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.
An angle grinder is a tool that needs to be respected. 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. We wouldn’t send them back with their guards, but what it led to on our part was the development of the flat-head angle grinder. With the multiposition accessory, it’s a steel bar that connects to the grinder that allows you to position the side handle anywhere across the top of the grinder on a 180-degree arc from left to right. The angle grinder itself might not be loud, but the sound the disc makes on the material greatly amplifies the sounds that are made. 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.
do angle grinders need guards Related Question:
Is it safe to use angle grinder without guard?
Personal protective gear, such as safety glasses and a face shield, and other PPE are often required as well. OSHA regulations require the use of guarding on angle grinders.
What is angle grinder guard for?
Disc guard. A disc guard is an essential safety component of an angle grinder. It prevents hot sparks and debris from flying towards you. It also protects the fast-spinning abrasive cutting or grinding wheels from hurting your arms, hands, and body.
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.
Why are 9 inch grinders banned in Australia?
Note: 9 inch (230 mm) angle grinders have been banned on some work sites due to the increased risk of injury. The increased power and size of the unit will cause more severe kickback and gyroscopic effects (i.e. makes the grinder difficult to manoeuvre).
Can you use a cut-off wheel on an angle grinder?
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 should you not do with an angle grinder?
Angle Grinder Use Angle grinders generate sparks. When required obtain a hot work permit before use. Keep work area clear of debris and flammable materials. Do NOT use in areas where there is grain dust or other combustible dust accumulation.
Are 9 inch grinders illegal?
9 inch (230 mm) angle grinders have been banned on some work sites due to the increased risk of injury. The increased power and size of the unit will cause more severe kickback and gyroscopic effects (i.e. makes the grinder difficult to manoeuvre).
When you need to put a new wheel on your grinder What should you do with the wheel first?
6. When you need to put a new wheel on your grinder, what should you do with the wheel first? Nothing. If it’s a new wheel, straight out of its packaging, just put it right on the grinder.
How much of a grinding wheel should be covered by the guarding system?
Maintain 6 mm (1/4 in.) wheel exposure with a tongue guard or a movable guard. Check that wheels have blotters on each side. Check the wheel fits properly to the spindle when mounting.
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.
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.
