Sharpening machine: how to choose the right equipment for your home?

If you consider a sharpening machine, how to choose it, and which models are best to pay attention to, you must definitely study the technical parameters. First of all, this is the engine power and the dimensions of the circle. Basic recommendations for the right purchase are described in the article.

Main technical characteristics

To understand how to choose a sharpener, you need to study the basic technical characteristics. These include: power, rev limit and lap parameters.

Power

This is the main indicator that demonstrates how productive the device can be. If you figure out how to choose a sharpening machine for professional use, it is better to pay attention to models with a power of at least 300 W. They can withstand heavy loads without overheating the engine.

If you only need to sharpen small tools, for example, knives, wood carvings, chisels, thin drills, you definitely don’t need too much power.

Therefore, the main way to choose an electric sharpener for your home is to study the power. It should be in the range of 150-250 W, this is quite enough. But it also happens that you have to sharpen scythes, axes, and shovels. Then the device should be more productive - from 300 W.

Maximum number of revolutions

Another method for choosing an electric sharpener is related to the maximum speed. Usually 2700-3000 rpm is quite enough. If the speed is lower, performance decreases and the engine partially idles.

If the indicator is higher, then the material of the blades and other products that need to be sharpened will heat up too much. But at the same time, high speed is suitable for sharpening parts made of hard alloys. For this purpose, fine abrasive (diamond) discs are used.

Their grains are very fine, so at the usual number of revolutions, performance will noticeably decrease. Therefore, carbide materials (for example, brazing on a circular saw, a drill head for a rotary hammer) are sharpened at maximum frequencies of up to 15,000 rpm. This is done using diamond discs.

Wheel diameter

If you consider which sharpener to choose for your home, you can take a tool with a small mounting diameter. This power is quite enough for sharpening household tools.

But you need to keep in mind that it will not be possible to place abrasive, heavy wheels on such a shaft. Even a slight deviation will cause the shaft to bend and the disk to break. Because of this, the quality of sharpening will decrease.

If you buy a sharpener for professional purposes, then you need to take tools with large mounting diameters. Such circles are suitable even for low-power devices. Thanks to the large dimensions, there will be no beating, and the sharpening will be very good.

Circle diameter

This indicator is directly related to the size of the objects being sharpened. For example, for knives a circle with a minimum diameter is suitable, but for axes and braids the parameter should be significantly larger.

It should also be borne in mind that large abrasive wheels have high inertia. Therefore, they ensure smooth grinding and uniform load on the engine mechanism, which makes the mechanism last longer.

Another point - the larger the diameter of the circle, the greater the power of the machine and the higher its price. Therefore, if you are trying to figure out how to choose a sharpening machine for your home, it is better to buy devices with small-diameter wheels.

Circle thickness

The thickness also depends on the size of the blade being processed. For example, if you sharpen knives and chisels, then a small thickness will be enough. If you sharpen a shovel or scythe, the width should be larger.

But it is worth keeping in mind that thick circles wear off faster and lose their shape, which is why there is an imbalance. Therefore, over time, such devices have to be changed. Moreover, thicker circles increase weight, so a more powerful engine is required.

Extra options

To understand how to choose an electric sharpener, along with the main criteria, you need to analyze additional parameters. They are no less important because they make work easier and extend the service life of the mechanism:

1. A protective casing and a screen with protection are necessary elements that ensure safe operation during sharpening. The fact is that circles are made of fragile materials, and if damaged, they can shatter into fragments.
2. The backlight is a lamp on a flexible leg. Also, each disk can be connected to an individual light source.
3. A working platform is a surface that can be positioned at different angles. Used for sharpening chisels, chisels, drills.
4. The option of mounting to a surface with a support is especially important when sharpening large tools. Also suitable when working with small cutting objects.

How to choose a sharpening machine: practical tips

If you correctly decide how to choose emery and a sharpening device, you need to take into account the scope of application - how often and what tools will be sharpened. Basic buying tips are described below:

1. If you have to work with the device not so often, literally 2-3 times a year, it is better to purchase an inexpensive model in the range of 2000-4000 rubles. They only work for a few minutes, but no more is required. In addition, such tools are the most expensive.
2. If you need to buy a universal sharpening device, it is better to choose models with a gearbox and a container for “wet” sharpening.
3. It also happens that a device is required for high-quality sharpening, which is carried out regularly. For professional purposes, buy compact, powerful devices. They cost more - about 3000-6000 rubles.
4. You can also purchase a powerful engraving machine. In this case, you need to choose among the “2 in 1” kits. They also cost about 3000-6000 rubles.

When choosing an electric sharpener, it is better to review the main models yourself. It is preferable to choose products from well-known brands with sufficient power. Then they will not waste extra energy and will last long enough.