My best friend was killed in an angle grinding accident a few years ago in Grafton NSW, aged 51. He was a tradesman and has been using angle grinders all his life. He was very safety conscious and was cutting through steel that was viced in his workshop. The guard was on. A small piece of the disc flew off after a possible disc jam and it severed his femoral artery in the leg. I will save you all from the horrific details, but David bled out after a minute or two, while desperately trying to seek help. I still can't believe this has happened. Such a lovely man, a great mate and loved and missed by many. RIP David.
@@wrongtown Thank you so much. It means a lot when someone that I have never met, says something like that. It's like a vote of confidence in humanity. Bless you........
@@CamperKev it's unfortunate that words are all we have, seems insufficient sometimes. I've had my share of familial grief but I can only imagine what it's like to lose a close mate like that. I like to think he'd be pleased to know you still think of him, and care enough to warn others that even if you're experienced and safety conscious things can turn in a moment.
Dude, you put out the most epic content on TH-cam. You are so right about all of it. I use grinders every day for work and watch guy after guy break fingers and get their shirts tied up to their necks. I decided very early on that one eye or testi is not worth the risk. Where I can, I skip the grinder for a safer tool. I bought a used porta band 2 months ago for $50 USD and it's already my favorite tool. Saved me 3/4 of my grinder work on my last project. No dust, no sparks and no cost in replacing blades. I bought 6 blades for this project and I didn't even replace the one that came used on the machine. Crazy that I've lived this long without knowing. I'll try and refrain from bathing with it. lol.
Oh one further piece of advice... I always ask my accident victims after surgery. "So was it the last cut or the first?" In my experience 80% of accidents with all tools are either the first or last pass, when your attention is on other things.
Thank you for being very thorough in the safety guide. I've worked in the shipyard/ship repair industry for 25 years and the angle grinder is the most common injury. Along with gloves and loose clothes is any jewelry on or near your hands. Jewelry can strip the meat right off your bones and there's no putting it back as it's mangled.
Story time. I have a friend who was using a disc cutter (petrol driven cutter for things like cutting kerb stones) and he'd forgotten the spanner for changing discs. He'd put a new disc into it and to tighten the locking nut, he used a hammer and a screwdriver. His effots worked and cutting appeared to be going well. Unfortunately he'd overtightened the nut and it had weakened the disc. That disc split in half at full rpm and one half hit his knee. His kneecap was smashed in half and the disc went deeper, chopping into his knee joint. He ended up lame for over a year and to this day, struggles to walk futherther than quarter of a mile. Respect these machines folks.
In a welding bay of a large factory , I discovered a 9 inch bosch angle grinder with a 14 inch cutoff wheel mounted on it ! I gave it a tentative burst on the trigger just to feel the crazieness before removing the wheel . It certainly had some extra gyroscopic forces going on . Keep it real out there folks . Cheers maaate
I grew up with a dad that did steel work at home and was expected to help in the garage. Parenting was different in the 80's. He owned a home made 2 hp powered 15 inch carborundum wheel cut-off saw and a 9 inch Makita angle grinder. That experience taught me a healthy respect for the power these machines possess. On another tangent, I work in the mining industry and had more than one argument with safety officers that tried to enforce wearing gloves when using rotating equipment. I don't know where the lessons on gloves and rotating equipment went missing, but it will cause issues, just a matter of time.
Brilliant video mate! That "keep out of the cutting plane", such great advice. Even when cutting, I always tried to keep out of the cutting plane. That saved me once. The kickback from the grinder got me work shirt, but missed me. Needless to say, I needed a new shirt, but much better than needing surgery!
Thanks John . I work construction. With prestressed cable in concrete slabs for 9 years now , and a lot of our work we have to use the 9 inch grinders , I’ve had some close calls , thanks for the info I wasn’t told anything in this detail about cutting with grinders .I just had to learn as I went . This should be mandatory knowledge
You can get a 100mm grinder for £20.00 here inthe Uk. Bought one but they are 1 hour use and die. Been using a grinder for 30 odd years and had a couple of scares. PPE is needed and common sense is essential. Bigert mistake I made was using an oily cotton apron which caught fire. I learned about plane of rotation when I started using a chainsaw. This is an important topic to discussion. Well put, cheers.
Safety glasses. Mr Stupid, me, has twice got ‘red eye’ via grinding/ cutting metal. Another time while chasing a wall for the plumber the old mongrel Makita 10 inch kicked out of the wall above me, not a saveable situation , so I surrendered control and stepped away only to have falling machine catch hold of my shirt and climb up into my armpit where the god of drunks saved me and got the grinder fully clogged so it was like a mad dog growling as it was ON powered up and spinning in fits and starts. It was a little embarrassing as I couldn’t reach the bloody switch to turn it OFF and I was very nervous about having to take the time to track down the plug with this nightmare riding along like a mad meat axe coughing in my armpit. But I bit the bullet and we both curtsied to the floor where I defused the power plug. Phew! Well I found another shirt and with weeping wounds all over my chest and armpit I took the rest of the day off and went to the pub. Movement over the the next week was pretty painful as I was covered in scabs but eventually all was good again. I can only say that I NEVER looked quite as silly as Mr Cardigan in his OH&S space suit. 1985.
More excellent content! I'm always amazed/horrified by the number of (usually US based) TH-camrs using angle grinders without the blade guard and/or the side handle fitted!
100% agree about gloves on rotating machines like lathe, drill press, mill but I disagree about no gloves with a grinder. The only time I've had a booboo with a grinder is when I've not worn gloves. Great deep dive, mate. Thanks for another great video. I was outside today cutting structural members for the shed I'm building.
100% agree, a pair of heavy leather welding gloves saved me from a really nasty injury when I had an angle grinder kick. I was only wearing them because I was doing a bunch of welding as well, and they were a pain to keep taking on and off. I always use them with the grinder now. Also like John suggests, I always opt for a hacksaw and file if possible, the grinder is my last resort rather than the go to.
I had a booboo when I was playing silly buggers with a grinder, I'd have lost a finger if not for my glove stopping some of the blade's momentum. Not saying it's something everyone should do... But something to consider.
Being a 40 year Fitter Welder and Engineer John I have the full fleet. 12v 125mm 240v 125mm and the pride and joy 240v 225 mm aka 9 inch. I love the 9 inch, when the job requires it hang onto the big girl with both hands. Always wary and never give to the inexperienced. The result would be ugly. It is good fun though 🎉😂
Yep gloves a risk on most rotational tools. Strangely enough there have been heated discussions regards ‘safety wear’(gloves especially) amongst machinists whereby most NEVER wear gloves and some do.. in part to Health and Safety Rules (written by some ‘expert’ demand the use of gloves on rotational machines.. whereas those skilled machinists/operators were taught NEVER to wear gloves because of the hazards of getting them caught into machinery/dragged in etc. I know two guys who were badly mangled because they were dragged into machines by clothing..lucky to be alive.
@@malcolmyoung7866 I use these tools relatively rarely but I do know to trust the practiced versus the "experts" for advice. I'll be going without the gloves and following John's great advice of staying out of the cutting plane.
@@malcolmyoung7866 very seldom do i wear gloves... toxic chemicals, high precision assemblies, and TIG/MIG welding. otherwise, i prefer the ability to hold, to feel...
Hi John, big fan, don't always agree with you. However, as a 35 year veteran in the safety and industrial hygiene industry I really do believe this is your best video yet. I have dealt with some of the largest companies in Australia and have a couple of horror stories that would make even your hair stand on end. Thank you for pointing out the issues with angle grinders. I would love to have a one on one discussion with you regarding safety in industry and around the home. It would be useful for many if you started quoting Australian Standards, one of my specialities.
Dude is just talking common sense and you want him to cite public policy? He threw all of the policy makers under the bus about mid-way through the video in case you hadn't noticed.
@@ILikeFreedomYo Australian Standards are not public policy. They are set by a panel of industry experts and manufacturers so you can be sure you are safe when working. Most products sold in Australia and New Zealand are subject to Standards, otherwise you might be dead. If John is hi-lighting safety, it would be useful if his viewers knew whether or not the products they are using are safe to use in Australian conditions. I have seen the injuries from using incorrect equipment; it's not pretty. By the way, I don't write Standards, however, I could have been jailed if I sold the incorrect products to my customers and someone died.
@@keithmottram8755I guess I don't understand. Is it policy for the public? Is it enforceable by government? Before when I've discussed government on this channel. People tap dance around what is and isn't government, politics, and law.
@@ILikeFreedomYo thanks for replying. Here in Australia we have safety laws that are enforced by a specialised government department. State to state the laws are all similar, but produce the same result. So the way it works, there is an Act (law) which calls up regulations. Those regulations call up Codes of Practice and the Codes call up Standards generally. The Standards are there to ensure everybody is working with a minimum level of safety. The Standards also provide advice on how to use safety equipment correctly. If you are caught not complying with the Act or regulations, yes, there can be a severe fine for the company and the individual. So, no, this is not politics, it is law that has been improved in consultation with industry over the years. I hope this helps.
@@keithmottram8755thanks for the explanation. Here in America when something is public policy aka laws and regulations then that is government and politics. Industry involvement in law making is called lobbying and cronyism which tends to be a bad thing because money is the driver rather than the will of the people. Anyway, enough grumping from me. I can tell you folk are passionate about your governance and that's what matters.
Thanks a lot mate for the warnings. I have done a lot of angle grinding with small and large grinders, never happened to hurt myself, but now noticed that I probably spent not enough thoughts on safety. You really made me think again. 👍 BTW, I still have to smirk at my younger self, when I as a teen, was doing the first arc welding experiments - in shorts instead of trousers... 😵💫 That really caught my attention on sparks.
Stumpy Nubbs, an experienced woodworker, argued with one of those discs with chainsaw chain around the outside edge. He is mostly intact. Others haven't been so lucky. I had a similar disc years ago. It went in the scrap metal after 10 minutes of use. The hairs on the back of my neck told me to do that. I believe they have now been banned in Europe.
