How not to use angle grinders

[Ricardito]

May be this are just few examples how not to use angle grinders
Even pros get it wrong. No wonder there are lots of accidents out there.
http://www.floorstransformed.com/ang...tile-cuts.html
http://www.floorstransformed.com/ang...er-l-cuts.html


Mods please help clear this aqueegly bits down here Thanks

Edited Out the squeegly bits. Watson

[specialist]

I have used angle grinders every day for the last 20 odd years as part of my job for at least 2 hours off and on per day using 4"/ 5" and 9" for both cutting and grinding of steel and associated metals and have also cut tiles and fibro with a diamond blade.

My question is this?

What was inherently wrong with what he was doing?

Dry cutting tiles isn't an exact science, you need to keep both the blade and tile cool and the only way to do that is to free cut, while it is not ideal to do this, it is still safe to do.

Both the videos didn't show that the operator over cutting, twisting the blade in the cut and / or cutting too fast as these are the things that make accidents happen.

To my way of thinking, it was a pretty good demo of accomplishing a difficult task.

Don't get me wrong, I don't free cut steel unless there is NO ALTERNATIVE and then it it is done very nervously, I have certainly seen many discs fly apart over the years, some even on me.
And yes there are accidents as there is for every hand tool that was ever invented, and so should be treated with respect.

Robert

[Ian Smith]

Have to agree with Specialist.
I've done a lot of tiles this way ..but I did use gloves, dust mask and eye protection. However, Ricardito appears to be critical of the basic process.
With the appropriate attention to the safety issues, where's the problem?

Ian

[DavidG]

??? I have done this heaps of times with tiles and pavers. Whats wrong???

[Johncs]

May be this are just few examples how not to use angle grinders
Even pros get it wrong. No wonder there are lots of accidents out there.
http://www.floorstransformed.com/ang...tile-cuts.html
http://www.floorstransformed.com/ang...er-l-cuts.html
n

I get server errors (403 forbidden) on both on those, and the CenOS test page when I go the the "home" page.

[bluegum30]

mine just bogged down and went dead .

[China]

Video no worky

[glen boulton]

yes i do this as well. and yes it is wrong.
whenever using a power tool you should clamp the job, if the job was to twist then you will never move your hand faster than the grinder will flick into it.

this method shown on video is what everyone including me does,
do i agree with it being shown in this way? NO i dont.

tradies have a feel for what they do.
not all mr joe average's have that same feel.
i would never show anyone to do what that video shows

[Ricardito]

yes i do this as well. and yes it is wrong.
whenever using a power tool you should clamp the job, if the job was to twist then you will never move your hand faster than the grinder will flick into it.

this method shown on video is what everyone including me does,
do i agree with it being shown in this way? NO i dont.

tradies have a feel for what they do.
not all mr joe average's have that same feel.
i would never show anyone to do what that video shows

Thank you everyone so far for our comments but I must agree with
Glen's comment even when one may do it it is not the right way to do it one slip and it is a hand or your foot may be gone.
One aspect that tradies or DIY people don't get it is health and safety aspects of the job . My brother in law has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease(for pension reasons) yet the doctors joint opinion is some kind of blood poisoning cleaning wine tanks in the thirty years .So much is swept under the carpet for the sake of convinience and money.

[soundman]

The problem with grinders and tradies is that they are regarded as "the go to tool", and a great any things are done with them that realy should not be.
Statisticaly they are probaly the second most dangerous power tool available only surpassed by the chain saw.

The things i have seen................and most of the blokes doing them would treat you like an idiot if you tried to tell them that was dangerous.
Well its all good fun till someone ends up in an ambulance.

how many times do you see a grinder used when a hacksaw would do the job just fine.......hands up those who have seen toothed blade used in a grinder........how often do you see a grinder with the guard removed.....how often do you see a grinder rip its self out of someones hand

I've posted before about KevinP who cut 3/4 of the way tru his own leg with a 9" with a steel cutting blade.....he had no idea it was happening till it was done....he asures me the pain from a serious grinder cut is very special.

Then there is the grinders special talent for throwing stuff in all directions at once.

Oh and their well known party trick of starting the after hours fire when everybody has gone home including the grinder.

we had a case in brisbane only recently when a hotel burned down due to a bloke cutting some stuff with a grinder.

Now I like my grinders....i own 4 of them the latest is a brand new hitachi 9" with the free diamond blade ( ahh that says it all)........but they are strictly for workshop and home use......I will not use a grinder on site not allow one to be used on one of my jobs


Oh and here is a areal good one........tradies check your insurance polocy......are you specificaly covered for " hot work".........If not you are not insured when using a grinder ...... my broker asked me if I wanted to be covered for hot work..and told me the cost........I decided I didn't need to do hot work outside the workshop.

cheers

[Ian Smith]

I think it's worth differentiating between a 4" hand held grinder with a cut-off wheel and a 9" monster with teeth don't you think??
I would even be very wary of a toothy 4" wheel.

I, for one, as week-end warrior would not even consider a "free range" 9" machine, let alone one with teeth

The movies, for those who can't get them to run, shows a bloke with a 4" diamond wheel slicing and dicing some ceramic tiles. Even had them clamped down for at least some of the cuts.



Ian

[soundman]

The only difference between a large and small grinder is the amount of damage that can be done.....and perhaps a question of strenght.

All the hazards ad risks are the same.

but a 4" grinder with a toothed blade is still plenty dangerous....and they were very fashonable among electricians and plumbers at one stage.

BTW the bloke who cut nearly cut his foot of did so with an abrasive wheel.

Diamond blades are the current fashon........lots of tradies have a 4"grinder with one mounted on permanently, because they cut just about anything one handed and leave a good finish........I bet they cut meat and bone nicely too.

consider a segmented diamond blade......is it realy all that much less dangereous than a toothed blade....or do they just appear to be easier to handle.

cheers

[rhancock]

Darwinian selection in action. The guy cutting the L cut won't be passing on his genes if the grinder runs back up the tile and into his crotch.

It doesn't matter that tradies do it every day of the year. I matters that there are safer ways of doing it. There's nothing wrong with cutting tiles with a grinder, but holding the work with one hand means you've only got one hand to control the tool. Eventually it'll kick. It might not be you, it might be your mate, but who's going to tell his missus she won't be having his kids?