Don't do this!

[Bigrhamr]

First off I'm not exactly new to metal fab so I DO know better.

This morning it was a little colder so I put on an extra layer of clothes topped off with a hooded sweatshirt. You know the kind with the little drawstrings hanging down in front?

Grabbed a little 4" grinder with a cut wheel and went to make a cut, it grabbed that drawstring and started wrapping it up at 11,000 RPM.

Luckily I had a good hold of it and it was just a little gutless grinder so as soon as it came a little tight the wheel cut the string and I was free.

Also laying on the table is the 9" Makita with a big cup brush on it that I use daily, If I had pulled the same dumb *** stunt with it I don't know what would have happened but suspect it would have involved blood and possibly a doctor visit.

Watch yourself!

 

[jam022316]

close call! Good to hear you're ok. I'm sure we've all had our "oh s***" moments!

 

[mrjsl]

close call! Good to hear you're ok. I'm sure we've all had our "oh s***" moments!

I thought this thread was going to be about filling up a garbage bag with oxy-acetylene, stuffing it in an old doghouse and lighting it off with a fuse of toilet paper soaked in WD40.

Anyway... don't do that either!

 

[Vernmotor]

I thought this thread was going to be about filling up a garbage bag with oxy-acetylene, stuffing it in an old doghouse and lighting it off with a fuse of toilet paper soaked in WD40.

Anyway... don't do that either!

LMAO way too funny

 

[Lippyp]

I did something similar with a loose t-shirt and a grinder with a wire wheel, damn thing took a good few inches of skin off my belly when it grabbed the shirt and wound itself up tight.

 

[ymerej]

I did something similar with a loose t-shirt and a grinder with a wire wheel, damn thing took a good few inches of skin off my belly when it grabbed the shirt and wound itself up tight.

I did the exact same thing, except there was a grinder wheel on the grinder. The 1950's grinder works great, but the safety features are non existent - no guard, and no momentary on switch - just a good ol' toggle switch. While grinding some metal it bounced back for some reason (this was years ago), and wrapped itself up with the t-shirt I was wearing. Luckily I only had a few scrapes on my chest, but it sure scared me!

 

[eborcim]

I thought this thread was going to be about filling up a garbage bag with oxy-acetylene, stuffing it in an old doghouse and lighting it off with a fuse of toilet paper soaked in WD40. I hear if you somehow make the bag float/fly and put a time delay fuse on it and then release it over a large metro area, the local constabulatory and possibly the military get very nervous...


My brother has a nice scar across his nose from an 8" grinder bounce. Glad you didn't get hurt.

 

[mrjsl]

I thought this thread was going to be about filling up a garbage bag with oxy-acetylene, stuffing it in an old doghouse and lighting it off with a fuse of toilet paper soaked in WD40. I hear if you somehow make the bag float/fly and put a time delay fuse on it and then release it over a large metro area, the local constabulatory and possibly the military get very nervous...

It's loud as hell

However, the stuffing it in a doghouse part should never be attempted again. Also static electricity is an enemy to you and a friend to garbage bags.

One of my old neighbors up the road was cutting the end out of a big fuel tank - about 8 to 10 feet in diameter, and it blew. He had the exhaust from a D6 cat hooked up to the tank to prevent fire, and he saw it coming and had time to get out of the way, but the end of the tank went 75 feet high, over some pine trees and landed a good 100 yards away in the middle of a busy highway. No one hurt, but my neighbor had to go clean his drawers out.

 

[ckal704]

I use 4-1/2 inch grinder all the time for sharpening mower blades as part of my side business fixing/servicing lawn mowers.
I pulled the cords out of all my sweatshirt hoods for that very reason after having it happen to me once.

 

[cwstevens92]

I did something similar with a loose t-shirt and a grinder with a wire wheel, damn thing took a good few inches of skin off my belly when it grabbed the shirt and wound itself up tight.

