Angle Grinder Injury

   / Angle Grinder Injury #21  
I learned early on easy slow/low pressure with a grinder will actually lead to faster safer work of the project. I use a grinder for wood carving it has what looks like a chain saw blade on it. If I used this without paying attention it would easly CUT OFF a limb.
 
   / Angle Grinder Injury #22  
I had an angle grinder take a bite out of me one day after I had turned it off. The spinning wheel hadn't spun down and when I went to put the grinder down, the gyroscopic effect of the spinning wheel caused it to jump.
 
   / Angle Grinder Injury
  • Thread Starter
#23  
Yeah, wire brush wheels and cups will bite you pretty quick too. I've got a scar on my left arm where I was using a wire brush cup in a bench-top drill press (on about medium speed) to clean up a hot-tub cover lift arm I had brazed a little while before. Don't remember if I was reaching for something or just changing angles on the piece I was brushing but I got my wrist too close to the base of the brush and it cleaned the hide right off.

I also managed to burn the end of my nose with a soldering iron once when I was in Jr. High, but that had more to do with trying to solder and watch TV at the same time, laying in the living room floor, without my glasses on. (I'm very nearsighted without contacts or glasses.) I was holding the piece very close to my face, soldered the joint and then pulled the iron right back and drug it across the end of my nose in the process.

Seems like it doesn't matter what I'm working on, it ain't finished unless it has my blood in or on it.
 
   / Angle Grinder Injury #25  
I guess it's fairly common to remove the guards, but not a good idea. When I was repairing air tools, one of my customers sent me a couple of 8" Sioux pneumatic angle grinders for new guards because an OSHA inspector had visited their shop. Unfortunately, whoever removed the guards discarded them so I had to order new ones at a price that shocked even me; $130 each.
 
   / Angle Grinder Injury #26  
must have had liability insurance built into the price of them guards!! :)

soundguy
 
   / Angle Grinder Injury #27  
   / Angle Grinder Injury #28  
The cutting disc was a Forney. It has actually been on that grinder for probably 8 years. I don't use the big grinder all that often. It's got almost more power than I can handle.

When the grinder kicked I wasn't really putting any pressure on it, I was just in a weird angle and the grinder was vibrating so bad I put the end of the handle against my knee for extra stability. I think what caused the kick is that my wrist of the hand holding the back of the grinder got a little tired, let the grinder slip down a little bit and put the disc in a slight bind against the sharp edge causing the kick.
Any time a grinder vibrates or chatters like that its a sign you need to try a different approach. Continuing with the added pressure of your knee against the handle was inviting the grinder to kick. It could be the grinder is too powerful or heavy for you, but poor work habits are more likely the culprit. Glad you weren't hurt worse.
 
   / Angle Grinder Injury #29  
   / Angle Grinder Injury #30  
And yes, I was wearing safety glasses. I plan on getting a full face shield and hopefully something to keep the sparks from going down the back of of my neck the next time I'm at Harbor Freight.

Brent,
Check out a new grinder while you're at HF. Could be the best new tool you got!
Glad it wasn't worse, buddy. Stay safe. :)
 

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