.com/products/Knife-Belt-Sander-Buffer/G1015)

[nissan_crawler]

enco has them on sale now with free shipping, IIRC. $70 or so.

[Major Ramifications]

Bolster,
Judging fromt the two pictures you posted, I would say that the grinder runs at a slower speed, because it has a belt drive while the sander is direct drive. Of course, for all I know the grinder may actually be geared up and not down and they may have different motor speeds to start with.

What I really wanted to say is doesn't the belt drive wheel on the "grinder" look like it came off a lawnmower?

[Jay H 237]

When I was in high school back in the early 90s we had the one in the first pic in the machine shop and woodshops, same machines. They just used different belts and the woodshop generally used a finer grit too. Since the machines were identical there was no speed difference between them.

[Jim Stabe]

Go look on the knifemaking sites, they use the machines all the time and have a lot of info about them.