Belt & Bench Grinders

The six kinds of machine in this category

They look alike in a catalog and behave nothing alike on the shop floor.

Bench grinders and buffers (16 machines)

Thirteen wheel-type grinders and three buffers. The thirteen include two ready-made kits that pair a grinder already listed here with the JPS-2A pedestal stand, so eleven distinct grinder models appear below. Wheel diameter sets the class: 6 in. (JET JBG-6A, JBG-6W), 8 in. (JET JBG-8A, JBG-8W, IBG-8, IBG-8VS; Baileigh IGB-8), 10 in. (JET JBG-10A, IBG-10; Baileigh IGB-10) and 12 in. (JET IBG-12). Bigger wheels turn slower: the 8 in. Baileigh IGB-8 runs at 3,600 rpm, the 10 in. IGB-10 at 1,800 rpm and the JET IBG-12 at 1,720 rpm on 12 x 2 in. wheels, the wider and slower face that sustained stock removal on heavy parts calls for. The buffers are the JET IBG-8VSB (8 x 1/2 in. wheels, variable 900 to 3,600 rpm), the Baileigh IB-8 (8 x 1/2 x 5/8 in. wheels, 3,600 rpm) and the IB-10 (10 x 1 x 1 in. wheels, 1,800 rpm).

Belt grinders (13 machines)

These carry no grinding wheel at all: the abrasive belt runs over contact wheels, a platen or open slack, and that is where the work happens. Baileigh covers the family with the BG-142S (1 x 42 in.), the three-wheel BG-248S and BG-260S (2 x 48 and 2 x 60 in.), the BG-248-2 and BG-248-3, the variable speed BG-260-3-110 and BG-260-3-220, the BG-379 (3 x 79 in.) and the BG-679, whose 78.75 x 6 in. belt covers a large area per pass. JET adds the BG-379-3, the J-4103 2 x 72 square wheel grinder, and the J-4300A and J-4301A belt finishing machines on 6 x 48 in. belts.

Bench grinder and belt sander combinations (4 machines)

One motor, a grinding wheel on one side, an abrasive belt on the other. JET builds the IBGB-248 (8 in. grinder plus a 2 x 48 in. belt at 4,712 SFPM) and the variable speed IBGB-248VS (2 x 48 in. belt) and IBGB-436VS (4 x 36 in. belt), both with a digital readout for RPM and SFPM. Baileigh builds the IGBB-436, an 8 in. grinder with a 4 x 36 in. belt on a 1 HP 115V motor.

Belt and disc machines (8 machines)

A sanding disc handles flat faces and mitered ends; the belt handles contours and edges. JET's bench-top pair is the J-4002 (1 x 42 in. belt, 8 in. disc) and the J-41002 (2 x 42 in. belt, 8 in. disc), both with cast iron tilting tables and a removable platen. The Baileigh DBG-9248 and DBG-9436 put a 9 in. disc at 3,600 rpm beside a 2 x 48 in. or 4 x 36 in. belt at 4,712 fpm, with tables that angle up to 45 degrees. On stands, JET offers the J-4210K (6 x 48 in. belt, 10 in. disc) and the J-4200A family with a 12 in. disc in 115V single-phase, 230V single-phase and 230V three-phase versions.

Wide belt sanders (3 machines)

The GMC Finish Pro line is production equipment for deburring and finishing parts in volume: parts feed through on a variable speed conveyor instead of being held by hand. The FP-2560 and FP-2560T take a 25 x 60 in. belt and parts up to 24 in. wide; the FP-4075 takes a 40 x 75 in. belt and parts up to 40 in. wide. All three have motorized table lift with digital readout, electronic eye belt tracking, air belt tensioning and air-operated disc brakes that stop the sanding head in 3 to 5 seconds if air pressure is lost.

