Recommendation for cut resistant gloves for 4.5” angle grinder

[A&P mechanic]

I cut my hand using an angle grinder on Tuesday. I have 5 stitches and a metal splint currently. I had black mechanic gloves on with thick leather gloves overtop. The 4 1/2” cut off wheel on the electric grinder went right through the gloves and cut down to the bone on the top of my hand.

Who makes the best gloves that can withstand a cut off wheel from an electric grinder? I want to buy the safest gloves for an angle grinder cut off wheel. I do not care how much these cost because they will be free as work is buying them for all the employees. Thank you.

 

[5ktq]

Kevlar works for knives, probably wouldn't stand up long to a grinder though. Maybe something wrong with your process needs adjusting

 

[A&P mechanic]

I have heard grinders are the number one tool that people get hurt with. I have been looking at different Kevlar gloves online.

The guard was off the grinder. Obviously it is safer to have the metal guard installed. A lot of the work we do, the metal guard comes off so the grinder will fit in corners. I was grinding in a corner when the cut off wheel kicked back onto the top of my hand. I had a welding jacket on, steel toe boots, face shield, jeans, welding cap, mechanic and leather gloves on. All the employees wear the same PPE. I have had the grinder flapper wheels touch the leather gloves numerous times over the years and the gloves have always protected my hands. This week was the first time in my life I have ever had a cut off wheel come in contact with my gloves.

 

[scooby074]

Look for "assembly "gloves with Dyneema or kevlar fabric with a good cut resistant rating. We were given them at work for sharp metal / grinder work.

These were the type of gloves we were assigned. Check the Superior glove website for more cut resistant models and free samples(!) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00BHMSY8A/?tag=atomicindus04-20

Nothing short of chainmail will stop a grinder, but this material is cut resistant and short of a complete screwup can keep you from getting severely cut.

A bit of background info on cut ratings might help? This is from Superior Glove, they make very good gloves! https://www.superiorglove.com/en/work-gloves-101/guide-to-ansi-en388-cut-levels

Oh and get the guards back on for the love of god! If we were caught without guards, it would almost be a guarantee dismissal or at minimum sent home with a writeup.

 

[pstemari]

I don't know what would hold up to an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. That's maybe the 2nd scariest tool I can think of, #1 being the carving wheels that look like a chainsaw chain wrapped around the edge of the disk, with wire wheels/brushes running a close third.

Actually, chainsaws also belong in that group, not sure where.

Routers, jointers, table saws, none of those scare me as much as an angle grinder. Metal lathes can rip you apart, but the precautions to avoid that are pretty simple. Kickback from an angle grinder, though, that *will* happen. AFAIK there's really no way to prevent it with cutoff wheels and wire brushes.

Part of the problem is that angle grinders are a tool of last resort for situations that can't be tackled any other way. One of the long reach ones might be better in that situation of cutting in a tight spot, but I'm thinking that might just make it harder to control.

 

[PCustoms]

So the company awknowleges the guard was removed, and their fix is new gloves for everyone?

Great plan, how many other OSHA violations to they participate in?

The correct solution woukd be finding the correct tool and instituting policy and procedure to keep people safe. Not defeating safety guards and issuing gloves.

 

[A&P mechanic]

Hi Scooby thank you and I will be looking into that.

Pstmarie-The blade guard was removed and the handle was installed. If I learned one lesson from this, it is that I will be installing the blade guard anytime I am able to grind with the guard not getting in the way. This would be opposed to leaving the blade guard off permanently.

 

[Alexander]

My grinder experience was a few years ago. I was pretty new to grinders and didn't really appreciate them the way I do now.

I used the setup that was handed to me - no guard, grinding wheel, work to do. I instinctively put gloves on, but that (and a lack of experience) ended up being my problem. One glove got a little too close and caught into the wheel, digging it deep enough into my finger that I will always see the reminders on my hand and never forget.

I now choose not to wear gloves because that feels safest for me (most control), but I appreciate and understand anyone who chooses to wear them. I also now have a much better respect for the tool, and will carry that knowledge (luckily with both hands) moving forward.

Whatever PPE you choose, do so knowing that it's ultimately your body at risk. Nothing will stop a dangerous tool like a grinder if it's out of control.

