Thread: Are angle grinders safer for left handers?

I think I started a thread describing a storm in my own teacup!!

I guess I have seen other tradies in the past and always thought it was odd looking to see a 9 held on the righ side of the body but it didn't click that i did it a different way until yesterday after reading about blokes setting their armpits and shirts alight.

For anyone still mistifyed by my poor description, take at look at Bob's post. The stance and grip is a mirror image of the Sthil guy. I can't say that stance has caused me any increase in fatigue. I do have the grinder or chainsaw much closer to me body than in the picture but I have been doing it this way for years. If I am doing ground work, I can still drop on one knee and still maintain clearance on the left or right.

On the other hand, it's been years since I have spent full days chasing slabs or tying reo. I can understand why guys adopt the wide stance with the grinder between the legs.. I'm glad I'm younger trades are around to do that chore now.

It seem all you right handed blokes figured this out long before me!

Dingo Dog, I gave your Bro's method a red hot go today but I could not make heads or tails of it! If you get around to it take a few pics. Another safe method it always good to put in the memory bank!

and dont forget a lot injuries such as these from grinders and other cutting tools is over zealous users forcing the tool...ie the user is not letting the tool do the work...

forcing the tool to do the work is very common for the unskilled when using a blunt/dull cutting edges on the tool..I know this does not or may not apply to grinding blades but excessive force can be

Originally Posted by Ben Dono

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For anyone still mistifyed by my poor description, take at look at Bob's post. The stance and grip is a mirror image of the Sthil guy. I can't say that stance has caused me any increase in fatigue. I do have the grinder or chainsaw much closer to me body than in the picture but I have been doing it this way for years. If I am doing ground work, I can still drop on one knee and still maintain clearance on the left or right.

Ben, I wasn't referring to fatigue when using an angle grinder, I was referring to it while using a big chainsaw. I have seen newbies operating bigger chainsaws with longer bars like that and most people don't have the core strength to use them like that for long. Some Chainsaws are heavier and also have centre of gravity further away from the operator compared to angle grinders so they take more effort to just pick up let alone cut with. Even when using a mid size chainsaw for a long tome eventually the user gets tired and ends up bending over the saw and that is more dangerous than using them more from behind with straighter arms.
I do agree with the holding the closer to the body in both ways of cutting.

Originally Posted by Clubman7

The nine inch grinders I've seen normally allow the side handle to be located on either side of the body of the grinder to allow for right and left handed use of the tool.
Otherwise safety is a concern for anyone using one who is not used to the inertia of the operating grinder or the chance of it grabbing and blowing a disc.
Not a great tool for the weekend warrior.

One of the kindest things to happen is the soft start.The earlier ones with plenty of grunt had to keep your wits about you and a tight grip .
Micro surgeons mini lotto they are been told the go broke if they ever ban a grinders.

Been to many a fire that has been started with lack of thought to spark travel Thoughtless users have caused a lot of grief damage and misery.
Guess why some us are vol fire fighters. Down our tools to fight fires started by mis use on the day of tools used mindlessly.
Cfa in vic here stopped usage of chain saws by un qual people crewing trucks here. most used to be farmers and well versed in their use safety etc. guess its for the protection again for a dick head to be protected from himself.

Originally Posted by Ben Dono

Bob I see your point on that. Its difficult to call it a left or right handed tool or grip.

From what I have seen in the past on site, most trades have the grinder over their body centre line or to the right. I'm guessing this is probably because it's easier to line the disk up with the cut. Part of your body ends up inline with the disk. I do this at times with the little 125mm grinder and it's probably a bad habit.
With the 9, I have always had the grinder to my left well clear of the path of potential kick backs, broken disks and sparks.
In one of the previous safety threads, I read a few posts about guys setting their armpits alight. I can't say any part of me is inline with the shower of sparks using a grinder this way.

Oldneweng, I probably did not explain it clearly enough. It's the same principle as a chainsaw. The correct and safest method of using a chainsaw is with it on the right side of your body. If it kicks back, it will pass up and to the right side away from harm( if your lucky)
I find with the grinder, the disk is set to the left and more of your body is inline with the fall out when held in this manner. When I cut with the grinder from the left side, no part of me is in the path of any fallout.

I'm really thankful there are guys out there that are willing to talk about things such as this.
Thanks Dingo Dog, I'm going to give that ago tomorrow and I will let you know how it works out. I might end up owing your Bro a Beer for that!

Actually it would be my fault for a poor explanation. This was in no way a criticism of your comments. I simply meant that I could not visualise it sitting in front of the computer and did not intend to go out in the cold to check it.

Dean

Originally Posted by BobL

With chainsaws it really depends on who is cutting, and what and how much is being cut.


The above picture is straight out of the Stihl CS manual and is as you describe, and is considered best practice especially for newbies cutting small logs and branches.
I think the image is perhaps a bit exaggerated to make the point.

One problem with this stance is it is more fatiguing and a tired operator is at greater risk of other problems while using a chainsaw.
A pro logger will usually stand much more directly behind and closer to the power head with the left arm locked straight or near straight which gives more control over the saw.
This stance is also less fatiguing and if kickback does occur the near locked left arm significantly reduces the extent to which the saw goes back and instead sends the bar tip over the operators head.
However one thing you won't see is the pro logger put the rear handle between his/her legs because if the saw does kick more back than up, then YOWIE!!!!!
The rear handle may even touch the operators right thigh but it will be definitely on the outside of the leg.

Sounds spot on to me. Exactly what I do. It is good to see I am doing something right.

Dean

Originally Posted by BRADFORD

I've been a user of all types of power tools most of my life and I'm also left handed, and the main issue I have with most tools, mainly drills, but also many others, is the lock on button for the switch, which is usually on the left side of the handle.
This means that when the tool is used left handed it is very easy to accidently lock the switch on, and when you take your finger off the trigger the tool continues to run. It means they can be quite dangerous for left handers, and have almost got me into trouble on many occasions, I imagine most left handers can relate to this.

Left handers? Crikey! I keep doing that and I'm right handed! Mostly with my drills but it gets annoying.

Dean

Originally Posted by j.ashburn

Been to many a fire that has been started with lack of thought to spark travel Thoughtless users have caused a lot of grief damage and misery.
Guess why some us are vol fire fighters. Down our tools to fight fires started by mis use on the day of tools used mindlessly.
Cfa in vic here stopped usage of chain saws by un qual people crewing trucks here. most used to be farmers and well versed in their use safety etc. guess its for the protection again for a dick head to be protected from himself.

Went out to one myself. Luckily the fire was out by the time we got there but did patrol. Farmer fixing stock yards out in middle of the paddocks on a stinking hot day and no fire protection equipment on hand. I cannot believe these people.

I disagree about soft start tho. I will never buy one again. I makes a one hour job into a frustrating two hour job which is not good for safety. Luckily that grinder was bought for heavy grinding of a continuous nature. It is probably over 18 months or more since it has been used.

Dean