Pneumatic finger belt sanders (2 machines)

The two Dent Fix tools are hand-held and air-driven, for body work and tight access rather than bench work. The DF-FBS16 turns at 16,000 RPM on 90 psi with a 13 x 3/8 in. belt (328 x 10 mm) on an 11 in. body; its belts are not included. The DF-FBS20 uses an angled 9 in. arm so the belt lies flatter on a panel, takes a 10 x 508 mm belt, and adds speed control and 360 degree arm rotation.

Capacity, speed and power: the real range

Motor size runs from 1/3 HP on the JET J-4002 to 15 HP on the GMC FP-4075. Among the bench-mounted machines the band is 1/3 HP through the 2 HP of the JET IBG-12; the 4 HP step below the GMC line belongs to three floor-standing belt grinders, the Baileigh BG-379 and BG-679 and the JET BG-379-3.

Belt speed varies more than horsepower and matters more for finish. The slowest fixed belt speed here is the JET J-4210K at 1,650 sfpm; the J-4200A, J-4200A-2, J-4202A, J-4300A and J-4301A all run 2,850 sfpm; the Baileigh BG-679 runs 3,937 fpm on its 6 in. belt; the JET IBGB-248 and the Baileigh DBG-9248 and DBG-9436 run 4,712; the BG-142S runs 5,500 and the BG-248S 6,000. The fastest fixed speeds are 8,000 fpm, on the Baileigh BG-260S and BG-379. Two machines let you choose: the BG-260-3-110 and BG-260-3-220 are inverter driven from 800 to 8,000 fpm, the practical answer when one operator grinds mild steel in the morning and finishes stainless in the afternoon. Weight follows the same curve, from 38 lb to 4,650 lb, and it is the quiet spec that decides whether a machine chatters.

What the machine needs from your shop

Power. Thirty-six of the 46 machines run on single-phase service, most of them 110/115V. The JET IBGB-248, IBGB-248VS, IBGB-436VS and J-4300A are rated 115/230V; the IBG-12, J-4200A-2 and Baileigh BG-260-3-220 are 220/230V single phase. Eight machines require three-phase: the Baileigh BG-379 and BG-679 and the JET BG-379-3 (220V), the JET J-4202A and J-4301A (230V) and all three GMC wide belt sanders (208/230V). The FP-2560T lists a 45A draw on 220V. The two Dent Fix sanders are pneumatic and need no electrical circuit at all.

Space. Footprints are listed per model. The JET JBG-6A occupies 17 x 10 x 9 in.; the Baileigh BG-248-3 measures 48 x 31 x 43 in. because it includes a stand the grinder tilts on; the JET J-4210K, J-4200A-2, J-4300A and J-4301A stand 58 to 61 in. tall on their steel bases. The FP-4075 is 76 x 88 x 81 in. and ships at 4,859 lb, so plan the unloading, not just the floor tile. All three GMC machines run a passline height of 31 to 37 in.

Dust and sparks. The JET IBG-8 and IBG-8VS have 2-1/2 in. dust ports; the IBGB-248, IBGB-248VS and IBGB-436VS each have two 2 in. round ports; the BG-379-3 has a 3 in. connector with hose clamp. The Baileigh DBG-9248 and DBG-9436 have a vacuum port for a shop vacuum, the BG-379 a catch basin with a 220V extraction system, and the BG-679 its own vacuum motor. At production scale the requirement is far larger: 1,100 CFM for the GMC FP-2560 and FP-2560T, 1,800 CFM for the FP-4075, through a 4 in. or 6 in. hood outlet depending on model. GMC states on the FP-2560T listing that aluminum, titanium or magnesium call for a collection system conforming to NFPA; the FP-2560 and FP-4075 listings do not repeat that caution, so confirm it with us before specifying either for those metals. On sparks, the JET BG-379-3 ships with a spark arrester; the JET JBG-6A, JBG-8A and JBG-10A and the Baileigh IGB-8, IGB-10 and IGBB-436 list one-piece quick-adjusting spark guards, while the JET IBG-8, IBG-10 and IBG-12 list adjustable safety shields instead.

