Thread: Angle Grinder Fatality

Never mind the guard, putting an over-sized wheel on would almost guarantee over speed................then the guard would be a handy thing to have

Thanks Karl,
We all need a reminder from time to about how dangerous these handy little gadgets can be .

I knew a doctor that worked in the hospital emergency section for a good period of time.He told me that of the all tools that were involved in badly injuring people ,angle grinders seemed to be the worst.

Watch any number of Utube videos about metal working in some form and sure enough most angle grinders displayed of them sport no guards at all.

People misuse Ag's through poor knowledge of what an angle grinder is capable of and, mostly laziness.

• No guards
• Incorrect wheel for the application - like in side pressure on a cutting wheel used as a grinder disc.
• Not checking the speed rating of the disc against the RPM speed of the grinder.
• Using the angle grinder with one hand.
• Not using a the correct PPE with them

keep safe

Grahame

I use my grinders one handed regularly and in most situations I don't see it being overly risky... situations when the disc can grab and it will kick toward you are different.

I reckon the most overlooked safety gear with a grinder is a dust mask... especially with the thin cutoff discs.

.

Originally Posted by gallegos

I use my grinders one handed regularly and in most situations I don't see it being overly risky... situations when the disc can grab and it will kick toward you are different.

Do so at your own peril, and make sure you tell us when things go bad for you. because they will

A piece of gear that I use a lot, but have a great respect for.

Regards,

John.

Originally Posted by Wimmera Jack

Do so at your own peril, and make sure you tell us when things go bad for you. because they willA piece of gear that I use a lot, but have a great respect for.Regards,John.

A 4" grinder with a flapper wheel operated one handed isn't going to do a huge amount of damage... a 9" with a cutting wheel operated one handed - well, it's asking for trouble.I've started refusing to use the grinders at friends places that have had the gaurd removed - especially seeings as I habitually use the guard as a steady on my 4" when trying to be "precise"...FWIW my friend's "theory" on why guardless grinders are "safer" is that you can't trap your fingers between the wheel and the guard. I argue your fingers shouldn't be in a position where they can get there in the first place.

I noticed the image of the police tape shown in the story has the cross bar of the red symbol cutting through the top of the stick figures leg and also its wrist. Is this special tape for this sort of event?
bollie7

I don't understand the no guard thing! I see it all the time on youtube. Yep they can get in the way sometimes but I can't remember a time when I could not work around it.

I can't say I check the rpm on the disk and grinder anymore.... I just buy the standard 125mm accessories for the little ones and the standard 9" for the big grinder. Am I missing something? If I'm picking up something that looks exotic I will check it though...

Originally Posted by Ben Dono

I don't understand the no guard thing!

Same. The guards are off 2 of mine, one fitted with a wire brush so the guard is useless anyway, and the other has a rubber backed sanding disk on it - this one is also variable speed and I usually use it on the slowest setting. All of them with cutting or grinding disks have intact guards.

I can do myself enough injuries with the guards in place, I don't need to help things along.

PDW

Originally Posted by PDW

Same. The guards are off 2 of mine, one fitted with a wire brush so the guard is useless anyway, and the other has a rubber backed sanding disk on it - this one is also variable speed and I usually use it on the slowest setting. All of them with cutting or grinding disks have intact guards.
I can do myself enough injuries with the guards in place, I don't need to help things along.
PDW

Mine (all 125 mm) are similar, the one with the wire brush has no guard. The one for flap/rubber baked discs has front part of the guard cut away, otherwise I can't put the discs on. The grinders I use grinding/cutting wheels on have the full guard.

The other thing I do is replace the side handle with a large Eye-bolt. It still acts as a handle but means I can hang the grinders up more easily than through the supplied hang holes

Angle grinders
I own 5 of them,
1 x 9" Makita old model
2 x 5" Makita
1 x 4.4" Bosch
1x 4"" Hitachi


All my grinders run handles and guards and I have been using angle grinders since my apprentice days in the 70's. Every machine has been used with handles and guards and eye protection.

They were usually 9' and 7" monsters with mobs of power. I have a healthy respect for the torque of these units. It does not mean that I haven't had a few close shaves, I have .

I have had wheels shatter but never been injured due to correct PPE and correct procedures. The basics are simple keep the guard between you and the work wherever possible. If the wheel axis is in the horizontal (wheel vertical, the machine is held to one side of your torso,the guard between you and the work.Its the same on the flat For those who assume it ok to use the machine one handed, its just a matter of when you will be injured.Norton, a manufacturer of flap discs write this.
<Do use flap discs that are 4" and larger on guarded angle grinders/sanders.> If it was risk free the warning would not be given - read it it is here
http://www.nortonindustrial.com//upl...ton%281%29.pdf

I have all fingers and thumbs and credit this to following safe procedures.Please don't assume because individuals may have had a trouble free run to now, they will never have trouble.If using an incorrect procedure for a long period, the odds are against you.

work safe fellas

Grahame

There was a local engineering firm, typical country town, one man outfit, we know the family well. He had a 9" grinding disk shatter, put him in hospital, never really worked again, he tried, but his head was all over the place... He blamed it on low quality cheap disks. Vowed you should never use cheap disks, they cost too much.

I've had thin cut-off disks grab in the cut and shred a few pieces, then the thing vibrates like crazy, you stop and notice 1/4 of the wheel is missing, then you think, lucky I've got the full faceshield on...

I generally like to set up a grinder with specific wheel, like flap disk, cut-off wheel, grinding wheel, polishing wheel... etc..

Current roll call...
1x Bosch 9"
2x Makita 100mm
2x Metabo 100mm
4x Metabo 125mm

Oh, plus one Bosch 5" with rubber backed sanding disk.

The Metabo variable speed 125mm grinders are excellent, smooth, variable speed, easy to handle.

Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

I generally like to set up a grinder with specific wheel, like flap disk, cut-off wheel, grinding wheel, polishing wheel... etc..


Ray

That's how mine are used Ray.
I am hunting for another decent A/G to fit a 1" belt sander rig to.I did not know that they are now made with variable speed.I t sounds worth looking into.

Grahame

At a recent construction site induction, we were shown a photo from an incident that occurred on one of their sites recently. It was a face shield with a chunk of a cut off wheel embedded in it, and protruding a little out the back side. Not sure what size disc or grinder was used, but apparently the operator was just fine, apart from the fact he starts shaking any time he gets near a grinder. A good reminder to be cautious, suffice to say if he had just safety glasses on, no face shield, he'd be feeling more than a little ill.