Angle grinder - wow

[ourkid2000]

So I'm just getting started using my new angle grinder. I've never used em until I bought one a few days ago.

Anyways, these things are quite dangerous! Using it I can see how you could easily get bitten bad by it. The other nasty thing about mine is that when you push the switch forward, it clicks in and it won't stop until you click the switch back, no dead man switch. If the thing got loose it would just keep running around doing untold destruction until it either sliced its own power cord or got jammed on something.

I have to admit, I was quite scared of it.......I was extremely cautious using it but it still seems like an accident waiting to happen.

 

[danski0224]

Don't look for those woodcarving blades with the chainsaw cutters...

 

[sammerdog]

You're being smart to respect your grinder.

Wear eye protection! Better yet, eye protection AND a face shield. Sparks will fly.

Grip the thing firmly, like you mean business and never never never run the wheel in a position where you'd get hit if the disc comes apart.

But dangnabitall - once you use one for slicing metal conduit, etc - you'll wonder why you didn't buy one sooner.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I also think it is good that you respect your new tool.

We had a pretty good thread on angle grinder safety about a month ago. The main points were to keep the shield on, wear a face shield, and never put your face/body in the plane of rotation incase the wheel blows apart.

Chris

 

[Mickey O]

After awhile you'll be able to use it one handed while drinking a beverage and smoking a cigar.

 

[nolatoolguy]

Yes, angle grindrrs can be very dangerous. Anything can be dangerous even paperclips. Powertools expecially require catuion. Its common for grinders to have a lock on lock off type switch. Be carefull and the number one thing i can stress is that wait till the disc stops spinning to set it down and always set it down with the blade facing up and motor on its back

 

[superautobacs]

I might add:
Wear some heavy, leather gloves, too.
Depending on what you're grinding, be aware of what you might be inhaling.

Yes, angle grindrrs can be very dangerous. Anything can be dangerous even paperclips. Powertools expecially require catuion. Its common for grinders to have a lock on lock off type switch. Be carefull and the number one thing i can stress is that wait till the disc stops spinning to set it down and always set it down with the blade facing up and motor on its back

I never set the grinder down until it's stopped spinning--other than that, is there a reason behind this?

 

[rodm1]

I like to use a old welding hood with a clear glass lens sandwiched with two plastic lenses. I used to hat grinding because of the abrasive and grinding dust hitting you in your face still do but this makes it lots better.

 

[iamhomeless]

Respect the tool, but don't be afraid of it. It is an inanimate object that requires your manipulation for it to function. Grip it and take control. Confidence is required so that you can be sure of your actions and how the tool and material to be cut will react. If you are scared of the grinder you will cut something that you do not want cut.

And use your ppe, I have a set of safety glasses that have steel embedded in the lenses from grinding. Eye pro and gloves are the minimum, a shield an ear plugs are better.

 

[jeepnut24]

No loose clothing either... I ripped a big hole in a good work shirt once....

 

[MikeinLA]

I need to buy an angle grinder to cut a stainless steel sink out of a boat (there's no other way to get it out). Thanks for the tips.

Mike

 

[crewchief888]

After awhile you'll be able to use it one handed while drinking a beverage and smoking a cigar.

 

[nate379]

Or one in each hand... Time is money right? Like my Dad says... you got 2 hands... better be using them both!

After awhile you'll be able to use it one handed while drinking a beverage and smoking a cigar.

 

[arkangel06]

After awhile you'll be able to use it one handed while drinking a beverage and smoking a cigar.

True enough.....

 

[chevyboy91188]

wire wheels on angle grinders are a no no I have two nice scars where it caught an edge on my frame and spun out of my hands. brushed away a nice piece of flesh both times first time was the back of my hand so I started wearing gloves, second time was my forearm so now I wear a damn full body suit practically lol

 

[brokenknee]

Yep, you can still see a scar on my left hand, from what was then a new angle grinder twenty five years ago. I got careless setting it down when I was done with it.)

 

[A29]

Got one I use for cutting metal one for grinding and one with a wire wheel .Can't get along wothout em. Be careful.