 

[bczygan]

Hi Scooby thank you and I will be looking into that.

Pstmarie-The blade guard was removed and the handle was installed. If I learned one lesson from this, it is that I will be installing the blade guard anytime I am able to grind with the guard not getting in the way. This would be opposed to leaving the blade guard off permanently.

How about leaving it INSTALLED permanently, and refusing to do work that would require it's removal?


Bill

 

[RedF]

I have seen some horrific accidents with grinders using zip discs and wire wheels. They are to be respected!

Meat cutting gloves? I don't think there is a viable glove on the market that can protect you. Could you use a low profile grinder (like Metabo makes) with a guard for that kind of work?

Good body placement and awareness is critical. Its not IF a grinder will kick back, rather WHEN. Having a firm grip on the tool, a steady stance and orienting the tool so if it kicks it can be controlled will usually save your skin.

I have done more grinding than I care to admit without a gaurd, and am unscathed. That said, use the gaurds, or find another option! I've seen too many accidents to risk it.

 

[Wamsutta]

I have heard grinders are the number one tool that people get hurt with. I have been looking at different Kevlar gloves online.

Basically, if you keep one hand on the side handle and one hand on the trigger handle at all times, you're not supposed to get hurt, unless you have a third or fourth hand somewhere.

 

[IndyGarage]

Not the most dangerous tool in the shop - the tool that causes the most deaths?

The ladder.

I can say firsthand, an angle grinder is something to be respected. I've had several close calls with them.

 

[Wamsutta]

I can say firsthand, an angle grinder is something to be respected. I've had several close calls with them.

I've gone beyond the close call with one but I won't bore you with the ****** details. Let me just say this: Protecting your hands with cut resistant gloves alone is not enough. There are wires that go down your arms coming from your spinal cord that connect to your hands. If you cut one or more of the wires in your arm, your hand will be affected severely.

 

[American Locomotive]

There is absolutely no glove that will stand up to a cutting disc short of medieval chainmail gauntlets. Even those modern steel-mesh gloves to protect your hands from knives would be useless against a cutting disc. Kevlar, etc.. forget it. The cutting disc will just burn and plow right through it.

Good gloves can provide some protection against wide grinding discs and flap wheels - but not cutting discs.

Tell your company to buy you grinder(s) that allow you to swivel the guard into any position you want - they are out there. Once I got my Bosch grinder with the infinitely adjustable guard, it was never a problem or in the way. Metabo grinders also feature a guard you can lock into many different positions.

 

[sberry]

I grind anything that can be ground, gaurd on. When I was learning found myself in a corner, now rarely end up in a position difficult to do without a gard. Can't even remember the last time i had one off.

 

[jeepinerdeep]

The wheels are designed to cut steel, so short of some kind of space shuttle grade solution, it sounds like you need a longer tool to get your fleshy parts away from the death wheels.

Behold....

https://www.tooltopia.com/chicago-p...MItcCtpfz_3QIVw4CfCh1EIg2zEAQYBSABEgJ4y_D_BwE

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Modify the guard.

 

[speed bump]

I'm a little bit curious about the setup for this happening. Speculating based on how I often run a grinder I would guess it was the trigger hand choked up for control (I will admit I like using the guard as a resting spot and that is a bad habit) and it got caught by the wheel?

Without knowing the details I would say the solution is when you get into those situations is use a smaller grinder so you can retain the guard or a die grinder so you have more control.

 

[WittHay]

I have heard grinders are the number one tool that people get hurt with. I have been looking at different Kevlar gloves online.

The guard was off the grinder. Obviously it is safer to have the metal guard installed. A lot of the work we do, the metal guard" comes off so the grinder will fit in corners. I was grinding in a corner when the cut off wheel kicked back onto the top of my hand. I had a welding jacket on, steel toe boots, face shield, jeans, welding cap, mechanic and leather gloves on. All the employees wear the same PPE. I have had the grinder flapper wheels touch the leather gloves numerous times over the years and the gloves have always protected my hands. This week was the first time in my life I have ever had a cut off wheel come in contact with my gloves.

