GRINDER SAFETY 101 (graphic injury video so be warned)

pozidriv · Jan 19, 2015

Thanks for posting this. Gross, but it does make you think twice about all the stupid things you do/did in your life!

This came up as a youtube suggestion

"If you hear the explosion, the danger has passed. For the cause and the means went up in the blast."

crerus75 · Jan 19, 2015

My dad saw a surface grinder wheel come apart. One of his coworkers, a shall we say ham-fisted gentleman nicknamed "The Bull," decided to use a surface grinder to take something like 1/4" off of some chunk of steel in a single pass. The three-phase motor didn't slow down much as the wheel bit in, and the wheel exploded like a grenade, injuring no one by sheer luck. I don't remember too many details but I'm sure that one was expensive.

I was taking a machining class when someone decided to grind the end of a drift punch by standing it up between two steel blocks on the magnetic chuck. The wheel bit in and flipped the punch out of the way so quickly that we thought the wheel had exploded. I was nowhere near it and only heard the BANG as the punch was launched. Again, nobody hurt. The culprit in this case was a young lady who was, aside from this incident, a decent machinist. She just had a SEVERE moment of brain fade and it almost bit her.

I've never been hurt by a grinder, and I plan to never BE hurt by a grinder by doing whatever I can to keep myself safe. I respect the hell out of stuff that spins at high RPM.

sc105b · Jan 19, 2015

Thanks to the OP for this thread!

I didn't even look at the video but can just imagine.

I just ordered a Uvex 8510... :thumbup:

RedneckWelder · Jan 19, 2015

sc105b said:
Thanks to the OP for this thread!

I didn't even look at the video but can just imagine.

I just ordered a Uvex 8510...

You'll be happy with the Uvex shields. I've got mine in both clear and IR shade 5.0 for torch/plasma use.

tedsters · Jan 19, 2015

thats a really good video i should watch it more often, about the only thing i am not guilty of is the gloves i have used my grinders with no safety shield you only have your eye sight once.
lots a good stuff in the video
, Thanks for sharing it

Fender1325 · Jan 19, 2015

Just watched that video. Whos Hungry? : )

I do wear mechanics gloves while using an angle grinder, but my hands get nowhere near the wheel and I use the handle. I had no idea bench grinders were that dangerous. I have a small one Ive used to sharpen chisels for rough work and didnt wear any type of protective wear. I will now though so thanks!

drivesitfar · Jan 19, 2015

All: if it keeps one of you from being blinded, injured or killed then i'm glad you watched the video. it's not pretty, but the reason i found it is because i heard that some grinding stones can explode and have killed people.

on the Craftsman block thread which is now in the Vintage tool section we were talking about how to dress your stones and there are a few great videos over there to show you how.

don't use your bench grinder's stone to grind aluminum and even if you have full face shields always start up your grinder from the side. don't grind on the side unless you have one of those grinding stones and grinders that were built for that type of grinding.

there are a lot more safety things i probably could mention, but would love to hear other guys add videos and their findings to this thread to teach me and so they can learn.

stay safe

drivesitfar · May 6, 2015

All: how often do most of you dress your wheels on your bench grinders?

twertsy · May 6, 2015

drivesitfar said:
This is not a Darwin award type thread because most or all of these injurys could have been prevented with a little knowledge passed down from those in the know.

While i was searching for new wheels for my bench grinders, hand grinders and buffers i came across this video. I might own more than most of the members and i didn't know some of the facts expressed on this video. there is some fairly graphic injury pictures so beware while you are learning the safety facts.

i learned several things in this video that i will try to make sure to do with all my grinding in the future. I have been guilty of many times not even putting on safety glasses and just used my readers for a quick job on the bench grinder.

that said i would like to find a good source for a couple of these high quality full face shields which will be hanging on my grinders to use every time from now on.

Hopefully this video will help others prevent any of these injuries and also give you information to help others that are not members of a forum or fortunate to have somebody teach them correctly how to use power tools.

Edit: i added a few more videos on post #40 that are not as graphic, but are interesting and please add one of your favorites if you have one or find one or more to share on this thread.

I literally went straight to the bay and bought the bionic + anti-fog lenses. I always wear safety glasses and must have 20 or so pairs but have never worn a face shield except for when welding. Sure, I get the odd wire in the cheek but I'm not risking it going forward. Appreciate the vid and your posting of it.

torqueman2002 · May 6, 2015

drivesitfar said:
All: how often do most of you dress your wheels on your bench grinders?

As needed.

I don't want to be flip, but I don't know the frequency.

I'd say when the stones get loaded with material, uneven, or the edges aren't crisp and sharp.