 

[caper]

You think that's dangerous you should try a real one with a 7 or 9" disc.Use one of those suckers for awhile and you really get a good upper body workout.

 

[alex71]

After awhile you'll be able to use it one handed while drinking a beverage and smoking a cigar.

are you talking about a 7 or 9" grinder here? I'm guessing 9.

 

[rsanter]

the danger of a mini grinder is proportional to the operators carelessness, ignorance or stupidity

and I do not like the type with the locking switch, I prefer the paddle type that you have to hold

whatever you do, do not hold something in one hand and grind, sand, or wire wheel with the other
a friend learned that the hard way

bob

 

[Pathfinder]

I use the chain saw tooth cutter on mine for fitting log joints. Absolutely the best tool for the job. Imagine my surprise when I plugged in my grinder one day and the thing went skating across my deck on the chain saw blade until it unplugged itself. You guessed it. A Harbor Freight grinder with a switch that failed in the on position. That was a close one.

John Minton

 

[OccupantRJ]

I need to buy an angle grinder to cut a stainless steel sink out of a boat (there's no other way to get it out). Thanks for the tips.



Mike

You might want to investigate bilge vapors........

 

[ourkid2000]

You think that's dangerous you should try a real one with a 7 or 9" disc.Use one of those suckers for awhile and you really get a good upper body workout.

I can't even imagine. Even my little one feels like it has got some serious torque from that spinning disc.

 

[cdent]

Be careful of the sparks, they can start a fire very easily. I'd wear dust, eye and hearing protection and stay out of the line of fire like others have mentioned.

 

[nolatoolguy]

I might add:
Wear some heavy, leather gloves, too.
Depending on what you're grinding, be aware of what you might be inhaling.




I never set the grinder down until it's stopped spinning--other than that, is there a reason behind this?

Imigane a switch on switch off swith your grinder is unplugged you go to plug it in you forgot you had it in on position all the sudden it starts spinning by time you unplug it its already started a little

does it make sense not sure i explaned it clearly

 

[1320stang]

Yeah, a lot of guys don't like the paddle switches, but I prefer them. I need to get a new switch for my old paddle Dewalt, my new Dewalt has the on/off that I don't care as much for. Plus the old one had the rubber pad for sanding disks, the new one I had to buy a Norton back and modify it to work.

 

[nate379]

What's the story with that? I do what your described all the time!

whatever you do, do not hold something in one hand and grind, sand, or wire wheel with the other
a friend learned that the hard way

bob

Been using grinders for about 15 years and no injuries. I don't run guards on them either, get in the way too much.

 

[rsanter]

What's the story with that? I do what your described all the time!



Been using grinders for about 15 years and no injuries. I don't run guards on them either, get in the way too much.

a friend was over doing some work in my garage
he was using a knotted wire wheel to clean up a bracket for me to weld
holding the bracket with one hand and the grinder with the other.
the wheel grabbed and jumped causing it to 'wheel' up his arm.
he was left with a nice stripe of 'road rash' across his hand and up his arm.
the wheel was full of grease, dirt, and rust so the wound was nice and dirty and the painfull to clean up

I never run a guard, but being carefull I have naver had more than the minor instance

bob

 

[jeepnut24]

wire wheels on angle grinders are a no no I have two nice scars where it caught an edge on my frame and spun out of my hands. brushed away a nice piece of flesh both times first time was the back of my hand so I started wearing gloves, second time was my forearm so now I wear a damn full body suit practically lol

Yeah, my wire brush incident hit the end of my glove and the start of my shirt. Tore the shirt out and I have a nice scar as a result. Now its a heavier shirt when I run a wire brush.

 

[jeepnut24]

I need to buy an angle grinder to cut a stainless steel sink out of a boat (there's no other way to get it out). Thanks for the tips.

Mike

A sawzall with a proper blade might be better... and safer...

 

[e-tek]

You're being smart to respect your grinder.

Wear eye protection! Better yet, eye protection AND a face shield. Sparks will fly.