Yes dodgy angle grinder attachment's are a good source of revenue for emergency departments. Always use properly designed attachment's on your angle grinder.
That story from Stumpy Nubs also included a picture of a guy who had loose clothing on, the grinder caught his shirt and climbed him. Made a mess of his neck. I inherited a 100mm grinder from my old man. I'm a bit nervous about it and haven't run it yet.
5:00 Pro tip - You can use the Ryobi 125mm grinder ONE HANDED between you legs (it has a safety on the opposite side of the trigger). For the more finer work. Safety squints not included
Well done video :) > 30:26 I have to make a note here. Please be careful to not put the section for the cutter that is turning away from you into the work. If it grabs it will fling the machine straight at you and is far more likely to grab and dig into the work. Always keep the cutting blade moving a little toward your grip, so that the machine feels to want to pull away from you if it grabs, and you will have more control over grabbing. Don't know if you have mentioned this somewhere else. At 35:15 This is a little ambiguous. You don't want that blade catching and pulling into the work, it will grab and smash. You need it to pop away from the work if it is a bit grabby. Obviously you are staying out of that rotation plane still. 33:28 You had a very mild downward tilt at the rear and a good example. I would go a slight more angle down on work that may be a little grabby but where you are at is a good example.. Any small grab will just lift the blade pressure off the work a little rather than digging in. > 36:57 OMG! Someone that gets it. > One true story of many available. At 18 I was working nights at a cabinet maker turning out wood balustrades on an industrial copy lathe to help pay me through tech. Pretty sweet, set up the work to be copied, put in a blank tumber and work each cut from the control box. In the end typically a quick scuff with a soft sand pad and then a hand full of shavings just to polish it off. . One night I was wearing a typical v neck pollo and reached over the lathe to flick some shavings off the tool post. My shirt touched the turning balustrade and BANG! I was face down inside of the belly of the beast. Fortunately the balustrade broke, and after a very long 2 or 3 seconds that tiny functioning part of my brain flicked my hand at the big red oh sh_t button. It was fast, and I mean freaking fast, like instant. You don't even register that it is happening. Lesson, don't be complacent around fast moving/turning machinery. Different timber or a metal lathe, well forget the ER and skip to the next stage.
Thank you for video! As amateur/novice/hobbyist I have made following mistakes : 1. Put a apolishing felt on grinding disk. Ended with a painful bruise 2. On one youtube video man claimed that grinding with "sparks from you is cleaner for workshop" . It started well, but ended with angle grinder entangled in my working trousers and slight cut in stomach. I consider myself lucky. 3. I bought cheap wire wheel - after a half hour of cleaning stock my thick working jacket looked like metal hedgehog. Luckily no damage to my body. 4. Ignored a respirator (initally). In the evening my nose was running with a silicon carbide paste... Another person told me to use saw blade for branch cutting. I bought disc , but luckily this time I spend a time researching matters. Found horrifying pictures on internet and decided not to try. These disks must be outlawed. Very useful fact - energy of angle grinder disk shard may reach an energy of firearm projectile. Angle grinder terrifies me,indeed As from other small details - I was cutting off some metal parts. After finishing work I found out that window glass is covered with small dots with carbide particles melted in glass.
I got chatting with an arborist we had contracted. His biggest piece of advice was also to keep out of the plane of rotation relative to the chainsaw’s chain. To add a practical element to the lesson, he then proceeded to show me a series of scars starting on his chest and finishing on his face to drive the point home. He also skipped the line at ED, in his case with a snapped chainsaw chain embedded in his upper body. Missed his eye, somehow.
This is an absolute safety masterclass.......delivered beautifully informally........but the message is clear!! John......I've conducted many instructional techniques lectures as a firefighter so I know what it takes to keep everyone focused and awake. You know how to deliver a "lecture"! Thanks John.............from one who's seen bad stuff!! Subscribed!! Dave (U.K)
All very excellent advice. The one thing I might add is what I was told by the old boys when I was an apprentice is, do not wear rings on the fingers when using any rotating tools or machinery. The easiest way to avoid doing this is not to wear rings at work at all. Peter Norcliffe. Yorkshire, England.
Great advice. Lessons learnt. I missed a lot of the safety background instruction as a kid. Fucking table saw gave me a reminder to get informed. Copped a nearly finished chopping board in the chest. Solid and at a reasonable pace. My mistake left a dirty big circular groove in one side of the board. I finished the job and use it daily. I'm reminded of my lack of skill and knowledge every time I look at it.
To add to this. Never use a 9 inch disc on a smaller machine to use all the disc. a 9 inch spins slower than a say 125mm the disc can just fly apart. Use the disc made for the machine.
I did not know that, so I just checked 6600rpm v's 11000rpm big big difference. Fortunately I've never done it either and now never will, cheers for the advice that's why I read comments.
Just completed paint stripping job out off a metal box with a wire wheel. No gloves with angle grinder is new information for me...I used to use welding gloves for such jobs. I follow all safety tips given by you. Thanks.
Another excellent video John. I was taught as a 1st year Apprentice Fitter & Turner (1969) about the inherent risks from the use of these versatile power tools, which definitely saved me from any potential injuries. Although l have personally witnessed some horrific injuries incurred by so many other operators that didn't abide by worksafe practices, such as you have mentioned. Keep up the good work mate. Hopefully many will put into practice what you have conveyed in this video. Cheers, mate.
I cut in my thumb, had turned grinder off and put it to table to wind down , when old corded 5" grinder bite me. Todays cordless grinders are a bit safer , Bosch has one that stops with sudden movement.
Yep, out of all the dangerous tools I have in my shop including a welder, cutting torch, belt sander, and forced air forge, my angle grinder sits above them comfortably in the oh crap where's my finger zone. It's like holding on to a pissed off cat, you really need to pay attention to what's in front of you. Honestly, if it weren't so useful, I'd have gotten rid of it years ago.
Years back I worked for a short time as a Fitter in a manufacturing/fab workshop, I was amazed how many trained trades guys, Boilermakers, Welders and Fitters would happily operate an angle grinder without a wheel guard fitted, because it obstructed access. I call them "Death Wish" people. Good safety instruction John, thanks.
@@nickabbott6278doesn't matter how experienced you are. It only takes a small lack of concentration to occur with a angle grinder for it to go horribly wrong.
No Guard - Seems the Yanks are the worst for that. I watched low ranking boiler maker flappers fabricating SpaceX stuff on youtube for months... never a guard in place, even on those 9" demons. Oh, and it wasn't limited to grinding or cutoff discs... large wheel and cup brushes... sanding discs, you name it, all hungry for flesh.
Excellent video and a timely reminder of risk and safe use of power tools. I will add a short story from my own experience. I was cutting large concrete blocks using a large angle grinder tool and a diamond cutting blade. Unaware of the danger, I simply worked at the most convenient position which was not far from my crotch. I believe that I chose the position which would send the dust and debris away from me. Suddenly the cutting blade got stuck. The grinder jumped right at me cutting thru any fabric and soft tissue in its path. Fortunately I got away with some minor wounds on the inside of my upper leg, only an inch or two from my beloved manhood parts. A couple of lessons learned there.
As some one who has a lot of hours on angle grinders large and small, let me tell you, I have a very healthy respect for angle grinders. Fortunately, I still have all my fingers and toes, arms legs and eyes. Unfortunately for others, I have seen and heard of some pretty horrific injuries. . The worst case is Kevin, who cut his foot nearly off with a 9 inch, he bears a scar that goes almost all the way around his ankle. Yes his foot was hanging by a flap of skin. . The problem with a grinder injury as opposed to a sharp blade injury is the ragged edges. A nice clean cut with a sharp blade is reasonably easy to sew up and join back together, a grinder injury is rough, ragged and there is often quite a bit of material missing and or mangled. . It must be understood that a good 240volt 9 inch angle grinder has similar power to an typical domestic lawn mower. YES, grinders contain large amounts of energy. . One of the problems is that people view the angle grinder as the universal tool, to a rediculous extent. Then there are some utterly stupid attachments for angle grinders. THE thing, I see so frequently is people using grinders without a guard. Used grinders for sale without a guard. Now there are some very limited occasions where removing the guard is appropriate, but some people seem just leave guards off as a matter of course. The immediate thing I see, is with no guard, and a cutting blade fitted ........ the blade lines up nicely with the fingers holding the machine ....... one slip of the hand ... dut, dut, dut off come the fingers. . Yes I have done a lot of work cutting and slotting both metal and masonry with big angle grinders. Sometimes the angle grinder IS the most appropraite tool. Let me tell you, you have to be incredibly careful AND mindful. Fortunately all the new big grinders have soft start, it was not always so. , As for gloves .... for some work with angle grinders, gloves are an absolute must, sharp edges, hot metal, streams of sparks, doing other things like welding in conjunction with grinding and so on. After all you should have both hands on the grinder. The gloves need to be well fitting and appropriate. This one dimensional view, that gloves should never be used with any rotating machinery, simply does not stand up to proper risk assessment.
I have never removed the guard, always worn hearing and eye protection, and never worn gloves while using an angle grinder. Mine is a 125mm, and I have made 2 mistakes. The most expensive one was leaning over a stream of steel spray, and leaving tracks up an expensive pair of prescription protective eyewear. The one that injured me was, with a grinding disk on, was dropping the bugger, and going for the catch. a finger somehow went between the blade and guard. A surprisingly lucky-non painful injury which left a shiny 3mm wide scar on top of my index finger, between the 2nd and 3rd knuckle. Thank goodness for the dead man's switch on a modern battery tool. A bit on electrical tape and work on, job had to get done. It is a tool that deserves respect and full attention, but for many cutting tasks , a recipero is the safer tool, giving better control, and safer operation.
I bought the Vevor band saw on the table mount after having seen your review John. Best thing I ever did, as I previously used a hand/ hack saw and infrequently also with a grinder. The Vevor unit is great value and pretty good quality also. No hot sparks or risk of setting fire to stuff.
