Thread: Angle Grinder Lesson Learnt (warning gory picture)

Ouch.
That's gunna leave a mark.

Best of luck with your healing.
Yowza!

That reminds me to put the guard back on my cordless grinder!

As awful as that it to look at, hopefully it'll make us all a bit more aware of the possible consequences of becoming blasé with power tools. At least for today anyway.

Ive earned (still earning) a living using all types of power tools for many years on site and in all settings and situations. Up ladders etc. Sometimes I have to take a step back and re evaluate how I use them. We become lax, over confident or just stupid with experience unfortunately. That is when this sort of thing happens.

For those of us who's livelihood depends on using power tools, a blunt reminder that our hands (body??) are our most important tools and can't earn a living without them.

There is also this misconception that cordless are less dangerous than plug in tools. I know I'm guilty of it. A cordless power saw can still change your life. Some of the cordless stuff out there now is even more powerful and deadly.

As sorry as I am for your incident, Im thankful you posted it to remind us we are not invincible.

Cheers oz

ouch

That's a great reminder about not removing the handle, even so you were indeed very lucky, so thanks for posting

When I decided to get into some power carving I looked at those carving blades and it took me about 3 seconds to determine that a standard angle grinder guard would simply not provide enough protection, even if used with both hands.

Take a look at the sort of guard that comes with the Arbortech industrial blade carver.
https://www.arbortechtools.com/au/in...al-woodcarver/
The amount of exposed blade is more restricted and the way it covers almost the whole blade means the chip ejection is better controlled.

Unfortunately that guard definitely limits access but if more/better access is required then the appropriate tool should be used like their mini-grinder
https://www.arbortechtools.com/au/mini-grinder/
Although I never take the side handle/guard off while using these carving tools, the smaller wheeled minigrinder can be used with far less risk one handed as it has much less kick back.
The important thing is to make sure your other hand/arm is always well out of the way and NOT used to hold the work, and that's one important reason why the handle should be used.
The only time I use the mini grinder one handed is when sanding.

Yes, the Arbortech gear costs a lot more than those other blades, but right now I'd say the cost is insignificant compared to what you have (or could have) experienced,.

They same issue exists with chainsaws with left hand / arm being the most likely to suffer injury and its almost always a result of someone hold the chainsaw one handed.

Originally Posted by BobL

That's a great reminder about not removing the handle, even so you were indeed very lucky, so thanks for posting

When I decided to get into some power carving I looked at those carving blades and it took me about 3 seconds to determine that a standard angle grinder guard would simply not provide enough protection, even if used with both hands.

Take a look at the sort of guard that comes with the Arbortech industrial blade carver.
https://www.arbortechtools.com/au/in...al-woodcarver/
The amount of exposed blade is more restricted and the way it covers almost the whole blade means the chip ejection is better controlled.

Unfortunately that guard definitely limits access but if more/better access is required then the appropriate tool should be used like their mini-grinder
https://www.arbortechtools.com/au/mini-grinder/
Although I never take the side handle/guard off while using these carving tools, the smaller wheeled minigrinder can be used with far less risk one handed as it has much less kick back.
The important thing is to make sure your other hand/arm is always well out of the way and NOT used to hold the work, and that's one important reason why the handle should be used.
The only time I use the mini grinder one handed is when sanding.

Yes, the Arbortech gear costs a lot more than those other blades, but right now I'd say the cost is insignificant compared to what you have (or could have) experienced,.

They same issue exists with chainsaws with left hand / arm being the most likely to suffer injury and its almost always a result of someone hold the chainsaw one handed.

My next purchase was probably going to be a rotary tool - then you posted this.

Cheers mate it looks great! And in hindsight I completely agree re: standard grinder guards. With the amount of power running into what is in relative terms a big blade, it's just too dangerous. People can call me blade shy but I don't plan on picking up the grinder for wood carving ever again.

Putty.

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Originally Posted by ozka

As awful as that it to look at, hopefully it'll make us all a bit more aware of the possible consequences of becoming blasé with power tools. At least for today anyway.

Ive earned (still earning) a living using all types of power tools for many years on site and in all settings and situations. Up ladders etc. Sometimes I have to take a step back and re evaluate how I use them. We become lax, over confident or just stupid with experience unfortunately. That is when this sort of thing happens.

For those of us who's livelihood depends on using power tools, a blunt reminder that our hands (body??) are our most important tools and can't earn a living without them.

There is also this misconception that cordless are less dangerous than plug in tools. I know I'm guilty of it. A cordless power saw can still change your life. Some of the cordless stuff out there now is even more powerful and deadly.

As sorry as I am for your incident, Im thankful you posted it to remind us we are not invincible.

Cheers oz

Mate it's not a pretty sight, but yeah if it makes one person reavulate the way they handle their tools it's worth it. Can you I imagine if I'd hit an artery, or if my neighbour wasn't around to run me to the ER? I know I am never going to forget this. So grateful I got off light.

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Originally Posted by doug3030

ouch

Don't get me wrong, I'm not rushing out to do it again, but I think the shock stopped me feeling too much pain - just felt like I'd burned myself really bad. The worst pain was immediately post-surgery! Three days later and I'm lucky enough to be surviving on paracetamol and ibuprofen twice a day.

Putty

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Glad to see you got away with it Putty.

Ross

I was reading the replies to this thread and had a look at that carving blade you were using on the web. Then I read Bob L's reply about the Arbortech carver and totally agree with him. I have carved hundreds of Australian hardwood burl bowls using their Industrial woodcarver which worked wonderfully. For all of the carving I just used the standard angle grinder guard. Never did I experience any dig ins. I know Arbortech make that special guard but I personally found it too limiting. However, I had to make a leather guard for my arm to prevent the chips from stinging it.

Hope you are recovering well and don't be too hard on yourself as we have all made mistakes along the way.

Originally Posted by Kidbee

I was reading the replies to this thread and had a look at that carving blade you were using on the web. Then I read Bob L's reply about the Arbortech carver and totally agree with him. I have carved hundreds of Australian hardwood burl bowls using their Industrial woodcarver which worked wonderfully. For all of the carving I just used the standard angle grinder guard. Never did I experience any dig ins. I know Arbortech make that special guard but I personally found it too limiting. However, I had to make a leather guard for my arm to prevent the chips from stinging it.

Hope you are recovering well and don't be too hard on yourself as we have all made mistakes along the way.

Cheers mate

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Putty, those things are gruesome.

They look like they are ready made for a horror story. I see these for sale on Amazon and I could only imagine the utter horror they must inflict: Lancelot and Squire Chainsaw Discs

Isnt it curious that angle grinders dont have instant cutoff or dead-man switches?

Originally Posted by Putty

My next purchase was probably going to be a rotary tool - then you posted this.

Cheers mate it looks great! And in hindsight I completely agree re: standard grinder guards. With the amount of power running into what is in relative terms a big blade, it's just too dangerous. People can call me blade shy but I don't plan on picking up the grinder for wood carving ever again.

Putty.

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Mate, get a good Arbortech blade and get right back into it. When I was learning to ride horses as a boy I did so under the instructions of my late grandfather. If I had a buster he would lift me straight back into the saddle no matter how dusty I felt.

All the best with your recovery

Regards

Keith

Originally Posted by Keith_1

All the best with your recovery

Regards

Keith

Cheers Keith

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