Angle Grinder Injury

[BrentD]

Well, I have just added a pair of pants to the needs mending pile, a band-aid to my knee and a bandage to my wrist that make it look like I tried to off myself.

Working on my dad's cattle trailer. It needs a new tongue jack, but the tongue is a strait piece of large diameter pipe and the old jack was welded on with what looks like about 5 pounds of welding rod. I have been working most of the afternoon with my HF 4.5" angle grinder (using 4" cutting discs since I bought the wrong ones last time I was at the store) and nibbling the remnants of the old jack off a piece at a time. Got to the point that most of the old jack was gone and I just needed to grind the old mounting plate flat, so I broke out the big 8" Milwaukee angle grinder that has never had a guard since I owned it. First I managed a minor knick to my knee when the big grinder caught on a large burr and kicked, then a few minutes later it caught a different burr, kicked again and tore a nice large hole in the knee of my jeans (was using my knee as an added brace to the side handle) and took a decent chunk out of my knee. Went in, scrubbed the disc fragments out with alcohol (that hurt like H***) bandaged it up and went back to work. About 5 minutes later the grinder bucks again HARD. Just barely missed my chest, but somehow kicked my left hand loose from the side handle and the cutting disk caught it right across the wrist. Fortunately not too deep. I didn't even notice at first. Just thought I twisted it or something, then it started bleeding. Just lost some hide, but the area is too long and wide for a band-aide so I've got a gause pad taped over it right now. And yep, had to scrub the disc fragments out again.

I guess the grinder may have been trying to tell me something because that last kick tore the disc I was using (last one I had) up pretty bad, so time to stop for the day.

For what it's worth several times during my work I started to do things that I knew were incredibly stupid and stopped myself thinking about all the angle grinder horror stories I've read on here.

 

[whistlepig]

Even though I wear glasses all the time I won't use one unless I have a full plastic safety shield over my face. Too many injuries I have seen at work for me to take the chance. I have seen some faces maimed at work requiring many stitches. These wheels can explode with no warning. These seem to go for the lips. I have seen guys with 1" gashes in their lips. A very painful and disfiguring injury.

 

[dave1949]

I have a scar on the inside of my wrist from an air driven grinder. Worked at a place cleaning weld splatter off military truck beds. A little deeper and it could have torn through some tendons.

They are tools to beware of for sure. Sounds like the grinder is telling you something, I agree. Glad nothing serious happened.
Dave.

 

[zzvyb6]

Sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you'll tell us you were wearing safety glasses, though. I NEVER buy the cheapest, bargain, flea market blades because they are usually rejects from some wise requirements and passed off for lower price. Appears to me that you are using the grinder way out of its operating zone if you had to lean on it. I was always taught to let the tool do the work. Never force it. Could be wrong blade type as well.

Pants from Salvation Army work better than new, skin from duct tape, but fingers and eyes can't be found anywhere for sale. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice ....

 

[Sandlot]

First, you knew it should have had a guard. You decide to use it anyway. On your first try it bucks and takes a piece out of your jeans. So you put your knee right back in the same place and by golly it bucks again and this time takes a piece out of you and your jeans. Well, let's just try this one more time, and yep, it bucks again and dang near takes your hand off. Now you decide to call to it day, because it tore up the disk? Now Brent, please don't take this wrong but...........are you slow or something? :laughing:

 

[whistlepig]

Most of the injuries came from someone dropping or bumping the wheel and cracking it. I worked second shift. The first shift guy would drop or bump the grinder and crack the wheel. These cracks can't be seen. When the second shift guy came in he would rev up the grinder and it would explode. Even at home you can drop or bump the grinder wheel and crack it with out knowing. Then when you rev it up it explodes. Even premium wheels will explode if they are mishandled and cracked. And it doesn't take a whole lot to crack one.

 

[BrentD]

Sorry to hear about your injury. I hope you'll tell us you were wearing safety glasses, though. I NEVER buy the cheapest, bargain, flea market blades because they are usually rejects from some wise requirements and passed off for lower price. Appears to me that you are using the grinder way out of its operating zone if you had to lean on it. I was always taught to let the tool do the work. Never force it. Could be wrong blade type as well..

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.

First, you knew it should have had a guard. You decide to use it anyway. On your first try it bucks and takes a piece out of your jeans. So you put your knee right back in the same place and by golly it bucks again and this time takes a piece out of you and your jeans. Well, let's just try this one more time, and yep, it bucks again and dang near takes your hand off. Now you decide to call to it day, because it tore up the disk? Now Brent, please don't take this wrong but...........are you slow or something?

This big grinder has been through a lot. I normally only use it there is absolutely no other choice because I KNOW I'm going to end up getting hurt. As for being slow... Let's just say I am rather impatient, but I have an incredibly high pain tolerance and I heal very quickly. It may not be the best decision, but there are a lot of times where I choose to finish whatever job I'm working on with whatever tools I have at the moment and risk adding another scar to the collection rather than putting off the job and risk not being able to get back to it. I've had to deal with health problems and pain all my life so on the days I actually do feel like working I tend to push myself to the absolute limit. If I had had more grinding discs I probably would have kept working today, although I probably would have gone and gotten my long leather welding gloves and knee pads....

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.

 

[PILOON]

I also have had those disks blow up a few times.
One way to safely use them is to cut with the blade pulling away from you that way the shattered disc flies away and not towards you.
I stand to the side when doing that.
Downside is you get showered with sparks and your pants catch fire.
Has happened to me!
Naturally the guard is there for a reason but guess we all disregard it.

 

[Mousefield]

BrentD, Your story seems to be full of some bad work and safety habits. Glad you only had a few close calls, could have been much worse. Repeating the same mistake over and over is not a good idea. I'm sure all of us reading your story will learn from it so thanks for posting it, may help keep someone else from hurting or killing themselves.

 

[Eagleview]

1/ Use Polycarbonate safety glasses and hearing protection .

2/ Use the grinders guard .

3/ Use the trailing edge of the wheel , never the other side as it WILL kick and damage the wheel and possibly you as well .

4/ Never use welding gloves , not only are they awkward and limit your sense of feel but also because they are bulky , they block the air intakes of the smaller grinders which kills the armature .

5/ Make sure you are using the correct flange for the type of wheel you are using (flat or depressed center etc) .

6/ Never be tempted to deburr a cut by using the side of the cut off wheel , it WILL explode .