A bench grinder or pedestal grinder is a machine used to drive an abrasive wheel (or wheels).

Depending on the grade of the grinding wheel it may be used for sharpening cutting tools such as lathe tools or drill bits. Alternatively it may be used to roughly shape metal prior to welding or fitting.

A wire brush wheel or buffing wheels can be interchanged with the grinding wheels in order to clean or polish work-pieces.

Contrast this with the angle grinder and grinding machine.

Grinding wheels designed for steel should not be used for grinding softer metals, like aluminium. The soft metal gets lodged in the pores of the wheel and expand with the heat of grinding. This can dislodge pieces of the grinding wheel.