Air. Both Dent Fix sanders are rated at 90 PSI, and the GMC FP-2560T states 2 CFM at 90 PSI. The FP-2560 and FP-4075 describe air belt tensioning and air-operated brakes but do not publish a CFM figure; check the model listing before sizing the drop.

Certifications

Certification is stated per model, not per category. The JET IBG-8, IBG-8VS, IBG-8VSB, IBG-10, IBG-12, IBGB-248, IBGB-248VS and IBGB-436VS are CSA/CUS or CSA/US certified, and the IBG-8, IBG-10 and IBG-12 are additionally described as OSHA compliant. The JET J-4200A, J-4200A-2, J-4202A, J-4300A and J-4301A are certified by CSA Group; the JBG-6W, JBG-8W and the JBG-8A and JBG-10A stand kits are UL Listed; the Baileigh IGB-8, IGB-10, IB-8, IB-10 and IGBB-436 are CSA listed and approved. Forty-three of the 46 listings here carry a California Prop 65 warning; the three GMC Finish Pro wide belt sanders do not publish one. If a specific approval is a condition of purchase for your facility, confirm it on the model page.

Comparison: 10 models across the range

Questions buyers ask

Bench grinder or belt grinder for metal work?

A bench grinder removes stock fast on a hard wheel and is the right tool for sharpening, breaking edges and rough work at a fixed point. A belt grinder gives you a moving abrasive surface, so it blends, chamfers and finishes without the wheel profile printing into the part, and the belt swaps grits in seconds. Shops that do both often take a combination unit: the JET IBGB-248, IBGB-248VS and IBGB-436VS and the Baileigh IGBB-436 put both on one 1 HP base.

Which machines need three-phase power?

Eight of the 46. The Baileigh BG-379 and BG-679 and the JET BG-379-3 run 220V three phase at 4 HP; the JET J-4202A and J-4301A run 230V three phase at 1-1/2 HP; the three GMC sanders are 208/230V three phase. Everything else is single phase or, for the two Dent Fix finger sanders, air powered.

What comes with the machine?

It varies by model, so read the listing. The JET JBG-6A, JBG-8A and JBG-10A and the IBG-8, IBG-10 and IBG-12 ship with fine and coarse vitrified wheels; the JBG-6W and JBG-8W ship with one vitrified aluminum oxide grinding wheel plus a crimped wire wheel. The IBG-8VS, IBG-10 and IBG-12 add a wheel dresser. Baileigh includes a 1-1/4 in. wheel dresser with the IGB-8, IGB-10 and IGBB-436, and an LED work light with the IGB-8, IGB-10, IB-8 and IB-10. The BG-248-3 comes with three grinding tables matched to its contact wheel diameters, and the JET BG-379-3 with three extra 80-grit silicon carbide belts. The Dent Fix DF-FBS16, by contrast, states that belts are not included. The JET IBG-Stand, DBG-Stand and 3W LED lamp, and the wet dust collector offered with the GMC sanders, are sold separately.

Can I mount a bench grinder on a stand?

Yes. The JET IBG-8, IBG-10 and IBG-12 have pre-drilled bases for stands or work benches, and two ready-made kits are stocked: the JBG-8A and the JBG-10A, each with the JPS-2A pedestal stand, which JET describes as compatible with all its bench grinders. Plan the lift: a JBG-10A alone is 110 lb.

Do the spec tables ever disagree with the product name?

Occasionally, and it is worth flagging. The spec table on the JET JBG-6A listing shows the code JBG-6B and the JBG-8A listing shows JBG-8B; the product name is the model you are ordering. The Baileigh IB-10 description text mentions 1-1/2 HP while its own spec table lists 1 HP, and the GMC FP-2560T feature list mentions a 4 in. dust hood outlet while its spec table lists 6 in. Where a listing contradicts itself the specification table is the more reliable figure, and any spec that decides your purchase is worth confirming with us before the order goes in. Shipping is quoted per machine; the three GMC Finish Pro wide belt sanders are the models currently listed with free shipping.