5 Best Belt Sanders for Knife Sharpening (2024)

Published on: January 20, 2022
Written by David Rowan / Fact-checked by David Rowan

If you’re a DIY hobbyist and love to make your own knife, you must also want to sharpen your knives on your own.

You can use your belt sander to sharpen your knife.

Yes, this tool can help you to work with metal like steel besides wood.

But for sharpening knives you need to consider some basic features while buying. Otherwise, you can’t get the desired result.

Don’t panic by reading this!

It’s very simple and easy to choose the right belt sander for sharpening your knife. Just go through this buying guide and you’ll be able to choose the one for you.

Types of Belt Sanders

There are two main types of belt sanders: 1. Handheld sander and 2. Stationery Sander.

Stationary belt sanders are fixed in one place and have an unobtrusive base, these are the most ideal decisions for knife making, each of the five picks of my run at the off-chance opportunity to see stationary belt sanders.

The handheld belt sander is more portable and usable by hand. These are more helpful for huge materials, for instance, an auto, I would not suggest them for making a knife.

How to Choose a Belt Sander for Knife Sharpening

Here are the features you need to check while buying a belt sander-

Power

Your belt sander needs to be powerful to sharpen the knife as it has to do it by running the abrasive belt. A good quality belt sander needs to have enough strength to sharpen your knife by removing rust and other particles.

For buying the right one check amps (A) for the electric sander, volts (V) for the portable battery-powered sander, and for bigger models you may find horsepower (HP).

Size

By size, you need to check both sander size and belt size for buying a belt sander. The Sander dimension is important for portability and ease of use. Belt sanders are available with 3/21 inches and 4/24 inches belts.

For a handheld sander, 4/24 inches belt is good enough. You can also grind a whole board with this size of sander beside a sharpening knife and 3/21 inches belts are suitable for delicate sanding projects.

Speed

You also need to check the speed of the sander. For sharpening a knife, you just need a sander with variable speed or speed control. Speed control allows you to get the desired rate of grinding and you don’t even need to push the sander.

To check the speed of a belt sander look for Feet Per Minute (FPM), for higher speed choose the one with a high FPM.

Dust Collection System

While buying a Sander you must check the dust collection system of the tool to collect dirt and debris produced during sharpening.

Warranty

When buying a power tool the most important thing you should consider is the warranty. Because the most durable one will tear down over time or may not have the performance you expected after using it for the first time. In these cases, if you have a manufacturer’s warranty you can get after-sales and support.

Different Size of Belt Sander for Knife Sharpening

Choose the ideal one for your necessities and make a decent spending plan. The main sort considers the size of the belt. Along these lines, first, find out about the size of the belt.

Size	Details
1×30-inch	It is ideal for DIY and light-duty projects.
1×42-inch	It’s like a 1 × 30-inch sander but only different in price.
2×42-inch	This is the most popular difference between a sander with a six-inch disc. It’s an entry-level sander and perfect for small tasks.
2×48-inch	Includes a big-size motor which is quite affordable and suitable for a small workshop.
4×36-inch	Most home improvement stores utilize this kind of sander. Yet, it isn’t great for making blades.
2×72-inch	Ideal for making professional knives.

Safety Tips

Belt sanders will work great for making and sharpening knives. But you need to be serious about your safety while using the tool by simply following these simple tips-

• ​Before starting with the sander, always put on your safety glasses to protect your eyes from debris and sparks while sharpening.
• Before plugging in the sander, make sure that the switch is off to avoid any unwanted accidents.
• If you’ve long hair, you must tie them up to keep them away from the belt or any other part of the tool. Because long hair near the belt increases the risk of grabbing your hair and causing a terrible accident.
• Always wear a mask while working with a belt sander to prevent debris and dirt from getting into your nose.
• ​You can also use earplugs to protect your ears from the noise that will produce during the sharpening process.

Quick Solutions

Harbor Freight 1 x 30 Belt Sander is a Good Knife Sharpener?

The Harbor Freight 1×30 is an incredible sander. We think it also makes a good knife sharp. Advantageously, this is continuously plugged into my bench, ready to prepare an edge to measure the amount of time it takes to change a belt sander of harbor freight 1 x 30.

Would You be Able to Sharpen a Knife with the Belt Sander?

Gently use a light press factor a few times on one side of the cutting edge across the belt. Mood Killer Sander, trade on a 240-grit belt sander, and be one more time. Redistribute the cycle for 400-rough, 20-micron, and 9-micron belts at the end.

Could a Grinder be Utilized as a Sander?

At the point when you need to eliminate or sand a great deal of surface wood, transforming your angle grinder into the sand is the simplest and most expensive approach to do it. These are explicitly intended for use as an angle grinder.

What are the Benefits of a Belt Sander?

These are multi-use devices. These are typically used to manage a scribbled line (photograph), sand exceptionally unpleasant surfaces, adjust and form evening-out surfaces, and freehand.

View Our Top 5 Belt Sanders for Knife Sharpening

1. Huanyu Mini Belt Sander Micro Desktop Grinder Electric DIY Sand Mill

• Motor: 795 HP;
• Motor speed: 0 – 4800 RPM;
• Belt size: width 20MM * length 520MM and 30MM * 533MM;
• Weight: 1.37 KG
• 10 Belts for different meshes.

Like knives, knife-sharpening sanders are a must-have for every house. Everyone does not need or like to make knives as it is easily purchased in stores. But a good sander for knife sharpening saves bucks and keeps the blades functional for longer.