My advice instead of gloves is having a grinder with a quickly adjustable guard. I thought it was mandatory to leave guards in place.

My only bad experience with a grinder was totally my fault. Had no safety gear like you listed except for jeans, Was using a 9" grinder without a guard or side handle. Shut the thing off and looked away. In a split second the grinder dug a hole in one of my knuckles. No stitches and it healed fairly quickly

 

[dogdog]

condoms works...... heheeh do they allow them mechanics to use electric tools on air crafts now or still using air tools JK...

I don't think any gloves would work for not paying attention...or red necking the jobs... Just saying...I have a huge scar on my hand from that grinder... same as above, totally my fault...

 

[Locker537]

This thread is making me cringe!

Yes, my finger got caught in a wire wheel while removing rust from some car suspension components. Poor technique was the root cause.

I was focused on my work and without thinking twice I unclamped the part of the table to adjust positioning and grind on an inside corner. I was holding the part. It was immediately pulled towards the grinder and my finger went with it.

Fortunately, a lesson was learned at the cost of ~$500, a handful of stitches, not being able to use that finger for a week or two, and a scar.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Kevlar is good for cut resistance, but not good when heated with the friction of a grinder blade. I have worked with processing Kevlar fibers and blanket material, and the way I made holes in Kevlar blanket was by heating the end of a metal rod and poking it right through the material.

 

[2oolhound]

Sorry to hear of the mishap.

A few weeks ago I was cutting some alu pipe with a 7" zip. I didn't realize further up from my cut was a weld and there was a section of smaller diameter pipe inside the one I was cutting (which was just above head height). Most the way through the inner pipe caused the zip disc to bind and faster than you can blink it disintegrated, a 1/3 of the 7" disc hit me right in the face with enough force to give me a heck of a headache in the forehead. Thankfully I was wearing a face shield and safety glasses so most the impact was transferred to the headband area (causing the headache).

When I think of all the times I'll just be wearing safety glasses. I was lucky and reach for the face shield every time now.

 

[Wamsutta]

My advice instead of gloves is having a grinder with a quickly adjustable guard. I thought it was mandatory to leave guards in place.

My only bad experience with a grinder was totally my fault. Had no safety gear like you listed except for jeans, Was using a 9" grinder without a guard or side handle. Shut the thing off and looked away. In a split second the grinder dug a hole in one of my knuckles. No stitches and it healed fairly quickly

On a 7 or 9 inch grinder, the side handle is more important than the guard. You could've got hurt real bad. You lucked out big time.

 

[WWheeler]

We wear cut resistance gloves at work all day for everything EXCEPT and spinning tools, like a bench or angle grinder, drill press, etc. Then wearing any gloves or even long sleeves are not allowed. Not wearing gloves when you are supposed to or wearing gloves when you are not are terminable offenses.

 

[Firebrick43]

Look for "assembly "gloves with Dyneema or kevlar fabric with a good cut resistant rating. We were given them at work for sharp metal / grinder work.

These were the type of gloves we were assigned. Check the Superior glove website for more cut resistant models and free samples(!) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00BHMSY8A/?tag=atomicindus04-20

Nothing short of chainmail will stop a grinder, but this material is cut resistant and short of a complete screwup can keep you from getting severely cut.

A bit of background info on cut ratings might help? This is from Superior Glove, they make very good gloves! https://www.superiorglove.com/en/work-gloves-101/guide-to-ansi-en388-cut-levels

Oh and get the guards back on for the love of god! If we were caught without guards, it would almost be a guarantee dismissal or at minimum sent home with a writeup.

We have these gloves at work, both the dynema and the Kevlar. They do nothing at all for cut off wheels. I had the dynema ones on last year when I bumped a cut off wheel. While I didn't get stitches I probably should have gotten one or two. Very painful. They work great for sharp parts or even blades. (Not stabbing wounds however)

I have a long extender die grinder now and my new 4.5 grinder has a fully adjustable guard. If I need to get into a corner now to grind something down I use my dynabrade band grinder

 

[scooby074]

We have these gloves at work, both the dynema and the Kevlar. They do nothing at all for cut off wheels. I had the dynema ones on last year when I bumped a cut off wheel. While I didn't get stitches I probably should have gotten one or two. Very painful. They work great for sharp parts or even blades. (Not stabbing wounds however)

