GRINDER SAFETY 101 (graphic injury video so be warned)

drivesitfar · Sep 24, 2014

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.

RedneckWelder · Sep 24, 2014

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.

Uvex Bionic is what I favor.

saryon7 · Sep 24, 2014

Wow! Great video. i have never had a wheel explode on me, or even seen it happen. I didn't realize how bad of an injury it can cause. Thanks for sharing. Will be buying a face shield.

RedneckWelder · Sep 24, 2014

saryon7 said:
Wow! Great video. i have never had a wheel explode on me, or even seen it happen. I didn't realize how bad of an injury it can cause. Thanks for sharing. Will be buying a face shield.

You definitely want to wear a faceshield while grinding or using a cutoff wheel. Helps hugely with the sparks and provides protection against shrapnel from the wheel or even the material you are working on.

Personally one of the things I wear a leather welding jacket for is for heavy grinding use, which usually occurs while I am welding.

Somewhere either here or another board there is a photo of a very pricey Miller welding helmet that stopped a grinding disk shard from ******* up the user's face. The wheel actually penetrated but stopped.

drivesitfar · Sep 24, 2014

wow i think i want to buy that shield especially since i like using very old grinders and their wheels.

I've heard of the big grinder's wheels exploding and knocking holes in the walls and roofs of the commercial buildings and homes they were at so even a shield won't help in some cases.

probably best to stand to the side to be a little more safe from an exploding one.

any online links to where to purchase the nicer full face shields would be helpful if you own one you like. :thumbup:

thebeekeeper1 · Sep 25, 2014

A pic of a 4 1/2" exploded grinding disk made the internet rounds a few weeks ago--half of it stuck into a guy's cheek. Explodey stuff is serious stuff. :O

PCO6 · Sep 25, 2014

RedneckWelder said:
Uvex Bionic is what I favor.

drivesitfar said:
... any online links to where to purchase the nicer full face shields would be helpful if you own one you like.

I use Uvex Bionics too and really like them. I get mine from KMS Tools. They go on sale for about $25 every now and then.
http://www.kmstools.com/uvex-bionic-faceshield-w-clear-visor-15411

woodstockva · Sep 25, 2014

To add to this topic....in case anyone is interested in preventing accidents with grinding wheels.......earlier this year I did a video on how to "ring test" your bench grinder wheels (to ensure there are no hidden cracks that will cause failures aka explosions).

Thumper68 · Sep 25, 2014

Had a 12"x3" wheel let go in the welding class I was in. It was a fresh wheel, first time spinning.

No one was hurt, scared the hell out of the instructor who had installed the wheel and flipped the switch, in this case the switch was off to the side of the 3 phase machine.

I have never seen a set up the same the off switch was in the normal spot in the center of the machine and the start was off to the side, my guess it was set up to keep the operators hands and the thing being ground far from the wheel on startup.

bulletpruf · Sep 25, 2014

Subscribed.

madison069 · Sep 25, 2014

Funny you bring this up, as I'm working on a craftsman block grinder and I am going to replace the wheels with wire wheels. as for that Bionic Sheild the link you provided Redneck is one that's uncoated so it will fog up, the PN for the coated anti fogging lens is S8510

SantaAna12 · Sep 25, 2014

Thank you.
3M on the mask here.....I will take a look at the uvex...I had a pair of uvex safety glasses....nice gear.

Any thoughts on the tilt-up vs. the ********?

NVM.....I am sticking with the 3M.

Garage Junky · Sep 25, 2014

RedneckWelder said:
Uvex Bionic is what I favor.

I use Uvex Bionic too, great face shield. Has saved my mug a couple of times from flying debris. :thumbup:

8man · Sep 25, 2014

Thanks Drivit, good info to have! I've been doing some stuff wrong, but I won't now.

mooman · Sep 25, 2014

I find it interesting that a grinder safety video shows an angle grinder in use with the guard off (2:11) and the side guard off on a block grinder (6:20)

thebeekeeper1 · Sep 25, 2014

Always good info--thanks!

torqueman2002 · Sep 25, 2014

drivesitfar said:
... i would like to find a good source for a couple of these high quality full face shields ...

drivesit ...
First, thanks for the video and promoting shop safety. I know I am guilty of taking common shop tools for granted and have been fortunate to have only taken a couple of layers of skin off.

Next, I have and use a full face shield. It's comfortable and passes ANSI Z87+ and CSA Z94.3 standards.