I have long ago, stopped using grinders for non-ferrous materials (ie: aluminum). But I see used stones loaded with aluminum, which is dangerous and can lead to the stones flying apart (exploding).

I have seen grinders with burnt wood and such. I don't understand what the thinking is that brings someone to do that.

Dressing grinding stones is very messy, I move the grinder outside.

MoparTrucks · May 6, 2015

Thanks for posting this. I have almost always used mechanics or even leather gloves when using a grinder and though I am always conscious about long sleeves and the like for some reason the danger of gloves escaped me. I am also getting the Uvex.

racin72charger · May 6, 2015

Thanks for posting, I use the bench grinder at work just about daily and don't think about the worst case scenario. I always wear safety glasses and just recently picked up my own face shield because the shop one looks like someone cleaned it with 120 grit. The others at my shop are flirting with disaster, no one wears safety glasses when doing any grinding, most have guards removed and they don't even consider hearing protection. I shake my head and they consider me a fool for wearing my ppe. Oh well.

the gypsy · May 6, 2015

I did not read all the gory stories so with all due respect I will still say this. When working with an electric tool and you feel cocky all sure of yourself, STOP. This is the time when you will hurt yourself, because you are no longer carefull and paying attention. I had a couple of minor accidents because I was a little to sure of myself. I must admit looking at some pictures my accidents were not serious at all.

But for myself which is usually carefull it was a wake up call.

drivesitfar · Jun 8, 2015

ALL: i'm bumping this thread up because another member had an accident luckily not fatal that he might care to share a few pictures of cutting his arm with a hand grinder.

BEE CAREFUL!!!!

offroadrunner1 · Jun 8, 2015

Thanks for calling me out Drives, LOL

I will share my dumb story and hope it stops somebody else from getting hurt. The worst part is that I knew how dumb this decision was but went ahead with it anyway.

I had just finished a big loft addition to the home garage, all cuts were made, all grinding done, all welding done , I was home free right ?

The previous home owner had a garden hose reel riveted to the block wall in the strangest location. Well, I decided that it needed to be removed. The rivets were too deep to reach with my 4 inch grinder so I decided to just rip them off with the big 7 1/2 inch grinder.

Here's where the problem comes in. There is a phone cord and copper airline right next to this hose reel. I know better, I know better, I know better. In all my brilliance I grab the phone line and air hose with the left hand and buzz that big 7 1/2 grinder onto the rivet with my right hand.

I'm sure you all know what happened. 38 stitches.

drivesitfar · Jun 8, 2015

ORR: i did leave you anonymous until you confessed it was you. Damn that still hurts looking at it. as i said in your garage gallery thread you are a MAN'S MAN for not only fessing up, but also snapping a picture while you had to be in some pain.

BTW you might want to put a link to your loft build in your signature so when you post on other threads others can see that you do have some awesome talent when not hurting yourself.

cheers and again sorry for your pain and i hope this helps others

ALL: so another thing i just read from a knifemaker that is better than most. he was buffing out one of his awesome knives and a UPS guy stopped by and couldn't get his attention with all the noise. so the UPS guy taps on the knifemaker's shoulder and distracts him so the buffer grabs the knife and throws it across the shop and buries it into a wall. no Darwin candidate, but either wait before bothering a friend or client when they are using a grinder and especially a buffer.

offroadrunner1 · Jun 8, 2015

I really was fine to share my experience Drives .

This could have been much worse. Up until now I haven't mentioned the 4 stitches in the chin also. Sometimes we all need a reminder to look at the safety in our projects.

dledmo · Jun 8, 2015

Thanks Drives for reminding us all to be safe! I started the video and as soon as I heard "injury to the groin" from grind wheels breaking I had to stop. That is a part I value very much. Safety glasses are a must as are gloves, now I will start wearing an apron.

drivesitfar · Jun 9, 2015

Diedmo: don't forget your cup that might still be in the drawer from those old football and baseball playing days. :lol_hitti

i can't tell you how many times since I've started this thread that i didn't turn on a grinder for a quick thing if my safety gear was on the other side of the garage.

cheers all

Bigblue&Goldie · Jun 9, 2015

Just last night I was working on my truck and needed a grinder with a cutting disc. My grinders both had other discs on them so my buddy asked if I wanted to use his since it was in his truck. I said no thanks as he removes the guards on his grinders. It's cheaper, easier, and faster to use safety equipment than take a trip to the E.R.!

