PURPOSE: To effectively grind the circumferential surface of, especially, a short fuel pellet having a ratio of height of diameter of not more than 1, by using a guide extended through and coaxially with the fuel pellet.

CONSTITUTION: A guide 6 is provided such as to be extended through and coaxially with a short fuel pellet 1. The guide 6 is adapted to transfer the pellet 1 to a receiving element 4, which is disposed between a grinding wheel 2 and a feed wheel 3, so as to be placed thereon. The circumferential surface of the pellet 1 is then subjected to grinding for centering the pellet 1.