Angle Grinders - Blade Guard

[mobiledynamics]

I've always removed the guard as the 1st thing I do after opening up a fresh Metabo box....



I was reading how a cheap disc broke up, and even with the guard in place, tons of fragments went flying.....

I just can't see/work with the guard on.
Curious who here takes em off or leaves em on.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I have personally had a cheap wheel fail. I did have the guard on and it did shatter, but it absorbed most of the force of the debris. Ended up with a pretty big gouge out of my boot.........cant imagine what damage would have been done to my legs if I didn't have it on. Its a must in my book.....even though its a huge pain in the ***.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Only take it when I have to, otherwise it is on.

 

[lotsoftools]

I leave it on, unless I absolutely can't grind where I want to with it on. Not only does it give some protection from an exploding wheel, it keeps you from putting too big a wheel on. I know a guy who uses 6" and 7" cutting wheels on his 4.5" grinder. Kind of scary.

 

[Gary S]

I've never removed one. I somehow get the work done with the protective guard in place. I hate bleeding.

 

[tube_guy]

I usually cut the guards back on my angle grinders so instead of enclosing 180 degrees of the disc, they only enclose maybe 120 degrees of the disc. I think that is actually a bit safer than the full guard because I almost never have to remove the guard at all.

 

[IndyGarage]

I take them one and off. Normally when running a grinding wheel or flap wheel I leave them on. When I'm running a wire brush or a cutoff wheel I take them off.

I don't think it matters with the wire brush, but I can never seem to get the depth of cut or access I need on a cutoff wheel with the guard in place.

I've never had a wheel come apart, but I do know you never want your fingers near that wheel - I normally wear kevlar gloves when using a grinding wheel, hoping they would give me a bit of protection.

 

[Pumpman1968]

I take them one and off. Normally when running a grinding wheel or flap wheel I leave them on. When I'm running a wire brush or a cutoff wheel I take them off.

I don't think it matters with the wire brush, but I can never seem to get the depth of cut or access I need on a cutoff wheel with the guard in place.

I've never had a wheel come apart, but I do know you never want your fingers near that wheel - I normally wear kevlar gloves when using a grinding wheel, hoping they would give me a bit of protection.

These days, I leave the guard on with the wire wheel too..........I've had to dig a few strands out of my thigh. Pretty much sucked.

 

[Jure]

lesson learned,some of the fragments hit my face

 

[Jure]

I leave it on, unless I absolutely can't grind where I want to with it on. Not only does it give some protection from an exploding wheel, it keeps you from putting too big a wheel on. I know a guy who uses 6" and 7" cutting wheels on his 4.5" grinder. Kind of scary.

yep that's the main reason why i never had guard on...

 

[sberry]

I leave gaurds on, manipulating the tool is part of the expertise learning process, some have rotating mechanisims and its a rare day I leave myself in a corner where it matters. Also be aware of where its all going, I dont put myself in between the fire and the wheel, blow it away from myself. I wear glasses but its uncommon for something to hit me in the face.

 

[Fireball027]

I've always removed the guard as the 1st thing I do after opening up a fresh Metabo box....

I was reading how a cheap disc broke up, and even with the guard in place, tons of fragments went flying.....

I just can't see/work with the guard on.
Curious who here takes em off or leaves em on.

I always leave the guard on. I won't use one without it anymore as i learned the hard way.

Last year i had a cutting disc shatter and it ended up with an ambulance ride to the hospital and the doctor stitching my forehead back together. Luckily i had my safety glasses on, however the shattered disc broke the glasses when it hit them. Half of the disc ended up being imbedded in the drywall ceiling 16' up. It was a scary moment when the coworkers saw me on the ground with all the blood around me.

I still have a nice little scar and indent in the center of my forehead.

 

[Stuey]

I'm too afraid to take the guard off. That one time I take the guard off would be the time a disc shatters towards my face.

 

[HellaFab]

I always have my guard on.

my dewalt grinder has a 360 degree quick release capable guard so i can move it quickly without tools to keep going.


