Offhand Grinders

An offhand grinder works in the same way as any other machine in the grinding family.  It is a machine tool that uses an abrasive wheel as a cutting tool.  The wheel’s surface will cut a small chip from the work piece on contact through shear deformation.

In the case of an offhand grinder the work piece does not need to be shaped as such, like molding a precision rod on cylindrical grinders, but sharpened instead.  Most offhand grinders tend not to be computer controlled, as the resulting work piece is usually just a sharpened tool rather than an actual product to be used as part of a larger application so precise measurements are not as critical.

Like any tool, offhand grinders can be extremely dangerous if used improperly and can result in nasty injuries.  The machines have to be made to a certain standard and any individual using the offhand grinder must be thoroughly trained and aware of the necessary health and safety regulations.