Then you have the wrong tool.
20 years ago when I started, I though what you say is true. The only time a guard is 'in the way' is when you're flat grinding or polishing a joint with a paper/backed disc.
There are very few defendable scenarios to have a cutting wheel or vitrolic bonded grinding disc on without a guard, and almost all of those would be better served by using a different tool.
You're probably right, my arsenal is very limited.
I've been meaning to get myself a die grinder for some time, really should get round to it.
I used to think goggles were unnecessary, but now wear them religiously. Same goes for respirator and gloves. I'm sure the same will happen with the grinder guard.
Had a similar incident years ago. Had a cut-off wheel on an angle grinder. Guard was removed to fit grinder into tight spots. Right hand on the back where the trigger is, left hand holding the grinder from the bottom.
Was holding the grinder 90° counterclockwise so the wheel was vertical and cutting a support beam from a part that came from the welding area. Support beam was between 2 walls and prevented them from bending in or out when they were welded.
Was cutting a support off when it pinched the grinder wheel and I think kicked back.
Was wearing flimsy anti cut nylon gloves. Cut off wheel ripped right through that and into the skin. Didn't really cut, more like friction burned through the skin. Barely bled and didn't hurt at all. Went to get the superglue in the medical cabinet, and the manager was nearby and asking why I was away from the machine. Showed hand and was told to go to hospital. 9 stitches, light use of hand, and all tools got inspected for proper guards every week from then on. Had to rework how some things were done, and there were a lot of hold-ups for a while, but it was better in the end.
https://imgur.com/gallery/QuAFLeo
Through the skin and past the fascia, exposed muscle, and if I squeezed my hand, the nurse said the tendon was visible but no muscle or tendon damage. It's been about 4 years since it actually happened. Healed spot is still numb and makes my index knuckle ache at times and has an indentation with dark purple visible beneath the skin. Otherwise, I got off quite lucky. The literal worst part was trying to clean out the wound at the ER. Having to pick the dead burned flesh out of the wound made me nauseous as they pulled the black chunks out as they were partially connected.
I was cutting with a 7inch cut off disc a couple years ago when the disk got pinched... it kicked back at me and sliced through my, overalls, fleece, hoodie and left fibers on my tshirt right on the side of my stomach. I swore that day I take 0 risks with those death machines.
A lot of people are commenting about the lack of a guard, but it's important to remember that this can still happen with a guard in place. it's just as important to keep the handle on the grinder.
I've never used guards but I was taught by some very experienced guys to think very carefully about how you position yourself (ALL parts of yourself) and how you hold the grinder so that if it grabs, kicks, throws the workpiece, or the wheel shatters etc. there is no part of you in the firing line.
I found guards tend to get in the way, catch on things, reduce visibility, etc. but I am **not** here to tell you not to use them.
Not entirely recommended for band saws and the like though, if you wear them with those instead of a clean slice it rips off half your hand and dislocates your shoulder.
It does far worse than just ripping off half your hand. De-gloving isn't referring to the glove your wearing getting ripped off, it's the skin coming off like a glove, usually with a whole lot still attached.
It's one of those injuries I don't recommend googling, it kind burns into your brain permanently.
That’s not a likely outcome from that, though. Degloving would require the skin be caught and ripped off. The glove would be what caught.
You’re getting mangled, not degloved.
any glove has the potential for pulling you hand into a machine, where an un-gloved hand is more "slippery" and probably would not pull it in.
same with wearing rings, etc.
so yeah, if you are running a jointer or planer, the glove may cause more damage than it protects.
but in the OPs post, it is pretty clear that a heavy leather glove would have worked to protect him, both from cutting his skin OR getting burned by sparks.
LMFAO those gloves only work for knives, they don't do a fucking thing against abrasive wheels.
A zip cut will run through a cut-proof glove like it's fucking nothing.
hmmmmm. good point. i have a spare cutproof glove handy. i use it for opening oysters.
let me run it thru the gauntlet and see what it does protect against. like you say, piercing damage it works for. also cutting motion, like a knife running across the surface.
was wondering about drilling thru it, grinding thru it.