Me too. I bought one with the vice and base to cut down a security screen door to size and it was cheaper than paying for installation, plus produced a neat straight cut. Much better than a manual hacksaw or angle grinder.
I noted also how so many injuries I’ve seen have also had cheap disks, (I didn’t say Chinese) that have failed explosively causing shrapnel destruction to the operator and surrounding areas. I pay for quality disks for that very reason. Great video, and I appreciate your concern and the information given.
John, thanks there are plenty of brave idiots out there who think they are immune from accidents. As an old builder from Perth, my guys knew that I took safety extremely seriously. One of the worst accidents that I had to deal with, not on my building site thank goodness, but helping my mate and his 75 year old father out by lending them my 9" angle grinder to cut steel on the garage that they were demolishing. Old Ray, was cutting a steel beam between his legs on the ground, and for some reason was wearing gloves! In a split second, the grinder kicked backwards and sliced through his Achilles tendon! It took nearly nine months for him to get back full mobility. Luckily he didn't cut his foot off. I refuse to wear gloves, as fast rotating can't be held absolutely securely. I do a lot of handyman work but can only really use my right hand so pay particular attention to trying to minimise injury. But accidents do and always will happen. Don't be lazy with your PPE! Always enjoy your videos thanks mate! Stay safe everyone, you only have two eyes and once your hearing is gone, you are never going to get it back.
I've seen that dude on TH-cam cutting the PTO, there's plenty of those so called lifestyle farmers that I've got all brand-new toys like tractors chainsaws motorbikes etc and have no idea what they doing but they giving advice out and earning money off it.
I worked in engineering back in the early 2000's. We had 9inch grinders back then. I nearly eviscerated myself when it bit. I have a small scar on my gut like I had a C section. I am glad we dont have those anymore... they were insane for a handheld bit of equipment. Some of the new discs around like the chainsaw one are even more insanity.
I have a scar on my right middle finger where I briefly touched a grinding wheel. It tells me that grinders are not toys. This is a great video John. Thank you.
Further to my previous comment, I completely agree with your comment that the best way to cut is by keeping the body of the grinder between the workpiece and your body.
You might have just saved me from losing me fingers. I've only just bought a table saw and I've wanted one my whole life and I suppose thinking about it now. I've been pretty complacent about it. This video has got me to second guess myself and I will treat the saw with a lot more respect.
22:28 Oh, that reminds me.. You can also fit a 9 inch disc onto the Ryobi 115/125mm grinder. But it gets pretty close to the trigger without the guard.
I was a boilermaker in another life and have a few near hit stories with angle grinders. There is a lot of potential now to keep hospital ER's in business with the proliferation of cheap Chinese'im welders and power tools. Every idiot with a few hundred dollars in his jeans can buy a welder and of course you need an angle grinder to cut stock and make those ugly welds look a bit better. The scariest thing in my opinion is the cutting (we called them Zip disks). The average bone head doesn't know that you can't put side force on them to grind with, which makes the likelihood of them flying apart exponentially higher. Medical science has taken a lot of the "evolution by natural selection" effect that disease used to have on our species, but maybe cheap angle grinders can do that work now.
Well done John. Already had an experience with a PTO where my overalls got cought after the cover was removed. Now I'm scared to enter my workshop and thinking about putting a lock on it! Barstard. Joking, realise you just trying to save lives.
Of all the tools and machines I use, from hand and power tools, bench-mounted devices, and up to major industrial machines (like a 3m-wide guillotine), the hand-held angle-grinder is the one that scares me the most, and the one which I approach and handle with the greatest respect and caution.
Keep up that caution. The tendency for many fabricators to become complacent with their grinders is so needlessly dangerous. I won't even touch a grinder wrench with the battery attached because I don't want to risk the trigger getting depressed by accident during the process.
Also beware grinding near any windows (car or house/workshop) as the red hot sparks imbed into the glass and next you have rusty glass that you can’t wipe off…
On a much smaller scale, I have a DREMEL Heavy Duty Cut Off Wheel No. 420 here. As a locksmith, I've cut case hardened lock hasps, wheel lugs, lots of other things with them. Dremel tools are great, if used properly. This "Heavy Duty" wheel is 1 inch (25mm) diameter, and only 1 mm thick. No reinforcement, just pure media. You can snap them with two fingers, like a little wafer cookie. Dremel tool's maximum speed is 35,000 rpm. There's no guard. They'll cut almost anything, but the slightest side pressure, or over pressure, and you'd better have eye protection, at least. As tiny as they are, they are dangerous if used carelessly. They make thicker ones, I only used these in a pinch. That's why I have 20 left years after retiring. Any cutting tool will injure people, and has
Thanks for the heads up. Rarely use mine as find them intimidating but had scheduled using one tomorrow probably wrobngly. Will use my repricating saw instead..
simply amazing how that box appeared out of nowhere at the 11.40 second mark, well done, oh I was seeing things nevermind it was never there 15.04 mark and I love your knowledge
After owning a few corded grinders with no dead man switches for 40 years I nearly lost a finger cutting timber. I bought a nice 18V deWalt grinder. With a dead man switch and disc brake it is a life ( or at least finger) saver for someone who has had his share of near misses. Thanks for the tips from a self taught amateur.
Very well presented and comprehensive video; many may wish they could have seen this advice and methodology explained a long time ago. The fire risk issues are commonly neglected by too many as are access to effective extinguishing agents.
This video should be compulsory viewing for dangerous power tools .I wish I could give this a thousand likes. I see people in the automotive industry using all manner of cutting, grinding and polishing tools with no regard to safety, and they are supposed to be trained . Thanks for posting.
This thing is kinda harmless compared to a 9 inch,used them as an apprentice fitter,in 82 to 85,ive had them bite into the job,and flick back at me and take a chunk out of my guts, straight thru the ol king gee overalls.The funny thing is grinder wounds dont bleed much,they are just a pinkish, white gouge,aah the good ol days
Memories. Back in 1972 I was using a 7 or 9 inch grinder to cut the pillars off a burned Chevy cab and when it pinched it took a chunk out of my shirt. My guardian angels were working overtime (and not the only time they saved me). Cats and their 9 lives have nothing on me.
Good advice on angle grinder use. May I add another observation. When you rotated the angle grinder from horizontal cutting to vertical cutting just after 29:00 your left forearm was also crossing the cutting plane and was therefore just as exposed to injury as your right ear or worse. As with you I would never hold an angle grinder in that attitude. A similar concern occurs with circular saws which I have realised come in left and right handed models. Bizarrely this is not acknowledged on the packaging when new. The handle of the saw, (slightly off set from the plane of cutting) and the motor are definitely located on the left or the right of the blade.
I've used them for fifty odd years. my intro was being pointed at a 9" three horse grinder with a rubber pad on it and a stack of some of the coarsest discs I've ever seen. there were about five stillages full of plates. One ten second demo later and " come back when you've finished those " oddly enough I found the thing easy to use, and I've liked them ever since. There are about 4 of the 4" around one 9", and a weird 5" thing around at home and workshop, I know where the guards are but only use the 9", because of how much crap that one kicks out , nice to direct it somewhere else. Injuries ? 1 skin nick. John must have been frightened by an angle grinder as a child. Joking apart, any job involving machinery requires you to have thought about it first, there are potential dangers to all of them. Gloves, often steel has vicious burrs on it, you're going to be wearing gloves, I suggest the thick vinyl gloves don't tend to grab everything in sight.
Thanks for the glove bit I have this conversation all the time. And one other thing is Metarbo 126s quick awesome bit of kit. Saved me a few times, especially in winter.
After decades of using 4" and 4 1/2" grinders, I've settled on a 5" as a good all round size. I do a lot of mild steel fabrication with material up to 10mm thick. I now find I only use 1mm thick cutting discs. Faster cutting, less effort from the operator, fewer sparks and less heat generated than when using the thicker alternatives. Only downside is you need a steady hand to keep your cuts straiģht with thicker material. Had a mate many years ago who picked up a handful of discs at the dump for his 4" grinder. I had a look at them and they were actually worn down 9" cutting discs, so I suggested he send them back to the dump, as the max rpm on the disc's label was about half of what his machine was rated at. He used them anyway, and one exploded when he was cutting something in his front yard. His house was on stumps and half of the disc shot under the house and hit his wife (who was hanging out the washing in the back yard) in the thigh. She needed several stitches, and the remaining discs were sent back to from whence they came.
I was utting some weldmeh, 9" snagged, kicked back and short handle whacked me in the eye socket area. I had a full face shield on and safety glasses under neath, still hurt but no serious injury. I also purchased a cheap car buffer, sheepskin cover span off and whacked me in the nuts, luckily I was on my own so groveling about on the floor crying and holding my nuts was witnessed by none. Not bad for 40 years in engineering.
Great video.Well done. I had a friend who was grinding in his fathers workshop and they heard a loud bang.There had been a car battery charging on the other side of the workshop.The sparks had ignited the fumes given off by the battery and it blew the top off the battery and showered acid all over the place.Grinding outside reduces a lot of unforeseen hazards.
I remember reading a news article a few years ago during covid lockdowns of a guy using an angle grinder to chop tree limbs and almost severed his hand completely off, I shook my head reading it.
John, I have cheated Death a few times, needed your common-sense video probably 40 years ago. Your spark warning is a very good one. I was charging a small lead acid battery for my race car on the work bench. Yep...just a little hydrogen fission 10 ft away. First I was mad I ruined the battery, moments later after figuring out what just happened, how lucky I was not to get sprayed by acid.
Regarding the gloves and angle grinder: I use a tight fitting leather welders glove for when I have to cut/grind or wirebrush steel. It actually saved my my hands countless times of small cuts, accidental contact with grinding disks, small separating wires from the wire wheel, and not once was it caught by the grinder. So I think that one works and is pretty safe. Textile based gloves: not so much. I agree.