$29.50 with Amazon Prime - S8500 Uvex By Sperian Bionic Face Shield

http://www.amazon.com/S8500-Uvex-Sperian-Bionic-Shields/dp/B0040C10KI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1411659493&sr=8-3&keywords=S8500+Uvex+By+Sperian+Bionic+Face+Shields

All - Here's a link with more Grinder Safety related info. [and links to other resources].
"Craftsman Block motor Bench Grinders - What's the Fuss (with resource information)"
http://tinyurl.com/CM-Block-Grinders-Why-the-Fuss

Sabre · Sep 25, 2014

Nice info! Thanks

wrenchguy · Sep 25, 2014

getting ready too put new 14"x3" wheels on my 1250 lb. monster, i guess i'll look into more safer operation. thanks.

jakemac · Sep 25, 2014

wrenchguy said:
getting ready too put new 14"x3" wheels on my 1250 lb. monster, i guess i'll look into more safer operation. thanks.

At 1250 lbs, there is no safe option but crossing your fingers. If that baby lets go, it could sink the Bismarck ! :lol_hitti

garfieldzzz · Sep 25, 2014

quite helpful, made me think about to take care a little more

scw1991 · Sep 25, 2014

My father decided one day 20 years ago to stick a 7" grinding wheel on a 4-1/2" angle grinder (guard off). The wheel exploded and tore through the top of his left hand right up through the knuckles and severed all the tendons. Amazingly, no bones were broken but the injury left his hand pretty useless.

I use to watch him use a bench grinder and he never ever wore eye protection. He was constantly in the bathroom afterwards dislodging **** out of his eyeballs with a toothpick.

I've been fortunate to learn from my father's countless mistakes over the years and how important it is to use tools as properly intended with their guards and to always wear eye/ear protection.

metaldad · Sep 25, 2014

i always wear a face shield. gloves, 98% of the time.
surprised that video stated.......... no gloves

Fretters · Sep 25, 2014

metaldad said:
surprised that video stated.......... no gloves

Gloves are same as loose hair, ties, loose sleeves etc. where machinery is concerned. If they get caught, you're dragged in.

drivesitfar · Sep 25, 2014

Fretters: don't forget shirts not tucked in and i'm sure there are others.

TM: thanks for the information on the shield you use and if i can't find the ones in the video i'll be buying the one you use. also thank you for adding this video to your block grinder thread that highlights a lot of the things a block grinder owner needs.

Wrench: make sure those stones pass the ring test and I for one really like that HUGE grinder you have.

All: some stones are made from a different material so won't pass the ring test and I think TM and a few others have mentioned those. At the very least check for cracks on a stone and even if you don't have a guard on the side i'm pretty sure you are asking for trouble if you try to grind on the corner or the side of a stone.

I bought a welder's jacket to use when i use my Baldor buffer with wire wheels on it and for sure I'm going to wear a full shield mask.

i'm sure a lot of us are guilty of using a grinder or a tool without safety precautions. i remember grinding off some lead paint off a steel bench without eye gear or a mask. i could smell the lead paint in the air and had a slight cough for a while after that one.

Stay Safe everybody and please keep adding comments and questions because i'm sure there are plenty of other issues that haven't been discussed.

drivesitfar · Sep 25, 2014

WoodstockVA: thanks for making that Youtube video and i remember seeing it several months ago. i'm not certain your ring test works for every type of grinding stone so do you have anything to add to that video?

woodstockva · Sep 25, 2014

drivesitfar said:
WoodstockVA: thanks for making that Youtube video and i remember seeing it several months ago. i'm not certain your ring test works for every type of grinding stone so do you have anything to add to that video?

Thanks! I hope it saves people from getting injured.

I do not know if this is an "effective" test for very large grinding stones....but I know for the smaller (6"-10") bench grinder wheels, it works very well.

I am sure people with experience with the larger ones could chime in & tell us the correct way to test those varieties.

RedneckWelder · Sep 25, 2014

I'll also say that I have never really cared for using bench grinders, I just don't like them. I prefer side grinders and die grinders for my grinding needs.

General Geoff · Sep 25, 2014

Fretters said:
Gloves are same as loose hair, ties, loose sleeves etc. where machinery is concerned. If they get caught, you're dragged in.

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.

torqueman2002 · Sep 25, 2014

drivesitfar said:
WoodstockVA: thanks for making that Youtube video and i remember seeing it several months ago. i'm not certain your ring test works for every type of grinding stone so do you have anything to add to that video?

The 'Ring Test' is primarily applicable to vitrified bonded wheels.

