Misbehavin' with the lowly angle grinder
 

I watched the PF video the other day where he checks out accessories. I had no idea this stuff even existed, and frankly, I couldn't believe he was even going through with some of those tests....

Then, Stumpy Nubs shows up with his own take on attachments. These are even scarier because they're all just homemade junk made for clicks on youtube..

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I love angle grinders. But do take care.

Mine savaged me.

I was using a wire wheel attachment - no guard on it, to strip old paint from steel. Using it one handed while I turned the steel around. The thing took off and took a massive chunk out of my arm then wrapped itself up in my multiple layers of tshirts etc over my stomach. I didn't know if I was disembowelled. this thing was out to get me. Blood all over the place. I was OK other than having a weird area on my arm that doesn't have skin pigmentation LOL

Angle grinders and chain saws always get my undivided attention. Marilyn Monroe could walk by naked and not distract me.


OK that's a big fat lie but I would definitely put the tool down.

I’m considering getting a saws all. I have a Black and Decker that I found on the side of the DC beltway 25 years ago (or more) when my car broke down. I put new brushes in it and it works when it feels like it. Today it gasped some smoke out so I think it’s at the end of its life. I need it to cut roots out from under my paver driveway, that tends to buckle up when a root pushes it from beneath. Remove a few pavers, cut the root and put the pavers back down. Angle grinder might work but mine are all pneumatic. What’s the best and most cost effective saws all for a once every 3 years kinda job? Any recommendations?

Stumpy had a nasty one and YT took it down for the blood. He reposted a milder version. Short story, don't buy a chainsaw blade wrapped around a grinder disc. If you're gonna chainsaw carve, use a chainsaw.

I use the guards always. I didn't always but I learned before anything bad happened. I've chunked up a few cut off discs. That's a good reminder that one day one is going to explode.

My Milwaukee has been running for 10+ years doing jobs like roots and general demo.

I have an old Craftsman that's been going for at least 15 yrs or more. Demo'd the old shed in the backyard a long time ago then numerous roots too. Nothing more satisfying the burying the blade in the dirt to get a nasty root cut out. It works well on wood too with the proper blade installed. One of, if not the most important tools I own.

Which tool?

Harbor Freight sells these.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1697668791.jpg

You do NOT want that image in your head.

I had a flap disc hit the intersection of two tubes while grinding welds on a rollcage and damn near deglove my thumb.
My middle son mistakenly grabbed a low speed cutoff for a 7 in grinder in the fab shop where he was working and put in on a full speed grinder. When it shattered, it missed his eye by less than an inch (he had safety glasses on but for that they would matter not). Left him with a giant cut and scar, and worse ( he was a recovering addict who couldn't take pain meds-guess the rest).

I’ve got a Makita that’s about 24 years old but I used my battery powered Dewalt grinder/cut off/sander all the time now.

The close calls I’ve had are from from being careless or stupid.

I wear a heavy leather welding jacket and gloves, safety glasses, a face shield, and a couple layers of sweatshirts whenever I'm using one of these things. Even so, I have scars.

The last "good one" was some 20 years ago, using a cutoff wheel (fiber reinforced and everything) when removing sheetmetal in the gas tank support area of my then 14 year old son's '68 912 that we were converting to a 911. The disc shattered when it bound up on something. One big pie piece shard embedded in my left pectoral, right through all of those layers. I didn't really notice, except for getting warm down my crotch, then my leg.

"Hey Alex, can you grab me another disc? This one broke. Don't just stand there staring at me, grab me another disc."

Well, he was only staring because of the rapidly increasing pool of blood at my feet. Turns out that was what was keeping me "warm". Luckily, his mother (and my wife of now 37 years) is a nurse. I must not have been able to really hear him screaming like hell for her, because I was actually in the process of passing out. Never really felt a thing.

Long story short, she stopped the bleeding, got me to the ER, and I'm still here. Aren't you guys lucky?

So, yeah, these things are dangerous as designed. We can get really creative and make them even more so.

Sometimes I refer to it as the wheel of death.

Yeah the cup wheels got me a few times. Its pretty much gone now but I had a scar on my ankle for a long time that looks like a baby chick. I was cleaning rust and paint off a set of wheels. They are unpredictable with all the angles. Also got my tummy atleast once too working in the vice. U tube people always use the cut off wheel wrong holding the grinder in weird positions and stuff. Those are the ones who refer to it as the death wheel. Then theres the ones who use no safety glasses or ear protection and claim its to save time on camera. I learned the hard way safety glasses alone arnt enough. Sparks make their way past. Full face shield is much better. Especially when the discs explode. Thats usually pretty predictable but the face shield has saved me a few times.

Oh yeah, those wire cups and wire wheels... I just means that lose wire that comes out of the wire wheel is going fast.

I bought a big Makita angle grinder - this one I think https://www.makita.co.nz/products/model/GA9040S01 and it's great with cut off disks because they are thicker and less flexible. I don't think I've had a cut off disk fly to bits with this one. I thought I'd only use the big grinder one or twice (bought it to cut concrete) but I use it all the time. I also think it's weight makes it less likely to jump off the work piece and get you

I have a few of the big grinders a milwaukee and a metabo. I dont know if they are any more controllable but maybe its just because we are being more carefull with them and holding on tighter lol

I wonder why they made it that way. To 'look' like a chainsaw. Must have extra stock to get rid of. The chain is unnecessary unless it is somehow replaceable. Would other brand chain have the same exact circumference? And since it is a chain it has to be pinned to the wheel.

Plus chains on chainsaws get loose and you have to tighten them. I've had chains come off chainsaws and it's scary. I don't see an adjustment there.