As of recently if I am grinding I will be welding. My new Miller Digital Elite mask has Xmode and doesnt come on when grinding so I leave my face sheild down when i grind anything. its not uncommon for particles to get in my eyes without it...its not just things flying from explosion, its airborne particles from grinding.




I used someones grinder once with a cut off and no guard and it was nice enough to remind me there was no guard. i have a small scar on my finger as a reminder.

 

[RCL]

I always leave the guard on.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Crazy to remove them, in my opinion. Very occasionally, when there's no other way to get to the work -- but then it goes right back on.

I can't see any real advantage to leaving it off, especially when I factor in the risk of a 10,000 RPM hunk of abrasive exploding in my face.

 

[pipsters]

Angle grinders, like exposed saw blades (miter, table, band) scare the living **** out of me. I saw some sort of chainsaw attachment you can put on one, holy hell that thing should be in one of those Saw movies.

 

[carterbeauford]

Angle grinders, like exposed saw blades (miter, table, band) scare the living **** out of me. I saw some sort of chainsaw attachment you can put on one, holy hell that thing should be in one of those Saw movies.

used for sculpting wood, I'd probably leave the guard on when using one.

 

[Monte]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eJOiKuVeXA0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[cryan]

I almost always leave the guard on. You can spin them round to the angle you require to allow work and protect you. Here in the UK it does not matter (Except in pain) if you get hurt as hospitals are free at point of use but in the US it could be a costly$$ mistake. Does health insurance pay out if you tampered with the safety guards? I know that here my employee liability insurance would question paying out if guards were removed or tampered with.

 

[Acosi151]

I've always removed the guard as the 1st thing I do after opening up a fresh Metabo box....

Same here.. I keep my head off to one side of the danger zone (the large shower of sparks helps you remember to do that) and I wear a leather apron and glasses when I'm running it.

 

[sberry]

Yes they pay for stupid, its what ins is for. I just think a guard is a huge asset to be considered to direct the dross. I dont blow stuff in my face, will reach a little, stand up wind so to speak, behind the guard. Accutely aware of before the fact where its intended to go.

Second, about half what people use cut off wheels for could be done as easy with sawzall.

 

[TAftw]

I always leave them on. I have mine set so it's not too tight so I can turn it with my hand if I want to change the angle I'm grinding at.

 

[TheGrooveking]

Monte your video hits it on head.... Exact reason I leave the guard on. When I see peoe taking the guard I just think they want to commit suicide. If they only knew the statistics those who remove the guard would think twice before operating anything without a guard.

TheGrooveking

 

[kursplat]

i've never needed to remove one and i've spent many hours working with one.
a couple years ago i did start wearing a face shield when using a grinder

 

[Scout Driver]

The guard stays on. I'd rather get a different tool to do a job correctly than remove a piece of essential safety equipment.

Scott

 

[Kev442]

Used to have them off 90% of the time. Now they are on 95% of the time. You could say I wised up before I got F'ed up.

 

[Craftsman86]

I have different grinders for different things, I use the guards on all of them but the diamond cup grinder. WHen I use the diamond blade for tile, I set the thing on the guard while it winds down. The one time my co-worker took it off I wasnt paying attention and set it down without it. Oops

To me the guard is a must, you just need to shave them down sometimes

I watched a guy try and use a 4 inch angle grinder with a 4inch wood blade for an undercut saw. HE was quick to let it go ad grab the cord. IT cut the cord off and part of his t shirt when it was spinning but no blood.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I usually cut the guards back on my angle grinders so instead of enclosing 180 degrees of the disc, they only enclose maybe 120 degrees of the disc. I think that is actually a bit safer than the full guard because I almost never have to remove the guard at all.

I really like this. All my guards are off. But I am sick of getting cut to my knuckle bone by cut off wheels, and just last night I took a wire wheel to the top of my 2 left fingers. Too old for this ****. I'm going to go cut em down now and put them back on.

 

[crewchief888]

of the 4 grinders that i mainly use,
the guards are on the ones with a grinding wheel, and grinding/sanding disks.

wire wheel and cut off blades the guards are removed.

