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  1. #1
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    Default Should I wear a dust mask while cutting steel with an angle-grinder?

    I was using an angle-grinder today to cut up some rebar which had been used to make cages around trees on my block. I noticed that the abrasive disk is reinforced by threads of what looks suspiciously like asbestos cord. Is it advisable to wear a dust mask while using an angle-grinder to cut steel?

    Rocker

  2. #2
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    MEL VIC AUS
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    Default

    never seen or been told to and l worked in a full on worksafe site
    so l say no
    could be wrong see what andy will have to say
    smile and the world will smile with you

  3. #3
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    don't recall any warnings to use dust mask when angle grinding but I might in the future.

    Have been doing a fair bit of metalwork lately and notice that I do get blackish snotty crud in the nose.

    Its probably a good idea to go by the rule that any thing other than oxygen inhaled will have long term effects over a long period of time.
    I also try not to breathe when I clean up the white wheel on my grinder with a diamond dresser and the big puff of white dust is released, isn't that silica?
    I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
    Albert Einstein

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2004
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    Cairns, Qld
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    3

    Default Grinding Stuff

    Rocker/Spirit
    The composition of the cutting disc is not the problem - but I ain't a great fan of inhaling rust dust and other shrapnel if I can help it - I try to slap on a mask at any opportunity - but in the tropics they get hot wet and sloppy fairly fast - and then hard to breath through - TAKE YER CHOICE KEEL OVER FROM LACK OF AIR OR PULL IT OFF.


    HAPPY GRINDING GUYS

    WALLACE
    "Plastic trees make great plastic boats - show me the trees!!"

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Rocker View Post
    I noticed that the abrasive disk is reinforced by threads of what looks suspiciously like asbestos cord.

    Rocker
    Could those threads be Fibreglass or Kevlar?
    I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
    Albert Einstein

  6. #6
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    Oct 2001
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    Warwick, QLD
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    Default

    Rocker, it certainly wouldn't hurt to wear a mask. As Wallace said there is fine metal particles that float around in the air, mainly from the ceramics that form the disc.
    Have a nice day - Cheers

  7. #7
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    I reckon you should wear a dust mask.

    On page 58 of the current Lee Valley Woodworking Tools catalogue, in the power sharpening section, the following information is given.

    "You should protect yourself from the dust of dry grinding. In the mid-1800's in Sheffield, the life expectancy of an apprentice tool grinder was less than 20 years. This varied from 16 years for a fork grinder to 25 years for a knife grinder. They inhaled grinding dust for 60 hours per week. It is easy enough to rig an old vacuum cleaner, central vac or dust collector to control the dust. It is a favour you should do yourself, if not your heirs."
    Regards,
    Ian.

    A larger version of my avatar picture can be found here. It is a scan of the front cover of the May 1960 issue of Woodworker magazine.

  8. #8
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    Sep 2003
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    Elimbah, QLD
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    Quote Originally Posted by martrix View Post
    Could those threads be Fibreglass or Kevlar?
    You are probably right; but if they are fibreglass, it would probably pay to wear a mask. I suspect that the scarring that x-rays of my lungs reveal is probably due to inhaling glass fibres when installing glass fibre insulation batts in my house when I lived in the Old Dart.

    Rocker

  9. #9
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    I think fibreglass will be the new asbestos of the future .

    Al

  10. #10
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    Feb 2006
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    Perth
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    Default

    Unless you have a really old or exotic disc the reinforcement will be fibreglass. During the grinding process the disc does not generate particles entirely back to its constituent parts (abrasive; eg Al203, reinforcement; eg glass fibre, and binder; eg epoxy) but dusts containing all 3 components, plus metal fragments. A fragment of Al203/binder/glass is not as dangerous as straight glass fibres. Despite this there will still be some straight glass fibres hence wearing a mask is still a good idea.

    A more significant problem at times is not the discs but what is being cut or ground. If a piece of angle iron or tube has been attached to fibreglass or asbestos, or a bolt is poking through a piece of asbestos. then grinding these will certainly spray the stuff around

  11. #11
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    The answer is easy: if you aren't sure, then YES!

    Always better to be safe than sorry.
    I may be weird, but I'm saving up to become eccentric.

    - Andy Mc

  12. #12
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    May 2003
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    Broome West Aussie
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    Too bloody right!!

    I mean have you ever coped a bunch of them red hot bits of metal up the snotter? BLOODY HURTS like buggary!! mind you a couple in the eyesockets aint to flash neither... wear the mask AND the glasses/shield

    And for gawds sake stand UPwind of the bloody thing
    Believe me there IS life beyond marriage!!! Relax breathe and smile learn to laugh again from the heart so it reaches the eyes!!


  13. #13
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    Sep 2003
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    Elimbah, QLD
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    Default

    Well thanks for the info. Actually I rarely use the angle-grinder for cutting metal; I usually use it for sanding wood with a sanding disk. But then I wear a dust helmet. In view of what you all have said, I will wear the dust helmet whenever I use it.

    Rocker

  14. #14
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    I have another question regarding an inhalant and working with steel.

    When drilling steel in the drill press and using a cutting fluid there is a generous amount of smoke produced for a few seconds when the bit is fully cutting which comes from the cutting fluid.

    I am using "Rapid Tap" and it says it is made from Paraffin, Chlorinated? It also says it does not contain 1,1,1-Trichloroethane and No Californian Prop.65 material.

    What chemicals would be in the smoke?
    As a caution on the tin, it says "inhalation-mild lung irritation"

    Probably not as bad a cigarette though .
    I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.
    Albert Einstein

  15. #15
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    Perth
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    Quote Originally Posted by martrix View Post
    I have another question regarding an inhalant and working with steel.

    When drilling steel in the drill press and using a cutting fluid there is a generous amount of smoke produced for a few seconds when the bit is fully cutting which comes from the cutting fluid.

    I am using "Rapid Tap" and it says it is made from Paraffin, Chlorinated? It also says it does not contain 1,1,1-Trichloroethane and No Californian Prop.65 material.

    What chemicals would be in the smoke?
    As a caution on the tin, it says "inhalation-mild lung irritation"

    Probably not as bad a cigarette though .

    An MSDS sheet is available for Rapid Tap from, http://www.barrettdiamond.com/carbide/pdf/nrtmsds.pdf
    The general Health Saftey rating is low so it should be relatively safe to have around the shed.

    However, as far as when it burns, the MSDS says. Combustion can produce acid gases (hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide) and these are what would give you any irritation.

    If you do this very often I would use a gas mask, for moderate - occasional use a fan to blow the smoke away from you for those few seconds when the smoke is generated would be sufficient to dilute the acid vapour. Since my DC vents outside my shed, I have a couple of ends of ducts that end in flexible hose so I hook the the end of one of these hoses to my DP table and it seems to catch most of this sort of thing.

    Cheers
    BobL

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