Angle grinders

[Donsexton]

Some of you all know I use grinders of all types I just looked at a picture of a carvers hand badly injured by a grinder over at 54. He softly stated make sure your grinder has a guard on it then he showed pictures of his grinder without a guard. The grinders that hurt carvers are side grinders, angle grinders the same thing. I don’t think grinders are for everyone they take every bit of your attention and respect. They will kick back, run out and bind just go squirrelly on you. You need to wear a full face shield and heavy leather gloves and leather boots. I want some other carvers to back me up here, "Colin help" on what I have told you here. That grinder is faster than a chainsaw and your hand is closer to it. The only carvers I know that have been hurt by a grinder took the guard off. This is why, to include me a sanding disc works’ better without the guard you can see better. Carvers get comfortable with a sanding disc the worst they will do with a 60 grit disc is get you road rash. The Saburrtooth doughnut wheel will just give you some really bad road rash. Both are fairly controllable even without a guard. This is not the case with any chainsaw type disc solid stamped type or with an actual chain on it. This type of grinding wheel will hurt you badly faster than you can blink or think.

[cgm]

Hi Don, That is some good advise,
Carl

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Donsexton

Some of you all know I use grinders of all types I just looked at a picture of a carvers hand badly injured by a grinder over at 54. He softly stated make sure your grinder has a guard on it then he showed pictures of his grinder without a guard. The grinders that hurt carvers are side grinders, angle grinders the same thing. I don’t think grinders are for everyone they take every bit of your attention and respect. They will kick back, run out and bind just go squirrelly on you. You need to wear a full face shield and heavy leather gloves and leather boots. I want some other carvers to back me up here, "Colin help" on what I have told you here. That grinder is faster than a chainsaw and your hand is closer to it. The only carvers I know that have been hurt by a grinder took the guard off. This is why, to include me a sanding disc works’ better without the guard you can see better. Carvers get comfortable with a sanding disc the worst they will do with a 60 grit disc is get you road rash. The Saburrtooth doughnut wheel will just give you some really bad road rash. Both are fairly controllable even without a guard. This is not the case with any chainsaw type disc solid stamped type or with an actual chain on it. This type of grinding wheel will hurt you badly faster than you can blink or think.

Just before I retired for good, I worked at a local place that made large farm sprayers....the type that are towed along by tractors.

It was my job to chip and grind all the rough steel off to make them look nice and so that any one working around these sprayers wouldn't get tangled up in the jagged edges of steel.

I never, ever took the guard off the grinder that I used. For one thing, if OSHA had caught me using the tool with out the guard, the company would have been fined and I would have been fired.

I really liked the chip and grind job.....but not as much as I do carving.

One thing is for sure, those grinders have a heck of a lot of torque....so you had better hang on tight, or it will kick back and get ya. It never got me.

[oregoncarver]

I use a grinder with the King Arthur chain saw chain on it and I would never run it without the guard. first of all my wife would shot me right there, second I value my body parts, ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.

Arthur

[Josef]

Too bloody true mate! I would never even contemplate taking the guard off my angle gringer no matter how irritating it can be when it just will not get to where I want. I just sigh and get out the dremel or the hand rasp. What the hey, sweat is better than blood any day as far as I am concerned. Listen to what Uncle Don says kids, it's no joke. Joe.

[Cottonwood]

Thanks for this valuable reminder. I don't use power myself....enjoy the peace and quiet of my hand tools.

[Colin-Partridge]

Don asked me to help him out. He is absolutly right even with the guard on they require your undivided attention. I am one who speaks from experience. I was using a Lancelot with a chain on it a few years back. I was trying to hollow the inside of a large carving. The problem with taking the guard off is the it allows the wheel to catch two surfaces at the same time top and bottom. When this happens it kicks the grinder so hard I defy anyone to hold onto it. I bear a huge scar the entire length of my right bicept from where it kicked back. And I was lucky because it caught my T Shirt ripped it completly off my body and the T shirt wrapped itself up in the wheel and stalled the grinder. Had that not happened I would imagine I would have had worse damage to my hand and leg. I have not used a grinder with a chain attatchment since, it the old addage once bitten twice shy and believe me I have been bitten. Good thread Don and thank you for reminding all of us about the hazards of grinders and cutters.
Colin

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

Thanks for this valuable reminder. I don't use power myself....enjoy the peace and quiet of my hand tools.

Ditto

Dave

[Dull Knife]

Originally Posted by Colin-Partridge

Don asked me to help him out. He is absolutly right even with the guard on they require your undivided attention. I am one who speaks from experience. I was using a Lancelot with a chain on it a few years back. I was trying to hollow the inside of a large carving. The problem with taking the guard off is the it allows the wheel to catch two surfaces at the same time top and bottom. When this happens it kicks the grinder so hard I defy anyone to hold onto it. I bear a huge scar the entire length of my right bicept from where it kicked back. And I was lucky because it caught my T Shirt ripped it completly off my body and the T shirt wrapped itself up in the wheel and stalled the grinder. Had that not happened I would imagine I would have had worse damage to my hand and leg. I have not used a grinder with a chain attatchment since, it the old addage once bitten twice shy and believe me I have been bitten. Good thread Don and thank you for reminding all of us about the hazards of grinders and cutters.
Colin

Gee, your experience with your grinder reminds me of an accident a friend of mine had. This happened waaaay back in the 1950's.

He was helping his Dad put hay bales up in to the hay loft. The grain elevator they were using to take the bales up to the loft was operated by a power take off, driven by the tractor.

I guess that Chuck for got about it and when he stepped over the spinning shaft of the power take off, it caught his pant leg. It ripped all his clothes off, except his shorts and put a long gash in the side of his right thigh.

He was lucky as it could have taken his leg off.

[Ky_Whittler]

Chainsaws angle grinders what ever. Keep the safetey's in place and wear protection at all times. Eye protection is also a must. Ya can't carve totally blind. Ky whittler