I hardly use my grinder anymore I mainly use my vibrating multi tool for cutting or a saw all, being in the car restoration trade for years it's actually rather shocking once you get comfortable with a grinder how many irresponsible positions you get in without thinking, no job is worth an injury or death thanks John for the wakeup call.
Great vid, John. Always very instructive. Now I've just got to remember to stand on the MOTOR side of the drop saw when cutting steel. Also, I think I might invest in one of those portable band saws ... much cheaper than medical costs after an angle grinder disc fucks up. I've had enough of them shatter to know to wear all the safety PPE you mention, inc. a leather apron to protect my junk. As you said, the main thing is to enjoy making stuff - safely.
I used to sell tools. One of the most dangerous accesories (in my opinion) we stocked was basically a tungsten carbide mini circular saw blade designed to fit an angle grinder to allow the punter to cut wood. Before I let a customer take one away I would give him (it was always a "him") a lecture on how dangerous they were and why I would NEVER use one myself.
A toothed blade in an angle grinder is against all tool manufacturers 'use rules'. How was it legal to sell them? The only toothed blades in an angle grinder type tool I've seen have TWO blades that counter-rotate, taking 'bites' with zero kickback potential. They cut aluminium extrusion profiles very well and safe.
The point you made regarding gloves and grinders was something I needed to hear... I knew about lathes, drill presses and table saws but never considered grinders for some reason. In the US the stores are selling probably the most dangerous disc for grinders. It is a grinding type wheel with a chainsaw blade.. I cant imagine that there is a safe way to use one of those.
I saw one, probably on Funk FPV. I was horrified. I assumed it was homemade. I never imagined they would be sold, at least not in a civilized country. That's insane
Everyone in any of the departments to do with engineering and mechanical work at the preserved railway I volunteer at have to take two year tests to make sure we are competent to use angle grinders safely and properly. I have learnt that using a full-face visor is a great piece of PPE when using an angle grinder especially when cleaning rust and old paint off items.
REAL respect of a power tool comes rapidly with a 9" grinder.. not just 21/2hp.. reeaal HP with real torque NO man can fight kickback.. Hitachi.. it kicks like a mule on the tigger start so you hold them good & hard.. i had a 9" disk blow apart.. luckily I avoid lining the disk with my body parts.. unluckily a quarter sz chunk of the disk hit my left foot.. luckily I wore steel caps.. unluckily it hit my foot halfway up my big toe metatarsil.. & broke it.. barely a mark on my boots
Dude love your channel....this vid tops it off for me....well done and ty and please continue your work...from the Midwest of 'merica......I gotta buy you a beer!
well said, i do have an issue with the "makers" on youtube. as a trained furniture maker i am amazed at what is passed off as "knowledge". it appears one person makes a video making it up on the fly. then everyone else makes their own version of that video using the same misinformation. very quickly that misinformation becomes fact. i am always very careful about where i get my advice on youtube and watch a few versions to make sure it is a decent method by professionals.
I watched the Croak Yourself While Welding video way back whenand subscribed to your channel because of it. I've learned a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience, both in shop videos and in the those focused on the electric utopia movement. I've had that Vevor band saw (with stand) since September of 23. It's definitely a game changer. I also have a 4" angle grinder I use with a flap disc, and a thick solid disc, to dress cuts and welds. With the guard on. Always. When I see people on those custom car builder shows or youtube videos cutting throgh whatever with a thin disc, sparks flying, perfectly in line with the plane of rotation, it makes me want to go put on PPE. That tool needs respect born of fear. So thanks for more info and advice on how to stay safe. But I need to know something else - where do you get your T shirts? They're not the usual mindless stuff everyone wears these days. So if you could let us know that it wound be much appreciated. And just one more thing (as Inspector Colombo used to say) - would you consider putting all your shop videos in a separate category in the video section please and thank you? I'd like to look back and find all the ones I've missed without so much scrolling. Hope you see merit in that request; looking forward to seeing more great infomation on your channel.
Excellent video wish there was more of this content on TH-cam. One of the worst things TH-cam did was remove the negative view count view, it used to be at least some guide to newbies that what they are watching might be dangerous.
What a great bunch of wise advice. And in the good ole USA Harbor freight has angle grinders on sale all the time for $10. That's definitely the cheapest way to the front of the emergency department.
Great warning on grinders . In the 1990s my hardware changed over to Chinese cutting and grinding disks i Bought 5 disks first one was vibrating so bad i junked it.The second one as soon as i touched the the metal the disk exploded ripping the grinder out of both hands flipped up then came back down through my hands still on and took the tips off my fingers .I was wearing gloves and safety glasses . So after the trip to hospital and much pain i went to the hardware and showed what had happened .Great owner took off all the Chinese disks by the boxes and binned the lot on the spot . The next week it was all Norton disks. Man if was not wearing gloves it would have been so much worse . You have to respect you equipment and wear PPE And i wear leather apron to protect body . Seen those crazy mini saw blade in cheap outlets that goes on angle grinders that a accident waiting to happen that thing running across your gut..
John: Would you like to hear about me (at 12 yr age) removing paint from the ouside of an old mc gas-tank wearing a wool vest? I needed to push harder and put the Bosch drill with a wire brush attachment as close to my body as possible to maximize down-pressure ... and then It grabbed the wool in my vest... Off course I had pushed in the continous run switch as well. The thing tightened my vest until I got blue in my face but after about 5 seconds I succeeded in pushing in the knob to get out of continous run. Shit like that teaches you to be careful.
I once put a 9" wire cup on a 5" grinder, it fitted perfectly with only more gyro force to it. I then tackled the end of some square tubing with it. One of the twisted wire strands locked into it and boom. That grinder jolted my arm and flung across the garage. Never again. I still keep it in my metalwork box as a reminder!!
I got really good using a slow cut brobo saw back when I was 16yo one school holidays working in a fitter shop to earn some $$$ for a kayak I was building. Its great to see an affordable home version of that these days. This is SOooooo much safer than an angle grinder...
I've used the 3 tooth 125mm cement sheet cutting, widow maker a few times. Hairy as f***! But those rotary cheese graters for wood calving, I'll pass on.
Was doing an outside rounded cut to a sheet of mdf. With an old school Delta Table saw... Had roughed it out, just doing a "smoothing operation"....called anything this stupid a "danger saw" Experienced a kickback... it did suck, ALOT!. Thankfully no permanent damage. The original danger saw, was a circular saw with the guard removed.. You had to wait for the blade to stop before setting it down... A new guy cut a 2x4 on a new house (unpoured basement) set the unit down, when it promptly launched itself into the basement, quicker than he could say "huh?!"😮
When I lived in rural NSW, the idiot next door neighbour, decided to use a 9” angle grinder without a cutting guard AND with a disc with a big chunk out of it! Yes , a big missing v shaped piece of the cutting disc! He came to my house, spurting arterial blood and minutes from death. Shock had set in and he was loosing a lot of blood, from his left wrist that was cut down and into the bone! I grabbed my first aid kit, applied some pressure pads to no effect and blood soaked in seconds. I grabbed a military tourniquet and applied it to his forearm then went with more pads and then pressure bandaged his wrist and lower arm to try to save his arm and hand. Rang the ambulance, requesting senior paramedics as the injury was life threatening as we spoke. Long story , but he survived with a poor functioning left arm and hand , despite his stupidity DONT ever use a 9” angle grinder and never use a damaged cutting, grinding or polishing disc Danger is real with these tools, so don’t be a tool yourself!
The interwebs are positively chock full of all sorts of angle grinder hacks, everything from using your trusty angle grinder to power a homemade lathe, lawn mower, table saw etc and these are the less nonsensical ones. An angle grinder used as the manufacturer intended can be highly dangerous but attaching it to a ramshackled device is almost a surefire recipe for a high speed trip to emergency
My best friend was killed in an angle grinding accident a few years ago in Grafton NSW, aged 51. He was a tradesman and has been using angle grinders all his life. He was very safety conscious and was cutting through steel that was viced in his workshop. The guard was on. A small piece of the disc flew off after a possible disc jam and it severed his femoral artery in the leg. I will save you all from the horrific details, but David bled out after a minute or two, while desperately trying to seek help. I still can't believe this has happened. Such a lovely man, a great mate and loved and missed by many. RIP David.
I'm sorry for your loss mate 😔
@@wrongtown Thank you so much. It means a lot when someone that I have never met, says something like that. It's like a vote of confidence in humanity. Bless you........
@@CamperKev it's unfortunate that words are all we have, seems insufficient sometimes. I've had my share of familial grief but I can only imagine what it's like to lose a close mate like that.
I like to think he'd be pleased to know you still think of him, and care enough to warn others that even if you're experienced and safety conscious things can turn in a moment.
Dude, you put out the most epic content on TH-cam.
You are so right about all of it. I use grinders every day for work and watch guy after guy break fingers and get their shirts tied up to their necks.
I decided very early on that one eye or testi is not worth the risk.
Where I can, I skip the grinder for a safer tool.
I bought a used porta band 2 months ago for $50 USD and it's already my favorite tool.
Saved me 3/4 of my grinder work on my last project.
No dust, no sparks and no cost in replacing blades.
I bought 6 blades for this project and I didn't even replace the one that came used on the machine.
Crazy that I've lived this long without knowing.
I'll try and refrain from bathing with it. lol.
It shoud be made compulsory to watch a video on safety before buying any power tools
We loved your video on safety.. was awesome
Oh one further piece of advice... I always ask my accident victims after surgery. "So was it the last cut or the first?" In my experience 80% of accidents with all tools are either the first or last pass, when your attention is on other things.
Thank you for being very thorough in the safety guide. I've worked in the shipyard/ship repair industry for 25 years and the angle grinder is the most common injury. Along with gloves and loose clothes is any jewelry on or near your hands. Jewelry can strip the meat right off your bones and there's no putting it back as it's mangled.
But Thulsa Doom tought us that flesh is stronger than steel. :-P
Hideous injury It's called degloving - except its your skin as the glove - next stop prosthetics lab
Thank You for really, really caring about people.