Did the same thing, and did the same thing with a 4" grinder (stiches) and a 7" grinder w/ cut off wheel (stiches) have also set myself on fire with the same 4" grinder

 

[Bigrhamr]

Ahh yes, there's nothing like the smell of burning flesh, especially when it belongs to you. It took me a short time to figure out that quilted flannel shirts are not appropriate welding/grinding attire. The outside part burns and the insulation part melts and sticks to you.

 

[ZRX61]

I hear if you somehow make the bag float/fly and put a time delay fuse on it and then release it over a large metro area, the local constabulatory and possibly the military get very nervous...

You mean by attaching the OA filled bag to a couple of others full of helium?

yeah, don't do that..


Well, at least when there's no wind causing it to explode directly over your house instead of 1/2 mile or more down wind....

 

[metal1313]

i have a nice deep scar and missing hunk of bone missing just above my left wrist from a 9in grinder. i was working as a plumber's helper and was beveling a 6in gas line prior to welding and as i rotated the grinder i turned it into my wrist, before i felt a thing the damage was done. becuase i was young and it was only my 3rd week on the job i had to ask the lead guy what i was supposed to do. he sat me down, cut the cuff of my glove off as it was melted and imbedded in my skin, and freaked out. it started to bleed, and bleed alot it was a mess. and of course my boss, a family friend had to come to the site just as this was happening. i ended up in the hospital, got a few stitchs to try to hold what was left together and wrapped up. took a few days off of work til the swelling went down and there was no worry of infection and then got right back to work

 

[bmwpower]

Man all you guys with these big *** grinders. Glad I gave my big one away.

 

[truckdriver]

I've done a lot of stupid stuff, but I've been lucky when it comes to tools. The worst I've done was lay the weedeater on the driveway while running to move some ****. I forgot it was there and walked right in to it. The guard kept the head of the ground and it was moving very freely. Not real dangerous but my shins were bleeding pretty good.

 

[arkangel06]

cutting disk + face= I dont want to find out


Glad to hear your ok!

 

[sstruckguy]

All these tales sound familiar.

Except, my last bout with a spinning, motor driven object, was a 10" table saw and my thumb.

Needless to say, the saw was the winner. After a trip to the emergency room and the sewing up of my "butterflyed shrimp looking" thumb, the doctor commented on my accuracy. (missed the bone)

 

[RobSmith]

When I was young, about five, I watched my dad fly an acetylene balloon which ended up with a fiery explosion...not much of a bang. Dad never told me what he used and I'm still curious as to what made it lift.
I also showed an apprentice at work what an acetylene bomb was. We were on arvo shift and it was dark. I lit the torch , set the flame, extinguished the flame and filled a balloon. I then wrapped it in newspaper took it outside and lit the paper. I walked off whilst all the others stood back and waited. At the same moment the boss rode up on his motor bike , saw the burning paper and rode over to it to stomp it out...BOOM !
No one was game to laugh. The boss knew who did it immediately and asked me if I knew anything about it. I couldn't stifle a laugh and he couldn't either. I wish I'd stayed to watch.

 

[speed bump]

Man all you guys with these big *** grinders. Glad I gave my big one away.

No thats crazy talk, when you really have to grind then the big 15 amp 7-9" are where its at. Otherwise I use my 13 amp 5" Makita which isn't fast but it doesn't ever stop either.

 

[eborcim]

Whenever you use one of these, get a good grip on the grinder and the tire.

 

[battmain]

Complacency based on experience is a wonderful teacher. Of course we know better, but every once in a while...

 

[Toolhorder]

When I worked at the dealership one of the older guys used to fire bottle rockets across the shop, light acy. bombs and use the dealerships helium tank for ballons to fill garage bags and then attach things to the string he put on the end. Once it was a dead rat found in the compressor room, another time it was a delay fuse made from a cig. on a roman candle. Lots of fun...
The roman candle deal was kinda funny, it was dark out and it got at least 100 ft. over the lot and started firing away fireballs. Customers were like WTF? One thing about mechanics is they can fix things but that same skill becomes creative mayham in boredom.

