We got our Pro team together to give you some tips on how to use an angle grinder from basics to some advanced techniques and shortcuts. Additional Pro Tips on How to Use an Angle GrinderBefore applying the grinder to the work surface, allow the tool to reach full speed. If you’ve got any tips or tricks on how to use an angle grinder, feel free to leave your input in the comments section below!
There are two popular types of safety guard: disc/wheel guard & dust guard. To make the most use of an angle grinder guard, you should adequately attach the disc guard to the grinder for your maximum safety so that the least of the wheel is exposed to you. An angle grinder guard is an irreplaceable part of an angle grinder.
Whether the accessory on that angle grinder is a grinding disc, a cutting disc, or a wire wheel, you have something that is spinning at speeds anywhere from 9,000 to 11,000 RPM, inches from your hands, fingers, body, and face. I can guarantee you, if you are running an angle grinder for your job without a guard, at some point you are going to be injured by that grinder. If your angle grinder goes in and out of a tool crib every day, and if that tool crib issues you a grinder with an accessory on it, make sure to let it run no load for a minute.
Wheel guards serve to deflect sparks and debris away from users, and to shield and protect them from abrasive cutting and grinding wheels, which can cause serious damage if they fail and fly off. Angle grinder wheel guards are often adjustable, with newer styles, such as the new Dewalt wheel guard shown here, aiming to be more featured and user-friendly. A lot of users remove the wheel guards off their angle grinders, with the most frequent reason I’ve heard being that the guards get in the way of the work.
Reports indicate customers in the grinding wheel industry break approximately one grinding wheel per day. Grinding wheel guards are one of the key components in keeping these grinding wheel mishaps from becoming a personal injury. In Summary: Grinding wheel guards designed for one type of machine and used on another type of machine or the wrong guards for the type of wheel are dangerous.
You can buy very inexpensive angle grinder tool, but for frequent use or for demanding jobs like cutting stucco or cement, I’d recommend spending a little more for a grinder with a more powerful motor. Outfitted with a grinding wheel, an angle grinder is a great tool for restoring edges on rough-and-tumble tools like hoes, shovels and ice scrapers or for the initial grinding of axes, hatchets and lawn mower blades. Finally, with the grinder off, rest the grinding wheel against the blade and adjust the angle of the grinder to match the blade’s bevel.
how to position angle grinder guard Related Question:
How far should the guard be on a bench grinder?
Because the safety guard is designed to restrain the pieces of a shattered grinding wheel, the distance between the safety guard and the opening at the top of the wheel must not be more than 1⁄4-inch.
What is the guard on a grinder for?
When side grinding with the Type 27 or Type 28 wheel, the work piece acts as a portion of the guard, protecting the operator in the event of a wheel breakage. Cutting off wheels are not designed for use on their side and must be used on their outer periphery only.
Should you wear gloves when using an angle grinder?
Yes you should wear gloves when using an angle grinder. Angle grinders are a dangerous tool, and you should wear gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection when you use them.
Is it hard to use an angle grinder?
But for quick, rough cuts, it’s hard to beat a grinder. I’ve used an angle grinder to cut rebar (Photo 3), angle iron, rusted bolts (Photo 4) and welded wire fencing. Use an inexpensive cutoff wheel for these and other metal-cutting tasks.
How far should the tool rest be set from the grinding wheel when grinding?
Ensure all the guards are in place and secure before using a grinder. Adjust tool rests to within 3 mm (1/8 in.) of wheels. Never adjust rests while wheels are moving.
What side of the grinding wheel should be used to grind objects?
Grind evenly across the face, avoid creating ruts in the wheel. Do not use the side of a grinding wheel, just the face. Side pressure can cause a wheel to crack. Do not grind too hard, do not try and take off too much material too fast, use the right tool for the right job.
Is it OK to use a cut off wheel as a grinder wheel?
Usages. You can use cut-off discs for cutting metal bars, metal tubes and small pieces of metal sheets and plates. You can also cut out welds with them. For shortening the length of various bolts, it is also a good idea to use an angle grinder and a cut-off wheel.
What is a Type 1 guard on an angle grinder?
Type 1 is for grinding, type 1a is for cutting. Type 27 is for grinding, type 27a if for cutting. Same rule applies, use the larger guard for the Type 27 wheels (Or depressed wheels) Use the smaller guard for type 1 wheels.
Is angle grinder loud?
Hand-held angle grinders can produce noise levels of about 90 to 115 dB(A).
What are most angle grinder injuries from?
In 2008, nearly 25,000 were injured nationwide while using angle grinders (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission). The majority of these injuries occur from an abrasive blade shattering, diamond-blade segment loss, or the angle grinder kicking back.
Can you use water with an angle grinder?
So, Can You Use Water with an Angle Grinder? Absolutely! But not straight out of the box. With some accessories and a bit of knowledge on how to mitigate the risks, you can use an angle grinder with water to cut tile, brick, or any type of masonry to minimize dust and maximize blade life.
What should be the maximum distance between the grinding wheel and the tool rest?
Work rests shall be kept adjusted closely to the wheel with a maximum opening of one-eighth inch to prevent the work from being jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause wheel breakage.
How much of a gap should there be between the wheel guard and the wheel on a bench grinder?
Because grinders run at such high RPM, wheels actually explode when they break, causing very serious injuries, blindness and even death. In addition, the distance between the grinding wheel and the adjustable tongue-guard — also known as a “spark arrestor” — must never exceed 1/4-inch.
Can you grind on the side of a grinding wheel?
Do grind on the wheel’s face (outer diameter) only. Side grinding is NOT allowed. Do keep your grinding wheel face open and free of metal build-up. Dress wheel to remove foreign metals and to open the wheel face with new sharp abrasive grains.
How far away should the stationary bench grinder guard be from the face of the grinding wheel?
Grinder Safety – Work-Rests and Tongue-Guards In addition, the distance between the grinding wheel and the adjustable tongue-guard — also known as a “spark arrestor” — must never exceed 1/4-inch.