Finky198 · Jun 19, 2015

After watching this video it was finally time to upgrade my shield for the shop

At work my helmet has been great and you can't put a price safety

So got a Uvex turboshield yesterday with clear and shade 5 lens so far definite pass super comfortable great view and full coverage

Work set up has Been great Petzl vertex vent will mesh shield and ear muff

drivesitfar · Jun 28, 2015

ALL: so i had time to spiff up one of my benches yesterday, but it was 90 degrees so i was sleeveless and had shorts on. using my 7.5 inch Dewalt grinder with a nice tight wire cup on it the rust didn't stand a chance. i felt a few wires bouncing off my stomach while i was doing the top, but when i started taking maybe 3 layers of paint off the rim and legs the wires were bouncing off my legs and arms. i felt one stick and yes looked at my arm and one had embedded about a 1/4 inch in my arm. it drew blood and not a huge deal because we all need a little iron in our diet don't we.

as far as safety the shorts and T shirt weren't the worst because i was only wearing my reader glasses because my full face shield was at home and not in my shop. luckily i didn't get any wires in my eyes.

i didn't quite finish the bench's rim, but when i do i'll probably wear pants and long sleeve shirt and definitely my full face shield.

cheers and stay safe

drivesitfar · Oct 7, 2015

ALL: anybody get injured or use good safety techniques to save you from an accident? or anybody know all that is in this thread?

Stay Safe because even though these are everyday tools they have killed and injured many.

1/2 Cup · Oct 7, 2015

drivesitfar said:
ALL: anybody get injured or use good safety techniques to save you from an accident? or anybody know all that is in this thread?

Stay Safe because even though these are everyday tools they have killed and injured many.

I could not agree more drives safety is hammered home at work and they encourage every one to do the same at home even to the point of using our company provided personal protective gear at home. :thumbup:

Regards

My Old Tools · Oct 7, 2015

I have Fibre-Metal face shields from Zoro.

ZRX61 · Oct 7, 2015

There's a FaceBook group dedicated to workshop screw ups... Caution: some of the photos are a bit gruesome..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1426585580915595/

jeff_gates · Oct 7, 2015

I had a 4 1/2" cut off/death wheel get stuck and explode on me. The grinder kicked back into my face, I has a cool swirl pattern on my face shield.

--Jeff

drivesitfar · Oct 7, 2015

Jeff: close call and nice ending except for having to replace your face sheild.

XR: if i ever do decide to open up a facebook link i'll check it out.

1/2: thanks for stopping in

MOT: sounds like you found a face sheild you like :thumbup:

Stay safe all of you

sublime68charger · Oct 7, 2015

Stay safe drives are you factoring blood loss in to your weight loss now as well?

Probably not the best way

drivesitfar · Nov 18, 2015

Sub:

ALL: for those of you that want or need a reminder about safety.

stay safe

Tsquare · Nov 18, 2015

Great thread - I just purchased 2 Uvex Bionic face shields and a leather apron. Going to smarten-up when working in my shop. :thumbup:

ruffryder · Nov 18, 2015

so how many of us bought the bionic shields but have never taken them out of the box?

bodydamage · Nov 19, 2015

A story and an admission.

Story - the first job I ever had was in a large fab shop. As I was a 16yo kid, I got all the **** jobs. One of which was wire wheeling welds that required it. One day, as I was wheeling, I was wearing safety glasses and had one of the wires come off of the wheel, hit me in the cheek, bounce off of my glasses, and end up in my eye. I hit the eye wash station and thought I got it out. I woke up about 2 days later and my eye was gooped all to hell. I went to the eye doc and apparently my eye had healed over whatever was in there and the part that was left in there had rusted. How do they get that out? With a drill. Everything is fine now, but if you want a drilled eyeball, then wire wheel with no PPE.

Admission - not a single one of my 4.5" grinders have the wheel guards on them. I'll fix that post haste.

WWShop · Nov 19, 2015

Yikes!! Great video and a great reminder of always being careful. I preach to my boys that a tool can help you, or hurt you, so always respect what it can do for you and to you. I admit I am guilty of wearing gloves but that is a habit I am breaking instantly now. I have a Craftsman pre block 1/4hp grinder that was designed without side guards so kinda has me wondering how safe it is now.

2oolhound · Nov 19, 2015

General Geoff said:
I can see how this would apply for leather or durable fabric gloves which would indeed pull your hand in with them, but what about latex or nitrile gloves which would simply tear off of your hand (and not pull your hand in) if they were caught? I typically use nitrile gloves with death wheels and grinders to keep shrapnel from embedding into my hands, which can be quite painful if not particularly harmful.

I'm in the habit of always wearing nitrile gloves in the shop. Recently I got a pretty bad cut on my finger from some swarf while working with the lathe. When i looked down at my hand to see the thin razor sharp ribbon of swarf intersecting my finger through the skin tight nitrile glove I was glad I was wearing it because it kept my hand clean and the oil and dirt out of the cut. It would have been more difficult to prepare for stitches had my skin been all oily and likely covered with tiny bits of metal grit.