Story time. I have a friend who was using a disc cutter (petrol driven cutter for things like cutting kerb stones) and he'd forgotten the spanner for changing discs. He'd put a new disc into it and to tighten the locking nut, he used a hammer and a screwdriver.
His effots worked and cutting appeared to be going well. Unfortunately he'd overtightened the nut and it had weakened the disc. That disc split in half at full rpm and one half hit his knee. His kneecap was smashed in half and the disc went deeper, chopping into his knee joint. He ended up lame for over a year and to this day, struggles to walk futherther than quarter of a mile.
Respect these machines folks.
In a welding bay of a large factory , I discovered a 9 inch bosch angle grinder with a 14 inch cutoff wheel mounted on it ! I gave it a tentative burst on the trigger just to feel the crazieness before removing the wheel . It certainly had some extra gyroscopic forces going on . Keep it real out there folks . Cheers maaate
I grew up with a dad that did steel work at home and was expected to help in the garage. Parenting was different in the 80's. He owned a home made 2 hp powered 15 inch carborundum wheel cut-off saw and a 9 inch Makita angle grinder. That experience taught me a healthy respect for the power these machines possess.
On another tangent, I work in the mining industry and had more than one argument with safety officers that tried to enforce wearing gloves when using rotating equipment. I don't know where the lessons on gloves and rotating equipment went missing, but it will cause issues, just a matter of time.
I have a 9" Hitachi foundry grinder and that thing is f. nasty.
Gloves will save your fingers from accidental touches with the cutting blades. I value my fingers just as much as my testicles.
Brilliant video mate! That "keep out of the cutting plane", such great advice. Even when cutting, I always tried to keep out of the cutting plane. That saved me once. The kickback from the grinder got me work shirt, but missed me. Needless to say, I needed a new shirt, but much better than needing surgery!
i would've needed new trousers too
Thanks John . I work construction. With prestressed cable in concrete slabs for 9 years now , and a lot of our work we have to use the 9 inch grinders , I’ve had some close calls , thanks for the info I wasn’t told anything in this detail about cutting with grinders .I just had to learn as I went . This should be mandatory knowledge
I hate angle grinders. I found it really confronting with you pointing the blade at me. even on screen
You can get a 100mm grinder for £20.00 here inthe Uk. Bought one but they are 1 hour use and die. Been using a grinder for 30 odd years and had a couple of scares. PPE is needed and common sense is essential.
Bigert mistake I made was using an oily cotton apron which caught fire.
I learned about plane of rotation when I started using a chainsaw.
This is an important topic to discussion. Well put, cheers.
Safety glasses. Mr Stupid, me, has twice got ‘red eye’ via grinding/ cutting metal. Another time while chasing a wall for the plumber the old mongrel Makita 10 inch kicked out of the wall above me, not a saveable situation , so I surrendered control and stepped away only to have falling machine catch hold of my shirt and climb up into my armpit where the god of drunks saved me and got the grinder fully clogged so it was like a mad dog growling as it was ON powered up and spinning in fits and starts.
It was a little embarrassing as I couldn’t reach the bloody switch to turn it OFF and I was very nervous about having to take the time to track down the plug with this nightmare riding along like a mad meat axe coughing in my armpit. But I bit the bullet and we both curtsied to the floor where I defused the power plug. Phew!
Well I found another shirt and with weeping wounds all over my chest and armpit I took the rest of the day off and went to the pub.
Movement over the the next week was pretty painful as I was covered in scabs but eventually all was good again.
I can only say that I NEVER looked quite as silly as Mr Cardigan in his OH&S space suit.
1985.
Your experience on this matter and general safety is much appreciated, as is your use of less dangerous and more appropriate tools for most jobs.
More excellent content!
I'm always amazed/horrified by the number of (usually US based) TH-camrs using angle grinders without the blade guard and/or the side handle fitted!
100% agree about gloves on rotating machines like lathe, drill press, mill but I disagree about no gloves with a grinder. The only time I've had a booboo with a grinder is when I've not worn gloves.
Great deep dive, mate. Thanks for another great video. I was outside today cutting structural members for the shed I'm building.
100% agree, a pair of heavy leather welding gloves saved me from a really nasty injury when I had an angle grinder kick. I was only wearing them because I was doing a bunch of welding as well, and they were a pain to keep taking on and off. I always use them with the grinder now. Also like John suggests, I always opt for a hacksaw and file if possible, the grinder is my last resort rather than the go to.
I use latex gloves for everything, they rip immediately and don't catch in my experience.
I had a booboo when I was playing silly buggers with a grinder, I'd have lost a finger if not for my glove stopping some of the blade's momentum. Not saying it's something everyone should do... But something to consider.
Being a 40 year Fitter Welder and Engineer John I have the full fleet. 12v 125mm 240v 125mm and the pride and joy 240v 225 mm aka 9 inch. I love the 9 inch, when the job requires it hang onto the big girl with both hands. Always wary and never give to the inexperienced. The result would be ugly. It is good fun though 🎉😂
I'd never considered wearing gloves was a risk. Considering getting that band saw. One of your best safety vids.
Yep gloves a risk on most rotational tools.
Strangely enough there have been heated discussions regards ‘safety wear’(gloves especially) amongst machinists whereby most NEVER wear gloves and some do.. in part to Health and Safety Rules (written by some ‘expert’ demand the use of gloves on rotational machines.. whereas those skilled machinists/operators were taught NEVER to wear gloves because of the hazards of getting them caught into machinery/dragged in etc. I know two guys who were badly mangled because they were dragged into machines by clothing..lucky to be alive.
@@malcolmyoung7866 I use these tools relatively rarely but I do know to trust the practiced versus the "experts" for advice. I'll be going without the gloves and following John's great advice of staying out of the cutting plane.
@@malcolmyoung7866 very seldom do i wear gloves...
toxic chemicals, high precision assemblies, and TIG/MIG welding.
otherwise, i prefer the ability to hold, to feel...
Hi John, big fan, don't always agree with you. However, as a 35 year veteran in the safety and industrial hygiene industry I really do believe this is your best video yet. I have dealt with some of the largest companies in Australia and have a couple of horror stories that would make even your hair stand on end. Thank you for pointing out the issues with angle grinders. I would love to have a one on one discussion with you regarding safety in industry and around the home. It would be useful for many if you started quoting Australian Standards, one of my specialities.
Dude is just talking common sense and you want him to cite public policy? He threw all of the policy makers under the bus about mid-way through the video in case you hadn't noticed.
@@ILikeFreedomYo Australian Standards are not public policy. They are set by a panel of industry experts and manufacturers so you can be sure you are safe when working. Most products sold in Australia and New Zealand are subject to Standards, otherwise you might be dead. If John is hi-lighting safety, it would be useful if his viewers knew whether or not the products they are using are safe to use in Australian conditions. I have seen the injuries from using incorrect equipment; it's not pretty. By the way, I don't write Standards, however, I could have been jailed if I sold the incorrect products to my customers and someone died.
@@keithmottram8755I guess I don't understand. Is it policy for the public? Is it enforceable by government?
Before when I've discussed government on this channel. People tap dance around what is and isn't government, politics, and law.
@@ILikeFreedomYo thanks for replying. Here in Australia we have safety laws that are enforced by a specialised government department. State to state the laws are all similar, but produce the same result. So the way it works, there is an Act (law) which calls up regulations. Those regulations call up Codes of Practice and the Codes call up Standards generally. The Standards are there to ensure everybody is working with a minimum level of safety. The Standards also provide advice on how to use safety equipment correctly. If you are caught not complying with the Act or regulations, yes, there can be a severe fine for the company and the individual. So, no, this is not politics, it is law that has been improved in consultation with industry over the years. I hope this helps.
@@keithmottram8755thanks for the explanation.
Here in America when something is public policy aka laws and regulations then that is government and politics. Industry involvement in law making is called lobbying and cronyism which tends to be a bad thing because money is the driver rather than the will of the people.
Anyway, enough grumping from me. I can tell you folk are passionate about your governance and that's what matters.
Thanks a lot mate for the warnings. I have done a lot of angle grinding with small and large grinders, never happened to hurt myself, but now noticed that I probably spent not enough thoughts on safety. You really made me think again. 👍
BTW, I still have to smirk at my younger self, when I as a teen, was doing the first arc welding experiments - in shorts instead of trousers... 😵💫 That really caught my attention on sparks.
Stumpy Nubbs, an experienced woodworker, argued with one of those discs with chainsaw chain around the outside edge. He is mostly intact. Others haven't been so lucky.
I had a similar disc years ago. It went in the scrap metal after 10 minutes of use. The hairs on the back of my neck told me to do that.
I believe they have now been banned in Europe.
Yes dodgy angle grinder attachment's are a good source of revenue for emergency departments.
Always use properly designed attachment's on your angle grinder.
That story from Stumpy Nubs also included a picture of a guy who had loose clothing on, the grinder caught his shirt and climbed him. Made a mess of his neck. I inherited a 100mm grinder from my old man. I'm a bit nervous about it and haven't run it yet.
@@yetanotherbloke I remember. That was brutal.
5:00 Pro tip - You can use the Ryobi 125mm grinder ONE HANDED between you legs (it has a safety on the opposite side of the trigger). For the more finer work. Safety squints not included
Well done video :)
>
30:26 I have to make a note here. Please be careful to not put the section for the cutter that is turning away from you into the work. If it grabs it will fling the machine straight at you and is far more likely to grab and dig into the work. Always keep the cutting blade moving a little toward your grip, so that the machine feels to want to pull away from you if it grabs, and you will have more control over grabbing.
Don't know if you have mentioned this somewhere else.
At 35:15 This is a little ambiguous. You don't want that blade catching and pulling into the work, it will grab and smash. You need it to pop away from the work if it is a bit grabby.
Obviously you are staying out of that rotation plane still.
33:28 You had a very mild downward tilt at the rear and a good example. I would go a slight more angle down on work that may be a little grabby but where you are at is a good example.. Any small grab will just lift the blade pressure off the work a little rather than digging in.