 

[tcianci]

Well since the thread got off topic and on to explosions...When I was in high school, the kids used to rotate taking the trash to the incinerator. Well, one day on my shift, the guy I was with decided to throw an old Bernz-O-Matic tank in there just for grins. Well I was worried for sure and ran back in to make sure the cast iron doors on the incinerator were closed. Well they weren't, so I closed them (not that it mattered) and beat feet out of the room. Within about 1 minute...BLAM!!! and it blew both doors right off the incinerator!. This was in the late 60's... today there would have been an elevated terror threat, a CSI episode and some serious **** kicking. We got away with shrugging our shoulders and looking both dumb and surprised!

 

[supertooljunkie]

I was using a 36" bandsaw to cut door panels from vacuum formed sheets of plastic. I looked up to see if it was close to break time and when I looked back my finger tip was on the table. Not good and very stupid.

Years ago I worked in a small machine shop. We had a guy fill a gallon jug with acetylene and put a firecracker in the cap. He took it out back and lit it. When it went off it was loud as hell. About 2 minutes later police cars were running up and down the street looking for the building that had blown up. Funny as hell. He was afraid the cops would find him.

 

[iajonesy]

Hi guys and gals,

I work in a machine shop and have seen and done a number of stupid tricks that cvould have been deadly. The best/worst one I was not involved in though. An older fellow was cutting the o.d. on a large shaft and was taking a real healthy cut that roughed up the surface of the shaft. for some reason he leaned over the shaft as it was turning and the bib overhauls he was wearing caught on the shaft. When it did the shaft ripped his bibs and the sweatshirt he was wearing right off his body. He held the chip gaurd on the rear of the machine to keep from being pulled into it. He got the machine stopped and was standing there with his work boots, his shorts, and the neck of the sweatshirt on. I thought he had gone insane and stripped in the shop until I saw the clothing wrapped around that shaft.
Don't wear loose clothing around machinery.

Mike

 

[harricanfloyd]

First time poster.....Hello everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one who eats soup with a knife. Uh....don't climb understand your Mustang to do a fuel filter without some safety glasses......U guessed it I pulled the wrong hose and fuel came pouring out!!!!! It gets better! I turned my head so the gas wouldn't get in my eyes, only to have it drain down my ear!! The ****in' pain was so bad....constant for about three hours straight.

 

[Kjbakke2]

wow man good to hear that youre alright.....one thing ive noticed is that as we go on with our metal working we progressively forget about the little safety things. This is a good reminder for everyone so thanks for posting man. and ditto on the tire cutting man.....they get scary fast haha

okay end of the den-mother rant
moving on!!!

 

[sstruckguy]

First time poster.....Hello everyone. I'm glad I'm not the only one who eats soup with a knife. Uh....don't climb understand your Mustang to do a fuel filter without some safety glasses......U guessed it I pulled the wrong hose and fuel came pouring out!!!!! It gets better! I turned my head so the gas wouldn't get in my eyes, only to have it drain down my ear!! The ****in' pain was so bad....constant for about three hours straight.

Strange choice of post, for your first one..but I guess that's not really important

Welcome to GJ!! (hope there wasn't any damage in your mishap)

 

[930dreamer]

I had a gloved finger pinched between two large rebar ends going down a belted run into a bead blasting machine. I got free just before it was too late. 930

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

I work in a machine shop and have seen and done a number of stupid tricks that cvould have been deadly. The best/worst one I was not involved in though. An older fellow was cutting the o.d. on a large shaft and was taking a real healthy cut that roughed up the surface of the shaft. for some reason he leaned over the shaft as it was turning and the bib overhauls he was wearing caught on the shaft. When it did the shaft ripped his bibs and the sweatshirt he was wearing right off his body. He held the chip gaurd on the rear of the machine to keep from being pulled into it. He got the machine stopped and was standing there with his work boots, his shorts, and the neck of the sweatshirt on. I thought he had gone insane and stripped in the shop until I saw the clothing wrapped around that shaft.
Don't wear loose clothing around machinery.