Grip the thing firmly, like you mean business and never never never run the wheel in a position where you'd get hit if the disc comes apart.

But dangnabitall - once you use one for slicing metal conduit, etc - you'll wonder why you didn't buy one sooner.

I might add:
Wear some heavy, leather gloves, too.
Depending on what you're grinding, be aware of what you might be inhaling.

I never set the grinder down until it's stopped spinning--other than that, is there a reason behind this?

I like to use a old welding hood with a clear glass lens sandwiched with two plastic lenses. I used to hat grinding because of the abrasive and grinding dust hitting you in your face still do but this makes it lots better.

That's the thing about this site. Lots of guys with REAL experience - I can tell because these are all things that WILL happend with your angle grinder!!!
I ALWAYS use a FULL face mask (after discs have come apart!), Welding gloves (after several deep cuts and harsh scrapes!) and - I make sure to GRIP IT TIGHT! If the thing catches an edge, you're either gripping it tight enough to overcome it's torque - or loosing your left nut - followed by the right!!!!

I don't run a guard or 2nd handle either. It's ALL or NUTHIN!

 

[speed bump]

I need to buy an angle grinder to cut a stainless steel sink out of a boat (there's no other way to get it out). Thanks for the tips.

Mike

Have fun with that, chances are darn good that all you'll do it piss your self off and ruin the stainless. Stainless is a job where a plasma cutter is the best thing to have

wire wheels on angle grinders are a no no I have two nice scars where it caught an edge on my frame and spun out of my hands. brushed away a nice piece of flesh both times first time was the back of my hand so I started wearing gloves, second time was my forearm so now I wear a damn full body suit practically lol

I've always had good luck with wire wheels, only thing I have had a problem with is a cutting wheel that got broke but I use a guard so it was a pretty boring experience.

 

[quneur]

a friend was over doing some work in my garage
he was using a knotted wire wheel to clean up a bracket for me to weld
holding the bracket with one hand and the grinder with the other.
the wheel grabbed and jumped causing it to 'wheel' up his arm.
he was left with a nice stripe of 'road rash' across his hand and up his arm.
the wheel was full of grease, dirt, and rust so the wound was nice and dirty and the painfull to clean up

I never run a guard, but being carefull I have naver had more than the minor instance

bob

Why not use a bench grinder for that one?

 

[rhastings80]

I recently put in a new toilet in my Mom's house. The bolts that came out of the floor where too long once I had the toilet in place for the decorative caps. There wasn't much room between the wall and the toilet and I was trying to use a hack saw to cut the bolts and it was taking forever. I decided to use my small angler grinder which did work. However I guess I wasn't really thinking and all of those sparks and flying metal took off a good amount of the porcelain finish near the bottom of the toilet. Luckily you can't really see it on the toilet unless you get down on the ground. Just saying unless you are gutting your boat all of that flying **** will make a mess and damage other stuff in your boat.

I need to buy an angle grinder to cut a stainless steel sink out of a boat (there's no other way to get it out). Thanks for the tips.

Mike

 

[35mastr]

Hd actually has the Dewalts on sale now. 2 for 99.00.

 

[rsanter]

Why not use a bench grinder for that one?

dont have one (with a wire wheel anyway)
I always grab it with the vise and then hit it with the wire wheel on the grinder

bob

 

[Stick Figure]

i have a couple of scars from angle grinders. I now use a Makita with the paddle switch to make sure it shuts off if it rips out of your hands. The other advice is DO NOT use cheap cut off wheels in it. I don't care if you bought the tool at Harbor Freight or found an even cheaper one, do not go back for cut offs, wire wheels etc. I can say i would have a few less scars had i never tried to be cheap w/ cut off wheels.

 

[35mastr]

Cheap wheels will blow up on you. Use good quality wheels.

 

[sirsloop]

nothin like the smell of angle grinder on steel in the morning

 

[FlameOut]

Also be sure to protect any glass, or anything else that may get damaged from the sparks. You don't want to find out the hard way that you may need to replace a 40 year old piece of glass on your car, or whatever.