I have a long extender die grinder now and my new 4.5 grinder has a fully adjustable guard. If I need to get into a corner now to grind something down I use my dynabrade band grinder

Like I said, there is nothing short of chainmail that will stop a zip cut afaik. They're like a rabid beaver and your hands are sweet Poplar wood!. I know Ive been saved from turning a minor injury into something more serious by these gloves. They give you that 1/2 a second to react if possible. Far from a miracle worker, but also far better than nothing. Maybe 1/4" thick leather gloves would give more protection? but then again you have to balance safety with practicality. Safety has to be comfortable enough for guys to wear, thats where the assemblers gloves come in, they provide some safety and are comfortable, you just have to be aware of their limitations..

I think this whole thread boils down to the right tool for the job. If the job can't be done with a grinder with its guard installed, then it isnt the right tool.

Its funny that the OP's safety weenies recommended gloves but didnt address the root cause which was the missing guard / wrong tool. Gloves are great, but usually the SW's are much more thorough than that when something causes an injury, they live for that ****.

Like you said, a Dynabrade or some other type of low profile tool would be considerably safer to do the job.

 

[gmwelder86]

Modify the guard or when having to grind ina corner use a die grinder and a bur.

 

[A&P mechanic]

Thank you for the responses. I researched this today and found out the following. As many you have said, there are no gloves on the market to protect against cut off wheels on an electric angle grinder. There are gloves to protect your hands from the other type of angle grinder wheels such as flap wheels, polishing discs etc. but not cut off wheels as the cut off wheels will cut through any type of glove.

I found out there are type 1 wheel guards. I am going to figure out the dewalt grinder model number at work on Monday and see if any of the type 1 wheel guards will fit the 4.5” electric grinder. The wheel guards that came with the grinders are the open bottom type. This guard would not have fit anyway but I am still going to put it on the order list for future tasks.

Additionally, I did read about at the low profile long reach and flat head electric angle grinders. I do think these would perform better in a tighter area and I am going to recommend we get a metabo low profile grinder.

As far as gloves go. I found two superior glove models that seem like a good choice and I am going to call Superior Monday to ask their recommendation. The model numbers are STAGYPNVB and STAGCXPU. The stitches are on the top of my hand so I am leaning towards the glove with plastic on the top of your fingers and hand. I realize a cut off wheel will burn and cut right through these gloves but I feel they would be a better choice than leather. These looks like they may be better than the chainmail gloves as they are woven Kevlar and steel.

I am doing the research on my own time and the company will place the order for the gloves. This will benefit all the employees through having better quality cut resistant gloves. It would be nice if there were gloves that could withstand a cut off wheel but at this point in time, these types of gloves do not exist. Thank you for all the input.

 

[laser3kw]

I felt your pain recently
my grinder accident GJ thread
Hope you heal quickly. My boo-boo has the stitches out but I haven't regained full feeling yet.
sounds like a lot of us under estimate the carnage of the lowly 4.5" angle grinder.

 

[scooby074]

I found out there are type 1 wheel guards. I am going to figure out the dewalt grinder model number at work on Monday and see if any of the type 1 wheel guards will fit the 4.5” electric grinder. The wheel guards that came with the grinders are the open bottom type. This guard would not have fit anyway but I am still going to put it on the order list for future tasks.

Additionally, I did read about at the low profile long reach and flat head electric angle grinders. I do think these would perform better in a tighter area and I am going to recommend we get a metabo low profile grinder.

As far as gloves go. I found two superior glove models that seem like a good choice and I am going to call Superior Monday to ask their recommendation. The model numbers are STAGYPNVB and STAGCXPU. The stitches are on the top of my hand so I am leaning towards the glove with plastic on the top of your fingers and hand. I realize a cut off wheel will burn and cut right through these gloves but I feel they would be a better choice than leather. These looks like they may be better than the chainmail gloves as they are woven Kevlar and steel.

Regarding the Type 1 guard, my cordless Milwaulkee 18v cutoff/grinder 2780(not sure if thats the correct PN) came with one from the factory. Might be worth a look. Its a good grinder too.

