my love hate relationship with the angle grinder

sigh done it again. In the 6 months I've been working on this wartburg I have now put the angle grinder through my index finger knuckle no less than 7 times. 4 on the left hand, and as of today 3 on the right. I should learn to stay away from this tool but then again it has been by far the most used tool on the project so I dont have much of a choice.

I should learn to wear heavy gloves maybe...but I seem to be unteachable.

Today was one of the bad ones, down to the bone, friend asked about tendon damage but since I had a good clear look at it I can say it wasnt damaged. Every time it happens with the flap disks which I suppose is a blessing since they move so fast the burn through and mostly cauterize the wound. But as I've become all to familiar with its a pain to heal since it reopens every time I forget and bend my finger.

Just whining about today's events. Didnt stop me from picking it back up and finishing some more fab. I've only got 4 weeks left..no time for slacking.

Ouch!

BTDT, too many times. Last one was a cutoff wheel damn near to the bone.

Is it the same few fingers every time, or have you done it to 7 out of 10 by now?

Tommy Suddard wrote: Is it the same few fingers every time, or have you done it to 7 out of 10 by now?

Just the index fingers, 4 times left hand, 3 times right. Dropped it on the left and went across the lower knuckles (all 4) on the left too but that wasnt too bad. But I keep getting it down to the bone on the index 2nd knuckle on both hands.

I felt your pain a week or so ago with a cutoff wheel. Ouch.

Then again that same night CUTTING ONIONS FOR DINNER. WTF.

TTIWWOP

RealMiniDriver wrote: TTIWWOP

yeah, sorry I was more interested in stopping the bleeding and getting it covered up so I could get back to work so I didnt stop for a photo op :)

Gloves may not be any better.. Just kinda gives the tool something good to grab on that you cannot pull away as easily.

Generally gloves and spinny things are a no no.

Um - WTF are you doing? Something wrong. I've been playing with angle grinders for the better part of 20 years and I think I've gotten bit once.

DILYSI Dave wrote: Um - WTF are you doing? Something wrong. I've been playing with angle grinders for the better part of 20 years and I think I've gotten bit once.

You are probably smart enough to leave the safety guard on and keep the side handle in place. They generally get in my way and are long gone so the risk factor is upped. But in most instances those items wouldnt have mattered and it generally involves the tool slipping out of my hand before it has spun down. I rarely get bit during a cut/grind, it is always when its spinning down after an operation.

Im an idiot ;)

RedS13Coupe wrote: Gloves may not be any better.. Just kinda gives the tool something good to grab on that you cannot pull away as easily. Generally gloves and spinny things are a no no.

Agreed. A retired coworker broke his wrist from a glove 'sticking' to a spinning part.

I was kidding about pics.

Um.....maybe 100mph tape to hold the hands on the grinder?

I have a couple 4-1/2" Makitas. I keep the guards on unless its interfering with whatever I'm trying to remove material from.

In about 20 years I don't believe it's ever gotten me, though the 12" disc/6" belt sander has burnished a knuckle or two.

I keep an 8" 3M deburring wheel on one side of a 3/4 hp Baldor buffer - I suspect I'd be tough to fingerprint due to that unit.

Nah, the guards come off of mine too. If it's on the spin down that it gets you, don't let it spin down. Just drag the wheel to a stop on the workbench / part you just ground / anything but your damn hand. :)

Ouch ... Sorry I wasn't around today to be the safety police ... of course it was after using yours that I realized how much better my angle grinder would be with out the gaurd .. I do keep the handle on tho.

RealMiniDriver wrote:

RedS13Coupe wrote: Gloves may not be any better.. Just kinda gives the tool something good to grab on that you cannot pull away as easily. Generally gloves and spinny things are a no no.

Agreed. A retired coworker broke his wrist from a glove 'sticking' to a spinning part. I was kidding about pics.

I'll agree too. I saw a coworker bend a finger 90 degrees sideways when his glove got caught in an angle grinder. Gloves and spinny things do not mix.

Bob

I had a grinder with a lock on the power switch. Impossible to turn off under duress. You cannot think that straight when a wheel is eating your flesh. Will not own one unless you have to have your finger on the trigger to make it go.

I had a grinder with a lock on the power switch. Impossible to turn off under duress. You cannot think that straight when a wheel is eating your flesh. Will not own one unless you have to have your finger on the trigger to make it go.

What about nitriles? I know they're not heavy duty protection, but it gives you that extra second to feel it before your finger is across the room.

How do you even use it without the side handle? I'd think it would just fly out of your hands, or at least be very difficult to control.

I have found these to offer a good bit of protection against spinning potential flesh destroyers, with hardly any loss of feel or ability to manipulate small parts. They will definitely still tear if they get caught rather than making things worse. They're the most expensive disposable gloves I have ever used, but completely worth it. I always have a box in my garage.

http://www.microflex.com/Products/SG-375.aspx

You are not alone: This is from last year.

On the 4.5" grinders, I use the side handle if I'm REALLY trying to dig into something, but if that's the case I'm more likely to switch over to a cut off wheel and try to remove the offending part with a "scalpel" instead of a "sledgehammer". The 4.5" almost never has the handle.

The 9" grinder is another story. That thing is a damned monster and the side handle is NEVER removed.

I have always thought that the 4 1/2" grinder was the most dangerous tool in the shop. Back of my left hand is criss-crossed with scars from mine. Only down to the tendons twice, never into them. Lucky me. Yeah, the 9" always gets extreme respect. Only trouble I ever had with one of those was a bullet in the power cord. Long story.

Yeah, it most of the spots I've had to get into and cut the handle just gets in the way too.

The trigger has been sticky on it lately so that's probably part of the factor, but honestly Im just accident prone.

Never get myself with the cutting wheels, its always the darn flap disks. I dont know if that's good or bad.