Do any tools scare you?

**BobL** · 17th July 2012, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Arry

I have read every post with interest.

I don't own and have never used an angle grinder.

I have 4 (all 125 mm) so I guess I make up for you not having one!

What makes it so dangerous? - the fact that what you are cutting will come flying at you etc?

While they are potentially dangerous, something like 95% of all angle grinder injuries are caused by eedjets not wearing eye protection and getting a metal splinter in their eye.

Given the number in use, the shattering of grinding and cutting wheels is a relatively rare event and the risk does depends what size (diam and thickness) wheels are used. I use a lot of 125 x 1 mm kerf cutting wheels (I generally buy them by the box) on my angle grinders and must have broken around a dozen or so of these. On each occasion their disintegration has been a decided non-event. Most have just broken off at the arbor and just sat there while the arbor continued to go around. None have shattered dramatically with usually just a few chips of wheel flying off. I have been hit by some of these chips (usually on the hand) but none have raised blood. Nevertheless I still wear a full face shield and muffs and usually I wear thin leather gloves.

Mostly I use angle grinders with a wire wheel to tidy up steel before welding or a flap wheel for tidying up after welding! The wire wheels are also useful for cleaning up warned edges of timber. These can be pretty nasty as the wires coming off the wheels can be like little high speed needles but are usually stopped by a long sleeved shirt.

The thin cut-off wheels are very useful to recover from welding balls ups but to cut up metal I usually use a metal cutting bandsaw or the thin kerf cutting wheel in an old table saw. The revs on the TS are MUCH lower than an angle grinder so it is a much safer (and quieter and slower) way to cut up steel plus one can use the mitre slide and fence etc.

The most dangerous thing I have done with angle grinders is set my shirt and my buffing wheel on fire. Just for luck I set the buffing wheel on fire twice! These days I have an all metal fume hood / welding cabinet to direct the sparks into.

9" angle grinder - well that's a different beast altogether. . . . .

**NewLou** · 17th July 2012, 08:21 PM

Keep thumping ya chests boys.................

If you feel fear in dangerous situations your normal....................all it does is heighten awareness and keep you on your toes!

I laugh when i hear blokes say they dont feel afraid blah blah blah dont turn your machine on if you do rar rar rar what a load of %^#$&*^$#^@$@$^)@#$^

Fear is healthy it alerts you to dangers and minimises risks n Injurys.........................Ive seen far more chest thumpers get injured or have near misses than dudes that are openly able to say hey this #### aint cool im feelin a bit edgy about it!..................

If you ever feel fear working in Industry or using your powertools/ handtools its telling you something......................Listen to it!.......................

Back in the day when we were hunters and gatherers when life was much more simpler all the gronks that got eaten 1st were the ones not listening to their fear!!!!!!!!!!!

.........................Look back to see who gets eaten 1st

Regards Lou

**John Saxton** · 17th July 2012, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by NewLou

Keep thumping ya chests boys.................

If you feel fear in dangerous situations your normal....................all it does is heighten awareness and keep you on your toes!

I laugh when i hear blokes say they dont feel afraid blah blah blah dont turn your machine on if you do rar rar rar what a load of %^#$&*^$#^@$@$^)@#$^

Fear is healthy it alerts you to dangers and minimises risks n Injurys.........................Ive seen far more chest thumpers get injured or have near misses than dudes that are openly able to say hey this #### aint cool im feelin a bit edgy about it!..................

If you ever feel fear working in Industry or using your powertools/ handtools its telling you something......................Listen to it!.......................

Back in the day when we were hunters and gatherers when life was much more simpler all the gronks that got eaten 1st were the ones not listening to their fear!!!!!!!!!!!

.........................Look back to see who gets eaten 1st

Regards Lou

Well said Lou

Cheers

**Strom** · 17th July 2012, 08:44 PM

No Tools scare Me...
Operators on the other hand....

**vk4** · 17th July 2012, 09:07 PM

Most tools don't scare me they, do have my respect , especially CHAIN SAWS, and angle grinders.

After nearly 20years in the ABRASIVES INDUSTRY, I have seen some massive injury scars caused by angle grinders.

And CHAIN SAWS are BLOODY DANGEROUS, and I never use 1 if I am alone at home, just in case.

If you respect your tools for what they can do , and especially for the injury that they could inflict , then you will be safe.