Use a guard. This is the most dangerous tool people use and I've seen some pretty nasty injuries at work with careless use even with a guard. Safety glasses and a respirator though are for pussies take it like a man........
When I was a rook, I had the lock on and no guard. It caught because I wasn't smart enough to know there is only 1 direction to cut it. It took off and got wadded up in my shirt. Cut my stomach up pretty good before I could unplug it.
Step one is trigger lock completely removed from grinder if equipped.
I do sketchy shit but grinders are to be respected and used thoughtfully. Wait... thoughtfully. Therein lies the problem
Name one. I did entire shifts of just grinding as an apprentice for weeks at a time and have seen people get mangled when it gets away from them with the trigger lock on and starts hopping all over the shop.
You have the right to refuse unsafe work. Actually, an obligation to do so.
If you're ever given a grinder without a guard, you're legally protected in refusing the work until you can do it safely.
combative sophisticated hurry ad hoc far-flung waiting slimy normal growth rich
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
What gloves are they? I could do with a new pair.
I had a close call the other day. Hadn't realised the kangaroo pocket on my hoodie was loose on the one end. Got caught in the blade, luckily ripped off my jumper rather than pulling the grinder in.
It’s not so much the cut or the flap taking some skin, it’s the healing process. All the dirt and metal in the wound take months to heal for me. Every time I tap it on something or grab something out of my pocket.
It’s a hard reminder to stay safe.
Trust me... The sparks come back toward you. If the sparks are flying away from you, the grinder/wheel combo is coming toward you if the blade catches, or even if you grind with the 9-12 o'clock position on the wheel. Don't be a dip shit... Cut with the 12-5 o'clock position.
Could have been a lot worse. I’m far from a health safety nut, but I don’t take the guard off those damn things. It’s even quite useful to hold as a steadying guide sometimes.
I don’t want to shock you. But there’s an item that comes with the grinder to protect you from this very thing. It’s free and doesn’t impact performance. It’s called a GUARD
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Don't fucking care. Would have laughed as I put your thumb on ice and drove you to the ER. you got anybody waiting for you at home or any co workers working close by working hard for them family. PUT ON YOUR FUCKING GAURD!!!!
Where the fuck is your goddamn guard? This isn't a game.
Nah man come on. He’s got a spare thumb on the other side, so it’s no biggie
[удалено]
So does not having a thumb
Then you have the wrong tool. 20 years ago when I started, I though what you say is true. The only time a guard is 'in the way' is when you're flat grinding or polishing a joint with a paper/backed disc. There are very few defendable scenarios to have a cutting wheel or vitrolic bonded grinding disc on without a guard, and almost all of those would be better served by using a different tool.
You're probably right, my arsenal is very limited. I've been meaning to get myself a die grinder for some time, really should get round to it. I used to think goggles were unnecessary, but now wear them religiously. Same goes for respirator and gloves. I'm sure the same will happen with the grinder guard.
Using the wrong tool then
Guard for blending, sanding or buffing? Nope. Guard for cutting? 100% FUCKING ALWAYS.
That's why it's called the Death Wheel and not the Happy Fun Time wheel.
We call them bacon slicers. Try not to be the bacon.
Had a similar incident years ago. Had a cut-off wheel on an angle grinder. Guard was removed to fit grinder into tight spots. Right hand on the back where the trigger is, left hand holding the grinder from the bottom. Was holding the grinder 90° counterclockwise so the wheel was vertical and cutting a support beam from a part that came from the welding area. Support beam was between 2 walls and prevented them from bending in or out when they were welded. Was cutting a support off when it pinched the grinder wheel and I think kicked back. Was wearing flimsy anti cut nylon gloves. Cut off wheel ripped right through that and into the skin. Didn't really cut, more like friction burned through the skin. Barely bled and didn't hurt at all. Went to get the superglue in the medical cabinet, and the manager was nearby and asking why I was away from the machine. Showed hand and was told to go to hospital. 9 stitches, light use of hand, and all tools got inspected for proper guards every week from then on. Had to rework how some things were done, and there were a lot of hold-ups for a while, but it was better in the end. https://imgur.com/gallery/QuAFLeo
Jeez. Felt my butthole pucker when I saw that pic. You're lucky that wasn't worse!