"How to Perform a Ring Test on a Grinding Wheel." - Norton - pdf file.
http://tinyurl.com/Grinding-Wheel-RingTest-Norton

Here's another pdf file from Norton's (©Saint-Gobain) site.
"Bench Grinding Wheel Do's and Don'ts." - Norton - pdf file.
http://tinyurl.com/Norton-Grndng-Dos-and-Donts

91bronc300 · Sep 25, 2014

RedneckWelder said:
I'll also say that I have never really cared for using bench grinders, I just don't like them.

Agreed. Belt grinders are so much better.

Fretters · Sep 25, 2014

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.

They should be safe enough as they're not a loose fitting glove. If you get close enough to snag one of those, you're going to be losing some flesh anyhow.

When anything snags it's not just the strength of what catches though. The initial ****** can be enough to get you, even if whatever it is then rips. As with owt though, just use some gumption and you should be fine.

Fretters · Sep 25, 2014

RedneckWelder said:
I'll also say that I have never really cared for using bench grinders, I just don't like them. I prefer side grinders and die grinders for my grinding needs.

Side grinders as in cup wheel type grinders?

Fretters · Sep 25, 2014

91bronc300 said:
Agreed. Belt grinders are so much better.

Would that be a belt grinder as in a belt driven one, else belt grinder as in a linisher?

General Geoff · Sep 25, 2014

Fretters said:
They should be safe enough as they're not a loose fitting glove. If you get close enough to snag one of those, you're going to be losing some flesh anyhow. When anything snags it's not just the strength of what catches though. The initial ****** can be enough to get you, even if whatever it is then rips. As with owt though, just use some gumption and you should be fine.

I've found that as long as proper respect is given to the tool and the laws of physics, even with catastrophic failure no limbs will be lost. This is why I always make sure to keep my body out of the plane of rotation with any cutting wheels or grinders when using them. It might be a little awkward to do sometimes, but I'm not getting a gut full of shattered wheel.

RedneckWelder · Sep 25, 2014

Fretters said:
Side grinders as in cup wheel type grinders?

drivesitfar · Sep 25, 2014

Fretters: I'm thinking they are talking like a Burr King or Baldor belt grinder like this one. it will chew a piece of metal down to nothing very quickly.

www.burrking.com and in case you were wondering and they aren't cheap.

I'm sure they have their own issues to be safety conscious about, but they are nice grinders.

Fretters · Sep 25, 2014

RedneckWelder said:

Ah. I wasn't even close.

General Geoff said:
I've found that as long as proper respect is given to the tool and the laws of physics, even with catastrophic failure no limbs will be lost. This is why I always make sure to keep my body out of the plane of rotation with any cutting wheels or grinders when using them. It might be a little awkward to do sometimes, but I'm not getting a gut full of shattered wheel.

Aye, most accidents tend to be due to avoidable errors. Occasionally Sod's law just has it in for you no matter what, but more oft than not it's just plain silliness or distraction which is to blame. Watching some people doing their thing is like watching an accident waiting to happen. It may not get them anytime soon, but you just know it's going to happen eventually.

It's like if the wife ever asks me if she can borrow a sharp tool. It's always a simple no in response. I once decided to trust her, and she ended up in A&E. Seriously, who would swing a hatchet towards their hand and not expect the worst. My wife is obviously one. Wouldn't be so bad, but I'd spent ten minutes showing her how to do what she was wanting to do so that there was no way she could hurt herself. As soon as I was out of sight, she started doing it her way, and the inevitable happened.

Fretters · Sep 25, 2014

drivesitfar said:
Fretters: I'm thinking they are talking like a Burr King or Baldor belt grinder like this one. it will chew a piece of metal down to nothing very quickly.

[...]

I'm sure they have their own issues to be safety conscious about, but they are nice grinders.

Thought it might be the linishers. If the belt lets go, it's less catastrophic. I know of quite a few who prefer using those over standard bench grinders. Apparently keeps the piece being worked cooler too.

drivesitfar · Sep 25, 2014

Fretters: knife makers love those Burr King grinders because they don't ruin an edge with proper use.

ALL: Here are a few more videos in case you want to learn a bit more or to confirm what you already know. not quite as graphic as the first one.

there are many many more if you care to post some of your favorites on here. my god some of these guys are having their friends and wifes film them while they grind without proper safety and put them in harms way too.

i'm learning a lot more respect for these great tools that i didn't have and took them for granted that they would just work when i needed them to.

GRINDER SAFETY 101 (graphic injury video so be warned)

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