Jeff
vk4

**BobL** · 17th July 2012, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by vk4

And CHAIN SAWS are BLOODY DANGEROUS, and I never use 1 if I am alone at home, just in case.

That interesting because I prefer to use one alone. The reason being because I can fully concentrate on what I am doing and not have to worry about other people being around and getting into the danger zone.

**BobL** · 17th July 2012, 09:44 PM

It's interesting to see what you get when you put "Fear is healthy" into google.

The top hits show overwhelmingly that this is a viewpoint pushed by religious wackos and conservatives, wellness freaks and life coach sites.

Fear is a real part of life but it leads to as much bad as it does good. It leads to panic, poor decision making, racism, xenophobia and bigotry etc. These are just a few things we can do without.

Overall I'd say fear is neutral in it's benefit. What we do need is respect not fear. Respect leads to considered decision making, looking at things from other peoples point of view etc.

I reckon I'm far safer around a power tool user acting with respect rather than fear. If I see one operating in fear I will quietly move away before they do something stupid.

**NewLou** · 17th July 2012, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by BobL

It's interesting to see what you get when you put "Fear is healthy" into google.

The top hits show overwhelmingly that this is a viewpoint pushed by religious wackos and conservatives, wellness freaks and life coach sites.

Fear is a real part of life but it leads to as much bad as it does good. It leads to panic, poor decision making, racism, xenophobia and bigotry etc. These are just a few things we can do without.

Overall I'd say fear is neutral in it's benefit. What we do need is respect not fear. Respect leads to considered decision making, looking at things from other peoples point of view etc.

I reckon I'm far safer around a power tool user acting with respect rather than fear. If I see one operating in fear I will quietly move away before they do something stupid.

I totally disagree and thats misleading..................fear is nothing more than a n emotion like happiness sadness etc etc etc its what you do with emotion n how you manage it/ act on it/ express it/.......... is what matters............

LAughing Ive been here before and my emotions are telling me this is Drivel and its time for me to bail on this discussion LAughing have fun Fellas!

Ps: I knew i shouldnt have had that last beer at the Pub! LOL

Regards Lou

**BobL** · 17th July 2012, 10:21 PM

Let me put it another way. Would you rather be standing next to a marksman that was fearful (of the weapon he was using, the situation and the people around him) or that he was highly respectful?

Fear is totally normal but letting it reign supreme is what leads to violent societies. The difference between the the US and Switzerland (both countries with lots of guns) is that many people in the US live in fear while those in Switzerland live in relative peace.

**Sturdee** · 17th July 2012, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by NewLou

Ps: I knew i shouldnt have had that last beer at the Pub! LOL

That explains the drivel you posted.

Peter.

**chambezio** · 17th July 2012, 11:37 PM

My greatest fear with machines would have to be, no doubt..........

Concrete Mixer!!!!and 6 cubic meters of sand and gravel!!!!!!!!!

Or is it fear of how you will feel the day after you have mixed that lot and placed and finished it off. OOOHHH my aching........I can feel it now

**Kyle** · 18th July 2012, 12:22 AM

Stanley knife.

Damn things been responsible for most of my scars.

No tools really 'scare' me. Although I do go weak at the knees everytime I walk into a tool shop...

**silentC** · 18th July 2012, 10:06 AM

I laugh when i hear blokes say they dont feel afraid blah blah blah dont turn your machine on if you do rar rar rar what a load of %^#$&*^$#^@$@$^)@#$^

Good to see some things never change.

Nobody's telling you what to do, Lou, go for it mate trembling at the knees while you wave your angle grinder around. Just let us know when you switch it on though so that nobody else gets hurt.

**silentC** · 18th July 2012, 11:02 AM

Hey, there's a name for it:

Ergalilektriphobia: fear of power tools or using power tools. From the Greek roots "ergaleio," meaning instrument or tool, and "ilektrismos," which means electricity. A related fear is ErgalilektriTimAllenaPhobia which is the fear of watching Tim Allen use power tools.

**NewLou** · 18th July 2012, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by silentC

Good to see some things never change.

Nobody's telling you what to do, Lou, go for it mate trembling at the knees while you wave your angle grinder around. Just let us know when you switch it on though so that nobody else gets hurt.

13 000 posts n counting yeah your right some things really do never change!!!!!!!

LAughing go fold a cheesebox m8

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