>
36:57 OMG! Someone that gets it.
>
One true story of many available.
At 18 I was working nights at a cabinet maker turning out wood balustrades on an industrial copy lathe to help pay me through tech. Pretty sweet, set up the work to be copied, put in a blank tumber and work each cut from the control box. In the end typically a quick scuff with a soft sand pad and then a hand full of shavings just to polish it off.
.
One night I was wearing a typical v neck pollo and reached over the lathe to flick some shavings off the tool post. My shirt touched the turning balustrade and BANG! I was face down inside of the belly of the beast. Fortunately the balustrade broke, and after a very long 2 or 3 seconds that tiny functioning part of my brain flicked my hand at the big red oh sh_t button.
It was fast, and I mean freaking fast, like instant. You don't even register that it is happening.
Lesson, don't be complacent around fast moving/turning machinery. Different timber or a metal lathe, well forget the ER and skip to the next stage.
I have seen a number of videos with safety tips for angle drivers but this is both comprehensive and simply brilliant.
Thank you for video!
As amateur/novice/hobbyist I have made following mistakes :
1. Put a apolishing felt on grinding disk. Ended with a painful bruise
2. On one youtube video man claimed that grinding with "sparks from you is cleaner for workshop" . It started well, but ended with angle grinder entangled in my working trousers and slight cut in stomach. I consider myself lucky.
3. I bought cheap wire wheel - after a half hour of cleaning stock my thick working jacket looked like metal hedgehog. Luckily no damage to my body.
4. Ignored a respirator (initally). In the evening my nose was running with a silicon carbide paste...
Another person told me to use saw blade for branch cutting. I bought disc , but luckily this time I spend a time researching matters. Found horrifying pictures on internet and decided not to try. These disks must be outlawed.
Very useful fact - energy of angle grinder disk shard may reach an energy of firearm projectile. Angle grinder terrifies me,indeed
As from other small details - I was cutting off some metal parts. After finishing work I found out that window glass is covered with small dots with carbide particles melted in glass.
I got chatting with an arborist we had contracted. His biggest piece of advice was also to keep out of the plane of rotation relative to the chainsaw’s chain.
To add a practical element to the lesson, he then proceeded to show me a series of scars starting on his chest and finishing on his face to drive the point home.
He also skipped the line at ED, in his case with a snapped chainsaw chain embedded in his upper body. Missed his eye, somehow.
Lots of arborists keep pants cut open from chains to remind themselves.
This is an absolute safety masterclass.......delivered beautifully informally........but the message is clear!! John......I've conducted many instructional techniques lectures as a firefighter so I know what it takes to keep everyone focused and awake. You know how to deliver a "lecture"! Thanks John.............from one who's seen bad stuff!! Subscribed!!
Dave (U.K)
All very excellent advice. The one thing I might add is what I was told by the old boys when I was an apprentice is, do not wear rings on the fingers when using any rotating tools or machinery. The easiest way to avoid doing this is not to wear rings at work at all. Peter Norcliffe. Yorkshire, England.
Or high voltage equipment.
Great advice. Lessons learnt.
I missed a lot of the safety background instruction as a kid. Fucking table saw gave me a reminder to get informed. Copped a nearly finished chopping board in the chest. Solid and at a reasonable pace. My mistake left a dirty big circular groove in one side of the board. I finished the job and use it daily. I'm reminded of my lack of skill and knowledge every time I look at it.
Funk FPV has a great series of TH-cam shorts featuring Nubs McGee. Each time he touches a power tool, he seems to return with one less finger or toe.
You must admit Nubs is creative, though. Ingenious, actually. At least he wears safety sandals
To add to this. Never use a 9 inch disc on a smaller machine to use all the disc. a 9 inch spins slower than a say 125mm the disc can just fly apart. Use the disc made for the machine.
I did not know that, so I just checked 6600rpm v's 11000rpm big big difference. Fortunately I've never done it either and now never will, cheers for the advice that's why I read comments.
Just completed paint stripping job out off a metal box with a wire wheel.
No gloves with angle grinder is new information for me...I used to use welding gloves for such jobs. I follow all safety tips given by you.
Thanks.
Another excellent video John.
I was taught as a 1st year Apprentice Fitter & Turner (1969) about the inherent risks from the use of these versatile power tools, which definitely saved me from any potential injuries. Although l have personally witnessed some horrific injuries incurred by so many other operators that didn't abide by worksafe practices, such as you have mentioned.
Keep up the good work mate. Hopefully many will put into practice what you have conveyed in this video.
Cheers, mate.
Yep, that's me. took a chunk out of my knee with a wire brush attached to the angle grinder. Surprisingly no pain, took a while to heal though.
I cut in my thumb, had turned grinder off and put it to table to wind down , when old corded 5" grinder bite me.
Todays cordless grinders are a bit safer , Bosch has one that stops with sudden movement.
Grinding tools make the longest healing 'laceration' injuries, because the remove a large chunk of flesh. Very different to a knife cut or stab.
Yep, out of all the dangerous tools I have in my shop including a welder, cutting torch, belt sander, and forced air forge, my angle grinder sits above them comfortably in the oh crap where's my finger zone. It's like holding on to a pissed off cat, you really need to pay attention to what's in front of you. Honestly, if it weren't so useful, I'd have gotten rid of it years ago.
Love the cat analogy.
Years back I worked for a short time as a Fitter in a manufacturing/fab workshop, I was amazed how many trained trades guys, Boilermakers, Welders and Fitters would happily operate an angle grinder without a wheel guard fitted, because it obstructed access. I call them "Death Wish" people. Good safety instruction John, thanks.
In my experience these people are always the professionals with proper trade quals under their belt.
@@nickabbott6278just waiting to get hurt too. I like not being hurt.
@@nickabbott6278doesn't matter how experienced you are. It only takes a small lack of concentration to occur with a angle grinder for it to go horribly wrong.
No Guard - Seems the Yanks are the worst for that. I watched low ranking boiler maker flappers fabricating SpaceX stuff on youtube for months... never a guard in place, even on those 9" demons. Oh, and it wasn't limited to grinding or cutoff discs... large wheel and cup brushes... sanding discs, you name it, all hungry for flesh.
Excellent video and a timely reminder of risk and safe use of power tools. I will add a short story from my own experience. I was cutting large concrete blocks using a large angle grinder tool and a diamond cutting blade. Unaware of the danger, I simply worked at the most convenient position which was not far from my crotch. I believe that I chose the position which would send the dust and debris away from me. Suddenly the cutting blade got stuck. The grinder jumped right at me cutting thru any fabric and soft tissue in its path. Fortunately I got away with some minor wounds on the inside of my upper leg, only an inch or two from my beloved manhood parts. A couple of lessons learned there.
As some one who has a lot of hours on angle grinders large and small, let me tell you, I have a very healthy respect for angle grinders.
Fortunately, I still have all my fingers and toes, arms legs and eyes.
Unfortunately for others, I have seen and heard of some pretty horrific injuries.
.
The worst case is Kevin, who cut his foot nearly off with a 9 inch, he bears a scar that goes almost all the way around his ankle. Yes his foot was hanging by a flap of skin.
.
The problem with a grinder injury as opposed to a sharp blade injury is the ragged edges.
A nice clean cut with a sharp blade is reasonably easy to sew up and join back together, a grinder injury is rough, ragged and there is often quite a bit of material missing and or mangled.
.
It must be understood that a good 240volt 9 inch angle grinder has similar power to an typical domestic lawn mower.
YES, grinders contain large amounts of energy.
.
One of the problems is that people view the angle grinder as the universal tool, to a rediculous extent.
Then there are some utterly stupid attachments for angle grinders.
THE thing, I see so frequently is people using grinders without a guard. Used grinders for sale without a guard.
Now there are some very limited occasions where removing the guard is appropriate, but some people seem just leave guards off as a matter of course.
The immediate thing I see, is with no guard, and a cutting blade fitted ........ the blade lines up nicely with the fingers holding the machine ....... one slip of the hand ... dut, dut, dut off come the fingers.
.
Yes I have done a lot of work cutting and slotting both metal and masonry with big angle grinders.
Sometimes the angle grinder IS the most appropraite tool.
Let me tell you, you have to be incredibly careful AND mindful.
Fortunately all the new big grinders have soft start, it was not always so.
,
As for gloves .... for some work with angle grinders, gloves are an absolute must, sharp edges, hot metal, streams of sparks, doing other things like welding in conjunction with grinding and so on.
After all you should have both hands on the grinder.
The gloves need to be well fitting and appropriate.
This one dimensional view, that gloves should never be used with any rotating machinery, simply does not stand up to proper risk assessment.
I have never removed the guard, always worn hearing and eye protection, and never worn gloves while using an angle grinder. Mine is a 125mm, and I have made 2 mistakes. The most expensive one was leaning over a stream of steel spray, and leaving tracks up an expensive pair of prescription protective eyewear. The one that injured me was, with a grinding disk on, was dropping the bugger, and going for the catch. a finger somehow went between the blade and guard. A surprisingly lucky-non painful injury which left a shiny 3mm wide scar on top of my index finger, between the 2nd and 3rd knuckle. Thank goodness for the dead man's switch on a modern battery tool. A bit on electrical tape and work on, job had to get done. It is a tool that deserves respect and full attention, but for many cutting tasks , a recipero is the safer tool, giving better control, and safer operation.
this just goes to show paying attention is more important than all that PPE. 'a falling knife has no handle'
Great Vid! Lots of good useful information for your home handyman/woman.
I bought the Vevor band saw on the table mount after having seen your review John.
Best thing I ever did, as I previously used a hand/ hack saw and infrequently also with a grinder.
The Vevor unit is great value and pretty good quality also.
No hot sparks or risk of setting fire to stuff.
Me too. I bought one with the vice and base to cut down a security screen door to size and it was cheaper than paying for installation, plus produced a neat straight cut. Much better than a manual hacksaw or angle grinder.