The STAGCXPU look pretty beefy. Then again the plastic guards might provide more abrasive protection. A call to Superior will really help you make a decision, plus, free gloves! Good luck!

If you want a pair of very comfortable work gloves (not super close fitting like assemblers), check out the "Swedish" style Goatskin 378GAX https://www.superiorglove.com/en/endura-goatskin-driver-glove At least get them to send you a free pair. These are my favourite gloves ever. Cool on the hand and fit nice with good dexterity.

 

[RustyJunk]

Sportbike gloves with metal guards

https://www.highwayleather.com/16738-gladiator-metal-knuckle-motorcycle-gloves.html

 

[Firebrick43]

Your allowed to use electric tools on the aircraft you work on?? They were always forbidden where I was a mech

 

[Wamsutta]

You guys keep talking about hand protection, but the arms are vulnerable too. A leather cape sleeve would work good. Something the prevent a (2.50'' Deep x 5.50'' Wide) transection.

 

[A&P mechanic]

I may check out those goat skin gloves for home use. Those look comfortable.

The motorcycle gloves look heavy duty and I have never seen anything like that before. I am going to go with the superior glove brand once I talk to tech support to find out what they reccomend.

Yes you are allowed to use electric tools on aircraft. Different companies may have different rules. I will say this, I feel privileged to be on one of the most seasoned teams. All the guys I work with have years and years of experience. If an electric tool ever does damage an aircraft, I am sure the grinders will go away.

We wear welding jackets when we use grinders. I feel the welding jackets protect our arms well. I know it is possible to get cut through the jackets but I have not seen any coworkers get cut through the welding jackets.

 

[Firebrick43]

Yes you are allowed to use electric tools on aircraft. Different companies may have different rules. I will say this, I feel privileged to be on one of the most seasoned teams. All the guys I work with have years and years of experience. If an electric tool ever does damage an aircraft, I am sure the grinders will go away.

They were worried about setting off explosions from fumes being drawn through the brushes. We were only allowed air tools.

 

[toplessHO]

They were worried about setting off explosions from fumes being drawn through the brushes. We were only allowed air tools.

so theres no metal you would grind that would create sparks?

 

[toplessHO]

a little OT but was working where cut resistant gloves were required,drilling a 1/4 inch hole had the bit slip and catch the thumb of left hand.
Again kevlar worked and didnt tear but instead wound up so tightly on the thumb it acted like a tourniquet.
The glove immediately turned red, drill bit was wound up tight so I dropped the battery out with one hand and began to carefully unwind the glove from the drill bit.All I found was a very small hole in the glove,but the blood soaked glove was because all that pressure had to go somewhere so it came out under the thumbnail.Eventually I lost part of that thumbnail and had a new found respect for the torque that 18v battery drills have.
I still say that had I not been wearing the kevlar gloves that injury wouldnt have happened,but its a trade off for all the minor cuts that have been prevented.

 

[Firebrick43]

so theres no metal you would grind that would create sparks?

Actually we didnt use grinders either. Any significant trimming was with snips, minor fitting with files. Even then pretty rare. The tool we used the piss out of was an air drill for rivet holes. Since the holes are small and in aluminum an air drill with its high speed was superior anyway.

Alot of mechs wanted to use a cordless drill not only for small repairs on the line but remove the thousands of panel screws that major inspections required. But alas these were not allowed for the previously mentioned reason.

 

[Grosema]

I don't know what would hold up to an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. That's maybe the 2nd scariest tool I can think of, #1 being the carving wheels that look like a chainsaw chain wrapped around the edge of the disk, with wire wheels/brushes running a close third.

Actually, chainsaws also belong in that group, not sure where.

Routers, jointers, table saws, none of those scare me as much as an angle grinder. Metal lathes can rip you apart, but the precautions to avoid that are pretty simple. Kickback from an angle grinder, though, that *will* happen. AFAIK there's really no way to prevent it with cutoff wheels and wire brushes.

Part of the problem is that angle grinders are a tool of last resort for situations that can't be tackled any other way. One of the long reach ones might be better in that situation of cutting in a tight spot, but I'm thinking that might just make it harder to control.