I think the no gloves rule came into existence before there were nitrile gloves in the mechanics/machinist field and I don't think they create a danger as long as they are not baggie.

drivesitfar · Feb 16, 2016

ALL: i still don't grab my safety glasses or full face shield every time i use a grinder, chop saw or power tool, but instead of maybe 20% of using them it's more like 90% now.

anybody have more safety tips, gear or stories to share. hopefully no members have had an injury that could have maybe been a lot less damaging if they were wearing proper safety gear. or do tell???

E12-535iTurbo · Feb 17, 2016

I've always been quite on the safety side.

-Always wearing gloves, although not near rotating machines.
-Always wear ear-plugs they don't bother me so most of the times I just wear them all day even if I am only using loud machinery for a minute.
-I've fire extinguishers at all exit's.
-I've a fire blanket up for grabs
-Dust collection at the festool tools

Safety is also a reason I use to justify investing in quality tools. They often offer: better grip, better balance, overload protection, active braking, better guards.

Good lights and a clean organized work space are also big in regards to safety. Who didn't set something on fire while grinding? Being a forgotten rag or more seriously paint or thinner bottles?

My lesson was with my eyes. I'm wearing glasses so made the mistake to think my eyes were quite safe. I was working under a car and turned my head where I scratched my good daily glasses. I got prescription safety glasses after that. It was costly but I though I was doing well. I should have 'invested' in a proper full face mask.

What happened was that grinding dust was blown up from the bench when I lay the grinder down that was switched off but still slowing down. The dust was blown from below in my eyes. I got two specs of iron in. The first was removed in the hospital within two hours. The second a few days later because the doctor didn't see it and didn't believe my word I was still feeling the second one. So my eyeball was drilled twice, combined with a lot of pain for a few days (it rusted in as well).

I got a full face mask after that and learned that kicked up grinding dust is dangerous! I'll be ordering the Uvex Bionic mask soon since it looks like a better fit at the chin. It seems to provide better protection to blown up dust from underneath than my current mask that's like Finky198's but is a bit more flimsy.

Thanks for putting attention to the safety aspect of our shops Drives! There are a lot more improvements I can make while building my new shop. Things that come to mind are: Drive sticks at the vertical band saw, gas fumes extraction, dust collection for the stationary metal grinders etc.

Parabellum · Feb 17, 2016

http://www.bcbroncos.com/safetypage.html

drivesitfar · Feb 17, 2016

E12: nice post about what can happen and why you changed your thinking and safety equipment.

PB: there are so many things we can all do to use our tools safer. just putting the rests within an 1/8 inch of the spinning wheels is maybe one of a thousand. look at the damage a grinder can do to a finger in that link and safety page you provided and that is a maybe 2 minute fix to move the tool rests.

ALL: hope you all have a safe and great day. also if you happen to hurt yourself and it could have been prevented or saw another person do something please post so maybe all of us can learn so we are not the next guy or gal to do the same.

CoogarXR · Feb 17, 2016

I didn't watch the video, I don't have the nerves to handle much gore, lol. But thank you for the reminder. I drill more than grind, and have had my fair share of stupid drill accidents. Here's one you probably wouldn't think of- I was hurriedly scrapping a bunch of smashed plasma TVs, and somehow a chunk of glass fell into the fins on the back of my cordless drill that I was using as a screwdriver. The next time I picked up the drill and pulled the trigger, that piece of glass shot out and hit me right in the eye. I reached up and felt wetness, and imagined myself bleeding, and ran up to the bathroom. Luckily it was just tears from the irritation, and the glass came out without any hospitalization. But that was my wake-up call about glasses.

Why do we have to get hurt to learn? Who knows, but we do.

Same with about a month ago. I was tired and in a hurry (recipe for disaster)... I was installing a set of antique doors. I was all done, it was late, and the finishing touch was to put on the glass doorknobs. Well, one of the set screws was stuck. I put a flat-blade bit in my mini-impact (first strike). I held the knob in my left hand (second strike), and let the impact slam it with my right hand (third strike). Well the flat bit broke off (surprise), and kicked out of the screw, and the impact gun with a jaggedy broken bit went right into my left hand, still spinning like a mini rototiller. So remember to quit when you're tired too.

Oh, and always wash your wounds immediately, and if you have to continue working, cover them up. I had a friend who cut himself pretty deep while we were doing a motor swap. He didn't want to be a "*****", so he just kept working. Bleeding everywhere and getting grease and dirt in it for about another hour. He ended up in the hospital with blood poisoning.

Sorry for the disjointed and rambling post. But just be careful out there.

GRINDER SAFETY 101 (graphic injury video so be warned)

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