Mike

Oh man that made me crack up laughing. Dangerous though.

 

[oldwino]

Who among us hasn't done some SAS (Stupid *** ****), especially with an angle grinder? 99.9% of the time we live to tell (and laugh) about it.

My last dumb assed move with an angle grinder was last weekend...a couple of ceramic tiles had come loose from the front entry so I was cleaning off the mortar pad on the bottom of the tiles...Great California Weather so I was sitting in a beach chair grinding and holding down the tile in the driveway while wearing flip-flops...guess what part of my hide went away (heel) and hurt like hell!

Sometimes it is good to get hurt a little bit to remind us how dangerous this stuff is and to take proper safety percautions

 

[AmickRacing]

Whenever you use one of these, get a good grip on the grinder and the tire.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/RS/SR/Product/91082080_L.jpg

When we got ours, I stood there looking at it, then looking at the big mean DeWalt grinder it was going on... it's intimidating! I've never had any problems with it, mostly because of the white knuckled death grip on the grinder. Dad however has lost a lil skin from an odd bounce from it

 

[wreckercologist]

Don't wear loose clothing around machinery.

Mike

I learned that the hard way. It was so damn hot one day I untucked and unbuttoned my work shirt. The shirt got wrapped around the drivebar of a 15 H.P. three phase lathe I was operating. Needless to say, that lathe didn't care. Next thing I know, my face is pressed against the carriage and getting pulled in tighter and tighter. I tried to stand up and in the process ripped my work shirt in half. My face bumped the E stop button on the carriage, killing the machine, as I was getting up. Funny how time seems to slow down during events like that.

I lost a chunk out of my leg to a 7" grinder. Hurt like hell.

Drilled a 3/8" hole through my left thumb. Ran cold water over it for five minutes to stop the bleeding, then taped it up(stitches were pointless), put on a latex glove to keep it clean and went back to work. That took about two months to heal fully.

Cut the same thumb on a table saw. 18 stitches. Really bitchin' scar!

I figure I've got my money out of that thumb by now. It don't owe me nuthin'

All I can say is: Machines do not have a conscience. You must be aware at all times.

I'm glad the OP wasn't any worse for wear

 

[crashbumper]

Two words:

Accidental Napalm.



Be careful people!

 

[sickytwisted]

I feel you all. A friend of mine once told me that i had to be smarter than my tools. Thats not always the case. Recently, a 4 foot ladder kicked my ****, laid me on the ground and caused me to dislocate my foot. HA! I think its kinda funny

 

[ZRX61]

Oh man that made me crack up laughing. Dangerous though.

There are pictures on the web of some guy who got pulled into a lathe....From the shoulders up he's pretty much just a red mist spread all over the lathe..

Heres a link to the pics:
http://www.b0g.org/wsnm/articles/This+Is+Twisted
If you look in some of the pics you can see a file jammed in the chuck...

 

[BanjoSavesTheDay]

Just to be clear, it wasn't the near death experience that was funny to me. That would be a terrible way to die. What was worse than the pictures was some of the comments people left. Anyway, I appreciate the seriousness of the matter. What made me laugh was "I thought he had gone insane and stripped in the shop".

 

[Jononon]

Grinders (now) scare the hell out of me.

At the 'shop where I get in the way the owner is completely **** about PPE.

After a weekend of cleaning up salvaged pavers with fibre disc on a rented 7" grinder, while wearing jeans, a T-shirt and a cheap pair of safety glasses, I went into the 'shop and picked up a harmless little mini-grinder with a cutting disc.

The deep groove it left in my full-face shield when it became obvious the last guy had cross-threaded the disc holder gave me some pause for thought...

 

[ZRX61]

Talking of ginders/polishers..
Take a look at the cover of (early edition) of Eddie Pauls Paint & Bodywork Handbook...

http://books.google.com/books?id=pP...ok_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CCQQ6AEwBQ#

Spot the screw up?

What kinda ******** idiot does that???

 

[s_morrison57]

A pic of the grinder hanging from your draw string would have really completed the post