The Metabo DS 200 8-Inch Bench Grinder is a workhorse with a large set of wheels, with a focus on industrial applications and bigger materials. If you simply want to have a fast grinding machine for sharpening items around your workshop, this is a good pick for you.
However, if you’re still a little hesitant, I reviewed the bench grinder below and listed its features, specs, pros, and cons to help you decide.
Metabo DS 200 8-Inch Bench Grinder
The Metabo DS 200 is a large bench grinder that applies to industrial settings. Due to its fast speed, it is mostly made for sharpening lawn mower blades and similar gardening, and even metal shops or fabrication.
Specifications
As an 8-inch bench grinder, this one runs at a speed of 3,570 RPM, which is considerably fast compared to its competitors. Its motor runs at 4.8 amps and the unit has a 1-inch arbor size as compared to those that are only 5/8-inch.
This 600-watt unit weighs 35.9 pounds, which is typical with most bench grinders. It uses 60N and 36P for its two grinding wheels.
Quality
The tool is backed by a 1-year warranty (standard) and a 3-year warranty (with online registration). When you buy the grinder, it comes with the wheels, spark protection glasses, hexagonal wrench, and workpiece support.
To keep its durability, it has protective covers that are made of die-cast aluminum that is corrosion-resistant and not too heavy. The bayonet lock protective cover also adds to its durability, aside from it being a convenient disc change mechanism. It also uses an induction motor that doesn’t need much maintenance compared to others.
Usability
For convenience, this grinder has spark protection glasses that will help you to see your material without getting too close to avoid accidents. The workpiece support will help you to get the right sharpening angle on your item or material without your hands becoming fatigued. It also has a hexagonal wrench for easy maintenance.
What’s more, I like that it has a protective cover bayonet lock that makes disc changes a breeze. This is especially helpful when you need to meet a deadline but don’t want to compromise safety when changing to a different grit for your grinding wheels. I also like that it has a low-noise and low-vibration motor that will help reduce user fatigue.
Should You Buy the Metabo DS 200 Bench Grinder?
The Metabo DS 200 will appeal to you if you will mostly work in a fabrication shop or if you simply want to sharpen lawn mower blades. It will be just right for handling and removing material in most metal work tasks.
If you are still unsure about the decision, go through the below list of the pros and cons of the tool.
Pros of the Metabo DS 200
Let’s start with the good stuff.
It has sufficient speed for mower blades and metalwork.
With a speed of 3,570 RPM, this bench grinder will work just fine for metal fabrication shops and mower blades.
Changing grinding discs is a breeze.
You will find it easy to change the grinding wheels thanks to the protective cover bayonet lock.
It has low noise and vibration.
This will decrease fatigue and noise pollution within your workshop or garage.
The large wheels allow for bigger workpieces.
No more worrying about large workpieces – the 8-inch wheel size will easily fit them.
Cons of the Metabo DS 200
Even though the Metabo DS 200 is a great tool, there are a few cons worth noting as well.
It can be a bit difficult to assemble.
Without a detailed or comprehensive user’s manual (the given one is only basic), it can be a bit tricky to assemble this bench grinder at first.
The tool rests might be small for some workers.
Although it has tool rests, it might not be sufficient for some materials and instances.
What Are the Alternatives to the Metabo DS 200?
If you think that the Metabo DS 200 is not the bench grinder for your needs, I also have other similar units you can check out:
The DeWalt DW758 Bench Grinder (read my review) is a similar pick that has a rugged cast iron base and 8-inch wheels. However, it exceeds the speed of the Metabo unit, as this one has 3,600 RPM. Nonetheless, both are ideal for large grinding jobs thanks to their 3/4-HP motor and 12-1/2-inch distance between the two wheels.
Both of them have an adjustable guard and tool rest set, so you will find accuracy and safety in your work. The weight is also not that far from the Metabo model, as this DeWalt tool is at 39.5 pounds.
Yet another 8-inch unit is the JET 577102 JBG-8A Bench Grinder, which has a 5/8-inch spindle. Also equipped with adjustable spark guards, this one has enclosed ball bearings that are pre-lubricated for ease of maintenance. It also has cast iron wheel guards but the plus point lies in the dust vents for a cleaner working environment.
Like my DeWalt choice, it has an adjustable set of tool rests and is also equipped with a high-speed motor at 3,450 RPM. This tool is backed by a 2-year limited warranty.
If you prefer much finer grinding wheels then the BUCKTOOL TDS-200DS Bench Grinder is for you, since they have 80-grit and 120-grit white aluminum oxide wheels that are ideal for sharpening delicate metal and steel. What’s more, this unit has a dual-speed function that will be useful for woodworking chisels and knives.
Similar to the DeWalt grinder, it has a sturdy cast iron base and 8-inch wheels. However, its motor is only 1/2 HP, but because it has two speeds (1,725 and 3,450), it is a flexible unit.
Finally, you might also want to check my list of the best bench grinders on the market.
Summary
In the long run, the Metabo DS 200 is a good bench grinder for metalwork and fabrication shops while also ideal for sharpening your everyday gardening tools, such as lawnmower blades. While it doesn’t have a slow speed or a variable-speed feature, it is sufficient for most industrial sharpening and grinding jobs thanks to its powerful motor and easy disc change mechanism.