This sander is a miniature version of a conventional sander. Despite its small features, it is highly versatile and can be used to polish wood or metal to diamonds, and almost anything that stays in between. So, even if you are not a fan of knife making, this machine can still serve you in uncountable ways.

This toy-like sander costs more than most of the sanders we have reviewed. Still, I don’t consider it pricey because it is a superior quality product and comes with additional belts to do a million projects. The only verdict is, it is less sold on amazon hence, received no reviews so far.

Things We Liked

• Portable;
• Space-saving;
• Produces less noise;
• Includes additional accessories;
• Affordable. 

Things We Didn’t Like

• Not for large knives;
• Not widely used. 

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2. Happybuy 2Hp Belt Grinder (Constant speed)

• Motor: 2 HP;
• Motor speed: 2800 RPM;
• Belt size: 2″ X 82″;
• wheel size:12 inches, 25mm, and 40 mm;
• Weight: ‎191.9 pounds.

It has won our hearts because, in terms of precision and durability, this machine is unbeatable. It is equipped with a 2 hp motor, the most powerful one on this list. It is a belt-only sander and the belt is supported by three high-quality wheels to make the track constant throughout the sanding process. So, there is no possibility of a wobbling belt like other less pricey units.

It has no speed control and no power switch. At first, this may seem weird considering its price. But once you start using it, all the doubt will disappear. Top-grade satin and mirror finish on any surface and stock removal for knife making or polishing will be more satisfying.

The assembly is a pure headache because of the poor manual. But it is not difficult. The included picture helps. However, this machine is too expensive to recommend for home use. If you are looking for one sander to beat a lot of your professional needs, then this is the one.

Things We Liked

• High-Quality Grinding;
• Powerful motor;
• Precise and accurate;
• Easy Operation & Variable Speed.

Things We Didn’t Like

• No power switch;
• Poor manual.

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3. Shop Fox Knife Belt Sander/Buffer (Model No W1850)

• Motor: 1/3 HP;
• Motor speed: 1725 RPM;
• Belt size: 1″ x 42″;
• Belt speed: 3000 FPM;
• Table tilt: 0-45 deg;
• Weight: 64 lbs.

It is a mid-range sander that will ‘almost’ give you the experience of using a high-end sander. Obtaining accuracy on every application can be a bit hectic with this machine, but other than that, it is a quiet and powerful beast to smooth out any surface.

It is equipped with a super long blade and a removable platen. Using both you can do any kind of chiseling, stropping, buffing, or grinding on any irregular, flat or curved surface. As we are discussing knife sharpening, this machine can sharpen any knife, blade, or sword no matter how large it is.

It is covered by a long warranty, but its durability is promising enough to last this polisher for almost a decade without any problem.

Things We Liked

• Highly adjustable features;
• Suitable for professional use;
• Convenient for large-size blade chiseling.

Things We Didn’t Like

• Small tool rest;
• May not be too precise. 

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4. WEN Belt and Disc Sander (Model No 6502T)

• Motor: 1/2 HP;
• Disk speed: 3600 RPM;
• Belt size:  4-inch-by-36-inch;
• Disk size: 6-inch;
• Weight: 39 Pounds.

This machine supports a wide belt to ensure better stability and tracking of the belt while you are working. Besides, the belt can be tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position. You can adjust it as your operation demands.

This machine is very heavy, hence it is less suitable for projects where you need to carry a sander often. However, the large disk and wide belt make it suitable for industrial and professional usage on a regular basis. The best thing is, it is covered by the longest warranty. So, in the meantime (which is less likely to happen) if anything goes wrong, you will get free repair or replacement.

When it comes to precision, you will get a separate miter gauge for the belt and disk in this machine to make sure every edge, corner, or curve you make becomes flawless just the way you want.

Things We Liked

• The long warranty offered;
• Good belt tracking;
• Tilting belt and tool rest.

Things We Didn’t Like

• Very heavy.

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5. Happybuy 2 IN 1 2inch Belt Grinder for Knife Making

• Disk speed: 3450 RPM;
• Belt Size: 2″ x 28″;
• Disc Arbor Hole: 1/2″;
• Belt Linear Speed: 18 m/s;
• Disc Linear Speed: 35 m/s;
• Gross Weight: 27 lbs / 12.26 kg & Disc Dia. : 6″.

If you are on a budget and still want to invest in a sander that can handle large pieces, then this sander Happybuy can be the right tool for you. It is small, compact, and powerful. It has a removable safety guard and platen to work on large pieces like long-blade knife sharpening. Besides, both the tool rests of the belt and disk can be tilted and both have separate dust ports. So, there will be less fuss and more work.

This small machine can produce high speed to get most of the sanding and the grinding job done. It is lightweight, hence has better portability if your profession requires carrying such tools from place to place.

The body is made of cast iron and the plastic parts are made of high-quality durable plastic material to withstand hours of torture and high temperature. There is no flimsy piece to bother you with irritating problems in the future. All in all, it is an all-rounder tool for professionals and homeowners.

Things We Liked

• Removable platen and guard;
• Comes with separate dust ports for the belt and disk;
• Lightweight.
• Space Saving. 

Things We Didn’t Like

• Not for highly demanding applications.

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Conclusion

That’s all you need to know about buying a suitable belt sander for sharpening your knife.

We all need to sharpen our knives over time to get the best performance. If you have the right tool to sharpen your knives, it will be easy for you to do it whenever you need it.

And for selecting the right tool you only need to follow the above tips to get your one.

If you want to buy a belt sander for making a knife, you can check our best belt sander for knife making.

You can also share your experience and opinion about buying and using the belt sander with us.

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