 

[Jawn]

I scooped up an old Craftsman Industrial 4 1/2" grinder out of my late father's stuff... no guard of course. Lucked into a guard at the flea market that fit perfectly (for the princely sum of 50 cents). Been on it since.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

of the 4 grinders that i mainly use,
the guards are on the ones with a grinding wheel, and grinding/sanding disks.

wire wheel and cut off blades the guards are removed.

hhhmmm.. I just went and cut mine down, but put them on the ones with grinding wheels and cut off wheels- as these are the ones that become projectiles.

My flap discs are still bare, and my wire wheels are 50/50.

Can I ask why you wouldn't put one on the cut off blade?

 

[metaldad]

used for sculpting wood, I'd probably leave the guard on when using one.

I have those.
man, do they honk thru wood.
they are dangerous, requiring full attention of the user, with no safety shortcuts.

 

[theknurl]

Second, about half what people use cut off wheels for could be done as easy with sawzall.

or PortaBand

+10

all my grinders have their guards on......
my 6,000rpm 9" Milwaukee could ruin a bunch of things if a wheel came apart

the 3" angle head sanders don't have guards

when i pull out the chainsaws on go the Kevlar chaps

that said.....my Milwaukee worm drive lower guard is off.....
can't make any money with it on

 

[crewchief888]

Can I ask why you wouldn't put one on the cut off blade?

most of the time if i'm using it, i'm in a tight spot, and the guard is in the way of me seeing what i'm cutting.

 

[rmsg0040]

Yes they pay for stupid, its what ins is for. I just think a guard is a huge asset to be considered to direct the dross. I dont blow stuff in my face, will reach a little, stand up wind so to speak, behind the guard. Accutely aware of before the fact where its intended to go.

Second, about half what people use cut off wheels for could be done as easy with sawzall.

I keep the guard on, and what you say about the sawzall is true

 

[brickboiler]

I don't use a grinder much, but when I do the guard is on and I'm wearing a face shield.

 

[Skin]

Used a buddies cut-off tool and he removes all the guards. To add to it his compressor is constantly at 150+ psi. Disc first chipped that shattered into my face. I was fully protected but a piece still managed to hit my throat and proceeded to literally melt into my skin. I had a sunken portion in the shape of the fragment on my throat for about a month. Needless to say my guards stay on and I bring my own tools with me if im doing a task at another location. I never understood the point in removing them anyway, the sparks obscure your vision one way or another.

 

[neophyte]

This is a Google Image search using the keywords "angle grinder accident", http://www.google.com/search?q=angl...DoCA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1340&bih=795#imgrc=_ After looking at some of those images, do you realy want to use your angle grinder in an unsafe manner. This is a post on the Tools from the old world thread linking to other grinder accident pics. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1756598&postcount=8438 Do you really want to have to have your hand sewn back on, Your jaw stapled back together, or a family member have to identify you while your lying on a stainless slab, because you didn't feel like using a safety feature that came with your grinder. If you work around other people, they're also more likely to get injured by you failuring to use proper safety features.

 

[neophyte]

used for sculpting wood, I'd probably leave the guard on when using one.

Arbortech of Australia makes a few different styles of wood carving discs that work similarly. One is called their Industrial Woodcarver. It has replaceable, and rotatable, Carbide teeth. http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/woodworking/industrial-woodcarver/ The other regular size model they make is called the PRO-4 Woodcarver. It has a single piece steel body with teeth designed similar to a chainsaw, and resharpenable. http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/woodworking/pro4-woodcarver/ both designs can hog wood out very quickly. Arbortech also makes a Polycarbonate Guard that can be fitted to many small grinders both 4"(100mm) and 4 1/2"(115mm). http://www.arbortech.com.au/view/woodworking/pro4-woodcarver/query/product/acc-fg-100 It is designed to be retrofitted on many models of grinder over the steel guard to provide more safety as well as allowing it to be used as a depth stop. If your inclined to remove the guard anyway this clear one should provide higher safety and visibility.