I noted also how so many injuries I’ve seen have also had cheap disks, (I didn’t say Chinese) that have failed explosively causing shrapnel destruction to the operator and surrounding areas. I pay for quality disks for that very reason. Great video, and I appreciate your concern and the information given.
John, thanks there are plenty of brave idiots out there who think they are immune from accidents.
As an old builder from Perth, my guys knew that I took safety extremely seriously.
One of the worst accidents that I had to deal with, not on my building site thank goodness, but helping my mate and his 75 year old father out by lending them my 9" angle grinder to cut steel on the garage that they were demolishing. Old Ray, was cutting a steel beam between his legs on the ground, and for some reason was wearing gloves! In a split second, the grinder kicked backwards and sliced through his Achilles tendon! It took nearly nine months for him to get back full mobility. Luckily he didn't cut his foot off.
I refuse to wear gloves, as fast rotating can't be held absolutely securely. I do a lot of handyman work but can only really use my right hand so pay particular attention to trying to minimise injury. But accidents do and always will happen. Don't be lazy with your PPE!
Always enjoy your videos thanks mate!
Stay safe everyone, you only have two eyes and once your hearing is gone, you are never going to get it back.
I've seen that dude on TH-cam cutting the PTO, there's plenty of those so called lifestyle farmers that I've got all brand-new toys like tractors chainsaws motorbikes etc and have no idea what they doing but they giving advice out and earning money off it.
I've seen one guy take the guard off to look along the cutting plane. One way to end up sucking on a green whistle.
Always be shit scared of power tools. Fear and respect will be ur protector.
Simply bloody brilliant John and long overdue. Thank you for your time, energy and the education.
Thank you very much, Tony.
I worked in engineering back in the early 2000's. We had 9inch grinders back then. I nearly eviscerated myself when it bit. I have a small scar on my gut like I had a C section. I am glad we dont have those anymore... they were insane for a handheld bit of equipment. Some of the new discs around like the chainsaw one are even more insanity.
They are banned from lots of workshops now.
Great video and safety tips, especially plane of rotation - guilty as charged, but will be more aware of it in future.
I have a scar on my right middle finger where I briefly touched a grinding wheel. It tells me that grinders are not toys. This is a great video John. Thank you.
Thanks John, you've taught me so much over the years.
Further to my previous comment, I completely agree with your comment that the best way to cut is by keeping the body of the grinder between the workpiece and your body.
You might have just saved me from losing me fingers. I've only just bought a table saw and I've wanted one my whole life and I suppose thinking about it now. I've been pretty complacent about it. This video has got me to second guess myself and I will treat the saw with a lot more respect.
22:28 Oh, that reminds me.. You can also fit a 9 inch disc onto the Ryobi 115/125mm grinder. But it gets pretty close to the trigger without the guard.
Stuff that
@@dennisf1020"Stick a thumb in it" Kentucky Ballistics
I was a boilermaker in another life and have a few near hit stories with angle grinders. There is a lot of potential now to keep hospital ER's in business with the proliferation of cheap Chinese'im welders and power tools. Every idiot with a few hundred dollars in his jeans can buy a welder and of course you need an angle grinder to cut stock and make those ugly welds look a bit better. The scariest thing in my opinion is the cutting (we called them Zip disks). The average bone head doesn't know that you can't put side force on them to grind with, which makes the likelihood of them flying apart exponentially higher. Medical science has taken a lot of the "evolution by natural selection" effect that disease used to have on our species, but maybe cheap angle grinders can do that work now.
Well done John. Already had an experience with a PTO where my overalls got cought after the cover was removed. Now I'm scared to enter my workshop and thinking about putting a lock on it! Barstard. Joking, realise you just trying to save lives.
Of all the tools and machines I use, from hand and power tools, bench-mounted devices, and up to major industrial machines (like a 3m-wide guillotine), the hand-held angle-grinder is the one that scares me the most, and the one which I approach and handle with the greatest respect and caution.
Keep up that caution. The tendency for many fabricators to become complacent with their grinders is so needlessly dangerous. I won't even touch a grinder wrench with the battery attached because I don't want to risk the trigger getting depressed by accident during the process.
An excellent educational video, especially for all of us 'amateurs'!
Also beware grinding near any windows (car or house/workshop) as the red hot sparks imbed into the glass and next you have rusty glass that you can’t wipe off…
Excellent advice about keeping away from the field of rotation of the disk John.
On a much smaller scale, I have a DREMEL Heavy Duty Cut Off Wheel No. 420 here. As a locksmith, I've cut case hardened lock hasps, wheel lugs, lots of other things with them. Dremel tools are great, if used properly. This "Heavy Duty" wheel is 1 inch (25mm) diameter, and only 1 mm thick. No reinforcement, just pure media. You can snap them with two fingers, like a little wafer cookie. Dremel tool's maximum speed is 35,000 rpm. There's no guard. They'll cut almost anything, but the slightest side pressure, or over pressure, and you'd better have eye protection, at least. As tiny as they are, they are dangerous if used carelessly. They make thicker ones, I only used these in a pinch. That's why I have 20 left years after retiring. Any cutting tool will injure people, and has
Thanks for the heads up. Rarely use mine as find them intimidating but had scheduled using one tomorrow probably wrobngly. Will use my repricating saw instead..
simply amazing how that box appeared out of nowhere at the 11.40 second mark, well done, oh I was seeing things nevermind it was never there 15.04 mark and I love your knowledge
After owning a few corded grinders with no dead man switches for 40 years I nearly lost a finger cutting timber. I bought a nice 18V deWalt grinder. With a dead man switch and disc brake it is a life ( or at least finger) saver for someone who has had his share of near misses. Thanks for the tips from a self taught amateur.
Very well presented and comprehensive video; many may wish they could have seen this advice and methodology explained a long time ago. The fire risk issues are commonly neglected by too many as are access to effective extinguishing agents.
Subscribed! You have a gift of giving a safety lecture that is funny and entertaining as well!
Holy cow i was watching that guys video just a couple nights ago, I was thinking about your previous videos about the safety of these tools.
This video should be compulsory viewing for dangerous power tools .I wish I could give this a thousand likes. I see people in the automotive industry using all manner of cutting, grinding and polishing tools with no regard to safety, and they are supposed to be trained .
Thanks for posting.
This thing is kinda harmless compared to a 9 inch,used them as an apprentice fitter,in 82 to 85,ive had them bite into the job,and flick back at me and take a chunk out of my guts, straight thru the ol king gee overalls.The funny thing is grinder wounds dont bleed much,they are just a pinkish, white gouge,aah the good ol days
Ha ha me too. No damage but ripped clean out my hands and it started scooting across the floor chewing everything up in sight lol.
...and after a few minutes the wound hurts like hell. Iodine is my go-to anti septic. I always have some close by! (ask me how I know).
Memories. Back in 1972 I was using a 7 or 9 inch grinder to cut the pillars off a burned Chevy cab and when it pinched it took a chunk out of my shirt. My guardian angels were working overtime (and not the only time they saved me). Cats and their 9 lives have nothing on me.
Grinders cauterize when they cut , yep it sorta hurts , got my share of scars
Good advice on angle grinder use. May I add another observation.
When you rotated the angle grinder from horizontal cutting to vertical cutting just after 29:00 your left forearm was also crossing the cutting plane and was therefore just as exposed to injury as your right ear or worse. As with you I would never hold an angle grinder in that attitude.
A similar concern occurs with circular saws which I have realised come in left and right handed models. Bizarrely this is not acknowledged on the packaging when new.
The handle of the saw, (slightly off set from the plane of cutting) and the motor are definitely located on the left or the right of the blade.
huh, left handed circular saw. that would actually be really useful for certain cuts, not just people who are left handed.
I've used them for fifty odd years. my intro was being pointed at a 9" three horse grinder with a rubber pad on it and a stack of some of the coarsest discs I've ever seen. there were about five stillages full of plates. One ten second demo later and " come back when you've finished those " oddly enough I found the thing easy to use, and I've liked them ever since. There are about 4 of the 4" around one 9", and a weird 5" thing around at home and workshop, I know where the guards are but only use the 9", because of how much crap that one kicks out , nice to direct it somewhere else. Injuries ? 1 skin nick. John must have been frightened by an angle grinder as a child.
Joking apart, any job involving machinery requires you to have thought about it first, there are potential dangers to all of them. Gloves, often steel has vicious burrs on it, you're going to be wearing gloves, I suggest the thick vinyl gloves don't tend to grab everything in sight.
Thanks for the glove bit I have this conversation all the time. And one other thing is Metarbo 126s quick awesome bit of kit. Saved me a few times, especially in winter.
After decades of using 4" and 4 1/2" grinders, I've settled on a 5" as a good all round size.
I do a lot of mild steel fabrication with material up to 10mm thick. I now find I only use 1mm thick cutting discs. Faster cutting, less effort from the operator, fewer sparks and less heat generated than when using the thicker alternatives. Only downside is you need a steady hand to keep your cuts straiģht with thicker material.
Had a mate many years ago who picked up a handful of discs at the dump for his 4" grinder.
I had a look at them and they were actually worn down 9" cutting discs, so I suggested he send them back to the dump, as the max rpm on the disc's label was about half of what his machine was rated at.
He used them anyway, and one exploded when he was cutting something in his front yard.
His house was on stumps and half of the disc shot under the house and hit his wife (who was hanging out the washing in the back yard) in the thigh.
She needed several stitches, and the remaining discs were sent back to from whence they came.
I was utting some weldmeh, 9" snagged, kicked back and short handle whacked me in the eye socket area. I had a full face shield on and safety glasses under neath, still hurt but no serious injury. I also purchased a cheap car buffer, sheepskin cover span off and whacked me in the nuts, luckily I was on my own so groveling about on the floor crying and holding my nuts was witnessed by none. Not bad for 40 years in engineering.
Used one of these in various sizes and manufacturers for over 45 years, had one accident 44 1/2 years ago. Lesson learnt 😆
Good info john, much appreciated 👍🏾
Thanks John . I realised watching this how lucky I have been over the years .
