Dealing with carbide burr shards

[drummerdimitri]

So my first experience using carbide burrs on a die grinder was terrible!

It got the job done great but at a cost of imbedding dozens of metal shards thinner than a human hair into my skin

For those of you that use them regularly, what do you do to mitigate this issue?

I'm thinking of having my shop VAC's hose attached to the die grinder somehow or at the very least place the hose right on top of the workpiece so those pesky little bastards get sucked in instead of shooting right at me.

What have your experience been like with those things?

 

[Dave455]

Yes, it’s a problem, but you can deal with it!

With a bit of experience you get used to where the chips are flying and can avoid them to an extent, but never totally.

Personally, I wear leather gloves and have no issues. It doesn’t matter which ones particularly, so long as they have leather on the back of your hand, which some do not. I tend to use the chrome leather work gloves as shown below. They’re decently thick and inexpensive. I buy them in packs of 10. I have also used the yellow “driver” style glove too, which also work, but are a little more costly.

If you’re doing a job that’s really chucking chips everywhere, then consider the welders gauntlet that protect your forearms too.

I’ve never tried it, but a I suspect the vacuum cleaner won’t work that well. Those chips really get flung off fast, and I doubt the vacuum will have enough ****! Might be worth a try.

If you use a stone instead of a burr then you tend to get dust rather than sharp chips. They are much nicer to use but don’t work as fast. I use burrs and gloves (and decent eye protection) and have no drama’s.

I’m afraid you will have to pick the splinters out of your hands individually. You will need some sharp tweezers and sometimes a scalpel blade with a point. Do take the time to do this or they can get nasty. Soaking your hands in water or taking a hot bath softens the skin and eases the process.

 

[drummerdimitri]

Thanks for the good advice!

Surely I should have used thick leather gloves as you mentioned and long sleeves are a must as well.

Will try to use the VAC as I am sure it's still better than nothing and like you said, I would get better at avoiding the shards once I get a hang of it.

 

[Dave455]

Good luck!

Sometimes, you can use a longer shank burr, or a different style of grinder, to keep your hands further away.

I tend to do a lot of small jobs though, so despite having several die grinders, it’s the smallest one with small 1/8 burrs that I tend to use the most. I’m so used to using that tool it’s like a favourite fountain pen, and I can’t do such accurate work with anything else. I’ve done jobs with it that I probably should have used a milling machine for!

 

[RedneckWelder]

I wear welding leathers, welding gloves, face shield, goggles, and a bandanna or welders cap and have a religious clean off procedure

Those shards want to get in your eye so bad it’s not funny.

 

[vanapplebomb]

Hazard of the job, unfortunately. Small razor sharp shavings are a fact of life with carbide burrs.

You will get used to how the chips fly, and be able to avoid a lot of it, but never all.

I always try to use a straight die grinder with burrs. That way most chips fly off perpendicular to your hand. Unless I absolutely have to, I avoid using burrs in a 90 degree die grinder like the plague. That just showers you with shavings, no two ways around that.

Also, get comfortable before grinding. Get your grip situated so you don’t have to readjust. That way you don’t get chips under your hand while in use.

 

[GaryM909]

Keep good tweezers nearby

 

[Lonnies Performance]

I also make a habit of carefully blowing my clothes off with compressed air before returning to the house. Otherwise I (or my wife) seem to inevitably step on a shard in bare feet later that evening.

 

[matt_i]

I have the solution!

Acquire a milling machine. While it also makes "sharps" its much more manageable.

One way in the machine tool world is to get a magnetic chip collector.

https://www.trick-tools.com/Evoluti...-kOR797KuXVsR1fWyhWqvstxpPW1aTEhoCaFAQAvD_BwE

There are other sources of supply but essentially that magnet acquires the ferrous swarf, its inside a stainless tube which isn't magnetic, then the magnet is pulled back away and the swarf drops into an awaiting container. I have not used them specifically for die grinder needles but it works on most other sizes of ferrous swarf (I'm assuiming you are not grinding SS or AL )

 

[strutaeng]

I did a metal handrail job in my house. It was my first experience as well with them. I used boots, jeans, long sleeve shirt, my leather welding gloves, safety glasses and a full face shield.

No problem while grinding the handrail welds, but those shards flew everywhere. We have ceramic tile on the floor and I swept very well like 3 times, but my kids running around barefooted still got one or two. And I also got one on my hand somehow days later doing something else.

Cleanup may be easier with one of those big magnets on wheels.

 

[greg13]

Gloves, Face shield and a strong magnet.

 

[metaldad]

never thought of them. (shards)
i always wear eye protection.
i always attempt to stay out of the rotation of a wheel/tool/bit
i always sweep my crypt.
i guess i should add a few more steps when using burrs

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I tried a shop vac a couple weeks ago. I think it helped significantly. Also leather gloves and a face shield.

 

[Jazz1]

Soak hands in warm water for a few minutes then wash with soapy water and scrub with nail brush. The tiny burrs will come out. I run into same issue with filings from die grinders,,I should get gloves on ahead of time

 

[Monza Harry]

Scotch Brite will help while washing up, I use an "Olfa" 9mm blade after diabetic lancet and dig them out, just a part of the job. Harry

 

[PugetDude]

My optometrist is skilled at digging them out of my cornea.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:
Don't try to get them out with a magnet first; it doesn't work...

 

[Bogie1632]

Proper PPE is obvious. The magnetic chip pickup tools are very good amd I hope to have one soon for my garage. Loved them at work.

Another trick for the ferrous metals is wrap a couple strong magnets in strips of regular paper towels and place as close as comfortable to where your working. I plase 2 or 3 around where I'm working and they grab dang near all of the shavings. Unwrap and it all goes in the trash leaving clean magnets.

V/R
Bogie