Thread: Some thing to watch out for - angle grinder incident

full safety PPE (full face shield, muffs, steel caps and leather welding apron) Gloves?

Gloves in this instance would definitely have helped, although there's mixed feelings about using gloves around rotating machinery.

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I do use thin leather gloves which still provide a good feel and are less likely to get caught when I use the arbortech and the chips will eventually abrade a hole in skin.

My rule of thumb (as in 'keeping my thumb and other bits safe') for gloves is only on hand held machinery, where (hopefully) both hands are well out of the way of any rotating bits, and never on stationary machinery, as you have no hope of winning an argument with a 1hp induction motor!

It's good to hear that those thin kerf wheels are nice and robust, though

Originally Posted by Master Splinter

My rule of thumb (as in 'keeping my thumb and other bits safe') for gloves is only on hand held machinery, where (hopefully) both hands are well out of the way of any rotating bits, and never on stationary machinery, as you have no hope of winning an argument with a 1hp induction motor!

That is usual my take as well although I don't think there would be many gloves around that would really win an argument with a thin kerf cutting wheel on a 700W angle grinder.
The other situation where I wear thin leather gloves with an angle grinder is when using a wire wheel, when those wires come off they are like high speed needles
The main problem I have found with using thicker gloves (like welding gloves) on an angle grinder is that it can be difficult o turn the switch on and off.

It's good to hear that those thin kerf wheels are nice and robust, though

I've used many hundreds of these and broken several dozen. Most of the ones I have broken have done so at the hub, Interestingly they don't fly all over the place and when bits break off they don't go far. This is because of the large surface area to weight ratio.

Angle grinders are like cars, both a blessing and a curse.

I was changing the wheel on one of my 100mm grinders a few year back de to
much the same situation you describe Bob. Must have had a brain snap as I did
not unplug the tool and accidently hit the start switch instead of the lock button.

very lucky not to lose a thumb!

I don't wear gloves on stationary machinery although there are a couple of exceptions, however I always use gloves such as riggers gloves with angle grinders and have save my hands a many occaisions

Angle grinders terrify me, which is strange sine I have used machinery of various types for about 50 years both professionally and non-professionally. I think it goes back to when I used to sell them for a day job and I heard horrific stories, more than any other type of hand tool. I met one guy who was permanently crippled when he lost control of a 9" angle grinder and it sliced the tendons in both legs. It gives me the willies even now just thinking about it.

John

I don't wear gloves with any pieces of equipment that spin, a clean cut is easier to fix than something that has been torn off.

Yes, that's a funny thing about angle grinders, isn't it? I know a couple of blokes who put an angle grinder through their knee, leaving them with a limp.
I'm more worried about kickback with mine than I worry about kickback with my chainsaws (which still is a whole lot).

-P.

Don't be fooled. Those little thin blades can blow to pieces. Very handy for fine light work but bloody dangerous when put to the limit. I had the "pleasure" of seeing one chap staggering around with a piece sticking out of his forehead like a ninja star knife. He was most displeased.
Now when it comes to large angle grinders, you get into a whole new level of catastrophe. Many years ago, while working on a skillion kliplock roof, the boss managed to run the grinder across his foot, just behind the steel cap in his boot. Upon removing the boot to check the damage, he found that a large proportion of his foot remained inside the boot. He promptly passed out and fell of the roof...three stories down. It made it much easier for the ambulance to pick him up.