Great video.Well done.
I had a friend who was grinding in his fathers workshop and they heard a loud bang.There had been a car battery charging on the other side of the workshop.The sparks had ignited the fumes given off by the battery and it blew the top off the battery and showered acid all over the place.Grinding outside reduces a lot of unforeseen hazards.
Thank you. The old hydrogen gas from a battery trick. Showers the whole joint with sulphuric acid: What's not to like about that?
I remember reading a news article a few years ago during covid lockdowns of a guy using an angle grinder to chop tree limbs and almost severed his hand completely off, I shook my head reading it.
John, I have cheated Death a few times, needed your common-sense video probably 40 years ago.
Your spark warning is a very good one. I was charging a small lead acid battery for my race car on the work bench.
Yep...just a little hydrogen fission 10 ft away.
First I was mad I ruined the battery, moments later after figuring out what just happened, how lucky I was not to get sprayed by acid.
Regarding the gloves and angle grinder: I use a tight fitting leather welders glove for when I have to cut/grind or wirebrush steel. It actually saved my my hands countless times of small cuts, accidental contact with grinding disks, small separating wires from the wire wheel, and not once was it caught by the grinder. So I think that one works and is pretty safe. Textile based gloves: not so much. I agree.
I hardly use my grinder anymore I mainly use my vibrating multi tool for cutting or a saw all, being in the car restoration trade for years it's actually rather shocking once you get comfortable with a grinder how many irresponsible positions you get in without thinking, no job is worth an injury or death thanks John for the wakeup call.
Thanks for the advice, John.
Good Vid John, maybe worth listing some workshop do nots. Mine is no hardened drifts in presses.
Learn from others mistakes, it hurts less.
Great vid, John. Always very instructive. Now I've just got to remember to stand on the MOTOR side of the drop saw when cutting steel. Also, I think I might invest in one of those portable band saws ... much cheaper than medical costs after an angle grinder disc fucks up. I've had enough of them shatter to know to wear all the safety PPE you mention, inc. a leather apron to protect my junk. As you said, the main thing is to enjoy making stuff - safely.
I used to sell tools. One of the most dangerous accesories (in my opinion) we stocked was basically a tungsten carbide mini circular saw blade designed to fit an angle grinder to allow the punter to cut wood. Before I let a customer take one away I would give him (it was always a "him") a lecture on how dangerous they were and why I would NEVER use one myself.
it's always him. Don't be afraid to get woke canceled. Be a man.
@@Druze_Tito Its OK as long as they think you're just calling men stupid/reckless.
A toothed blade in an angle grinder is against all tool manufacturers 'use rules'.
How was it legal to sell them?
The only toothed blades in an angle grinder type tool I've seen have TWO blades that counter-rotate, taking 'bites' with zero kickback potential. They cut aluminium extrusion profiles very well and safe.
These must be outlawed.
The point you made regarding gloves and grinders was something I needed to hear... I knew about lathes, drill presses and table saws but never considered grinders for some reason. In the US the stores are selling probably the most dangerous disc for grinders. It is a grinding type wheel with a chainsaw blade.. I cant imagine that there is a safe way to use one of those.
I saw one, probably on Funk FPV. I was horrified. I assumed it was homemade. I never imagined they would be sold, at least not in a civilized country. That's insane
Everyone in any of the departments to do with engineering and mechanical work at the preserved railway I volunteer at have to take two year tests to make sure we are competent to use angle grinders safely and properly. I have learnt that using a full-face visor is a great piece of PPE when using an angle grinder especially when cleaning rust and old paint off items.
REAL respect of a power tool comes rapidly with a 9" grinder.. not just 21/2hp.. reeaal HP with real torque NO man can fight kickback.. Hitachi.. it kicks like a mule on the tigger start so you hold them good & hard.. i had a 9" disk blow apart.. luckily I avoid lining the disk with my body parts.. unluckily a quarter sz chunk of the disk hit my left foot.. luckily I wore steel caps.. unluckily it hit my foot halfway up my big toe metatarsil.. & broke it.. barely a mark on my boots
Dude love your channel....this vid tops it off for me....well done and ty and please continue your work...from the Midwest of 'merica......I gotta buy you a beer!
Thanks for your efforts in making this video. Easy to imagine it will stop someone from getting a nickname like "Stubby".
Hi John, excellent video again. You mentioned that you were going to do a video on drill sharpening which I’m eagerly awaiting. 😉
well said, i do have an issue with the "makers" on youtube. as a trained furniture maker i am amazed at what is passed off as "knowledge". it appears one person makes a video making it up on the fly. then everyone else makes their own version of that video using the same misinformation. very quickly that misinformation becomes fact. i am always very careful about where i get my advice on youtube and watch a few versions to make sure it is a decent method by professionals.
I watched the Croak Yourself While Welding video way back whenand subscribed to your channel because of it. I've learned a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience, both in shop videos and in the those focused on the electric utopia movement. I've had that Vevor band saw (with stand) since September of 23. It's definitely a game changer. I also have a 4" angle grinder I use with a flap disc, and a thick solid disc, to dress cuts and welds. With the guard on. Always. When I see people on those custom car builder shows or youtube videos cutting throgh whatever with a thin disc, sparks flying, perfectly in line with the plane of rotation, it makes me want to go put on PPE. That tool needs respect born of fear. So thanks for more info and advice on how to stay safe. But I need to know something else - where do you get your T shirts? They're not the usual mindless stuff everyone wears these days. So if you could let us know that it wound be much appreciated. And just one more thing (as Inspector Colombo used to say) - would you consider putting all your shop videos in a separate category in the video section please and thank you? I'd like to look back and find all the ones I've missed without so much scrolling. Hope you see merit in that request; looking forward to seeing more great infomation on your channel.
Excellent video wish there was more of this content on TH-cam. One of the worst things TH-cam did was remove the negative view count view, it used to be at least some guide to newbies that what they are watching might be dangerous.
Thank you, not-so Silent Bob.
What a great bunch of wise advice.
And in the good ole USA Harbor freight has angle grinders on sale all the time for $10. That's definitely the cheapest way to the front of the emergency department.
Great warning on grinders . In the 1990s my hardware changed over to Chinese cutting and grinding disks i Bought 5 disks first one was vibrating so bad i junked it.The second one as soon as i touched the the metal the disk exploded ripping the grinder out of both hands flipped up then came back down through my hands still on and took the tips off my fingers .I was wearing gloves and safety glasses . So after the trip to hospital and much pain i went to the hardware and showed what had happened .Great owner took off all the Chinese disks by the boxes and binned the lot on the spot . The next week it was all Norton disks. Man if was not wearing gloves it would have been so much worse . You have to respect you equipment and wear PPE And i wear leather apron to protect body . Seen those crazy mini saw blade in cheap outlets that goes on angle grinders that a accident waiting to happen that thing running across your gut..
John: Would you like to hear about me (at 12 yr age) removing paint from the ouside of an old mc gas-tank wearing a wool vest? I needed to push harder and put the Bosch drill with a wire brush attachment as close to my body as possible to maximize down-pressure ... and then It grabbed the wool in my vest... Off course I had pushed in the continous run switch as well. The thing tightened my vest until I got blue in my face but after about 5 seconds I succeeded in pushing in the knob to get out of continous run. Shit like that teaches you to be careful.
I once put a 9" wire cup on a 5" grinder, it fitted perfectly with only more gyro force to it. I then tackled the end of some square tubing with it. One of the twisted wire strands locked into it and boom. That grinder jolted my arm and flung across the garage. Never again. I still keep it in my metalwork box as a reminder!!
I got really good using a slow cut brobo saw back when I was 16yo one school holidays working in a fitter shop to earn some $$$ for a kayak I was building. Its great to see an affordable home version of that these days. This is SOooooo much safer than an angle grinder...
Yeah - those cold-cut Brobos are awesome. Pricey for the home-gamer, however. I've got three benchtop bandsaws - they're the best compromise for me.
I've used the 3 tooth 125mm cement sheet cutting, widow maker a few times. Hairy as f***!
But those rotary cheese graters for wood calving, I'll pass on.
Was doing an outside rounded cut to a sheet of mdf. With an old school Delta Table saw...
Had roughed it out, just doing a "smoothing operation"....called anything this stupid a "danger saw"
Experienced a kickback... it did suck, ALOT!. Thankfully no permanent damage.
The original danger saw, was a circular saw with the guard removed..
You had to wait for the blade to stop before setting it down...
A new guy cut a 2x4 on a new house (unpoured basement) set the unit down, when it promptly launched itself into the basement, quicker than he could say "huh?!"😮
When I lived in rural NSW, the idiot next door neighbour, decided to use a 9” angle grinder without a cutting guard AND with a disc with a big chunk out of it!
Yes , a big missing v shaped piece of the cutting disc!
He came to my house, spurting arterial blood and minutes from death.
Shock had set in and he was loosing a lot of blood, from his left wrist that was cut down and into the bone!
I grabbed my first aid kit, applied some pressure pads to no effect and blood soaked in seconds.
I grabbed a military tourniquet and applied it to his forearm then went with more pads and then pressure bandaged his wrist and lower arm to try to save his arm and hand.
Rang the ambulance, requesting senior paramedics as the injury was life threatening as we spoke.
Long story , but he survived with a poor functioning left arm and hand , despite his stupidity
DONT ever use a 9” angle grinder and never use a damaged cutting, grinding or polishing disc
Danger is real with these tools, so don’t be a tool yourself!
I worked on several coal mines as a paramedic. All 9 inch angle grinders were banned from their site.
The interwebs are positively chock full of all sorts of angle grinder hacks, everything from using your trusty angle grinder to power a homemade lathe, lawn mower, table saw etc and these are the less nonsensical ones. An angle grinder used as the manufacturer intended can be highly dangerous but attaching it to a ramshackled device is almost a surefire recipe for a high speed trip to emergency