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An angle grinder can be a really handy tool. You can use it to cut through metal or clean up welds, and it’s also great for all kinds of DIY projects around the house. Change the wheel, and you can even use it to cut cinder blocks, pavers, or tiles. But angle grinders can be a bit intimidating for beginners, and you need a firm grip since they have an extra side handle that lets you use both hands.

A better alternative for some of those jobs is a bench grinder. The idea is that you bring the thing you’re working on to the tool, instead of moving the tool around. This gives you more control. One cool bench grinder you can find at Harbor Freight is the Central Machinery model. It has variable speed so you can adjust it for the task, and the 39-inch flex shaft with a rotary head is perfect for detailed work. The angled rest helps you keep your workpiece steady, and you can swap out the wheels to do everything from buffing metal to polishing jewelry. And it only costs $47.99.

The key thing with this tool is the 3-inch wheels. It’s a compact model that could be good for folks with limited space, and you could use it to sharpen things like drill bits, chisels, and all kinds of knives. But most regular workshop bench grinders have 6- or 8-inch wheels, so this is a lighter-duty tool. You probably wouldn’t want to try sharpening a big lawnmower blade on it – the angle would be tricky. It’d be better to use the flex shaft with a grinding burr for that kind of job.

There are also some things an angle grinder can do that even a bigger bench grinder can’t. The thin wheels on an angle grinder are designed to be used flat and on the side, so you can use them to slice through metal or masonry, not just grind and sharpen. A bench grinder can’t do that. So the Central Machinery 3-inch bench grinder is a good alternative to an angle grinder for some tasks, but an angle grinder is still one of the handiest tools around. You can find inexpensive models that would be a great addition to any toolbox.