Dog Nail Grinder Attachments

Different makes of grinders, such as Dremel, Casfuy or Andis, come with slightly different dog nail grinder attachments and accessories. These include sanding drums, sanding bands, and sanding stones. Before buying a dog nail grinder, make sure replacement parts are readily available at a reasonable price, see the Grinder Accessories Table below. Also, for your and your dog’s safety, use OEM parts where possible; only use third-party parts that are explicitly compatible with your grinder model.

Before changing the attachment on an electric grinder, always unplug or remove the battery pack/batteries from the dog nail grinder.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before changing the attachments. This is usually not complicated, but you need to know how to do it correctly so that they are securely fixed.

Always replace chipped, damaged or worn out parts before using the grinder.

The Sanding Drum

The sanding drum, or mandrel, holds the sanding bands in place. The drum (mandrel) has a top screw that expands the drum to secure the sanding band, and retracts to release it.

Dremel sanding drums come in a choice of sizes. The smaller ones, measuring a 1/4“, are for small to medium sized dogs. The larger ones at 1/2” are intended for medium to large dogs. You will need to get sanding bands of the right size to fit the sanding drum.

The sanding drum itself can be removed from the grinder in order to be changed or replaced by a new one or to insert a grinding stone attachment.

The Sanding Bands

Sanding bands come in different grits, or grades of coarseness. The lower the grit number, the coarser the grain on the sanding band. Grit numbers typically vary between 60 and 120 depending on the make.

You will have to experiment with what works best for you, but generally high-grit sanding bands are better for small dog nails while a lower grit works better on large dog nails. Bear in mind that used sanding bands may be slower than new ones, and this can be either good and bad, depending on the hardness of the dog nails.

It is important to ensure that the sanding bands are properly secured by sufficiently turning the screw on top of the sanding drum. Otherwise, they risk flying off when the grinder is turned on.

The Grinding Stone

The advantage of a grinding stone (or sanding stone) accessory is that it will last a long time. A sanding band when new may work more efficiently, but while sanding bands have to be changed, you will rarely if ever have to replace a sanding stone attachment.

Depending on the manufacturer of the grinder you may be able to obtain sanding stones of different grades, but most commonly, however, a sanding stone is used for the final polish.

Safety Precautions

Heat build-up: Grinders create heat — use light pressure, short passes, and let the nail cool between touches to avoid discomfort.

Dust/eye protection: Keratin dust happens — work in a ventilated area; consider eye protection for yourself and avoid blowing dust toward your dog.

Hair & clothing: Tie back long hair and secure loose sleeves/jewelry. Keep the dog’s feathering/ears clear of the bit to prevent snagging.

Start slow: Begin on the lowest speed and increase only if needed.

Changing sanding bands: After tightening the drum screw, try to twist the band by hand; if it slips, tighten more before turning the grinder on.

Grinding Accessories

Quick pick: 60–80 grit for large, hard nails; 100–120 grit for small or soft nails; finish with a stone if you want a smooth edge.

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Conclusion

Match your drum size and grit to your dog’s nails, keep bands snug, and let the nail cool between passes for a smooth, stress-free trim.

Next steps:

• Learn how to find the quick safely (great for black nails).
• Compare tools in our Dog Nail Grinder Guide.

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