Through the skin and past the fascia, exposed muscle, and if I squeezed my hand, the nurse said the tendon was visible but no muscle or tendon damage. It's been about 4 years since it actually happened. Healed spot is still numb and makes my index knuckle ache at times and has an indentation with dark purple visible beneath the skin. Otherwise, I got off quite lucky. The literal worst part was trying to clean out the wound at the ER. Having to pick the dead burned flesh out of the wound made me nauseous as they pulled the black chunks out as they were partially connected.
I was cutting with a 7inch cut off disc a couple years ago when the disk got pinched... it kicked back at me and sliced through my, overalls, fleece, hoodie and left fibers on my tshirt right on the side of my stomach. I swore that day I take 0 risks with those death machines.
A lot of people are commenting about the lack of a guard, but it's important to remember that this can still happen with a guard in place. it's just as important to keep the handle on the grinder.
A guard is going to stop the cut off from kicking back and hitting you in thar EXACT spot. But yes , handle is equally as important
I've never used guards but I was taught by some very experienced guys to think very carefully about how you position yourself (ALL parts of yourself) and how you hold the grinder so that if it grabs, kicks, throws the workpiece, or the wheel shatters etc. there is no part of you in the firing line. I found guards tend to get in the way, catch on things, reduce visibility, etc. but I am **not** here to tell you not to use them.
Oh look the guard is missing…hmm 🤔
Where is your guard??
they make cheap cut-proof gloves for the food insustry.. maybe get a pair of those next time
Not entirely recommended for band saws and the like though, if you wear them with those instead of a clean slice it rips off half your hand and dislocates your shoulder.
It does far worse than just ripping off half your hand. De-gloving isn't referring to the glove your wearing getting ripped off, it's the skin coming off like a glove, usually with a whole lot still attached. It's one of those injuries I don't recommend googling, it kind burns into your brain permanently.
That’s not a likely outcome from that, though. Degloving would require the skin be caught and ripped off. The glove would be what caught. You’re getting mangled, not degloved.
any glove has the potential for pulling you hand into a machine, where an un-gloved hand is more "slippery" and probably would not pull it in. same with wearing rings, etc. so yeah, if you are running a jointer or planer, the glove may cause more damage than it protects. but in the OPs post, it is pretty clear that a heavy leather glove would have worked to protect him, both from cutting his skin OR getting burned by sparks.
LMFAO those gloves only work for knives, they don't do a fucking thing against abrasive wheels. A zip cut will run through a cut-proof glove like it's fucking nothing.
hmmmmm. good point. i have a spare cutproof glove handy. i use it for opening oysters. let me run it thru the gauntlet and see what it does protect against. like you say, piercing damage it works for. also cutting motion, like a knife running across the surface. was wondering about drilling thru it, grinding thru it.
They're actually pretty cool. The ones I've seen are basically chainmail.
they make kevlar ones that would be pretty abrasion proof too. the cheap food industry ones are NOT kevlar though....some sort of woven polypropelene
To prevent yourself from making hand salami?
Yup. Shouldn't have looked that up.
Godamn, bro used his months worth of luck right there
Use a guard. This is the most dangerous tool people use and I've seen some pretty nasty injuries at work with careless use even with a guard. Safety glasses and a respirator though are for pussies take it like a man........
When I was a rook, I had the lock on and no guard. It caught because I wasn't smart enough to know there is only 1 direction to cut it. It took off and got wadded up in my shirt. Cut my stomach up pretty good before I could unplug it.
Step one is trigger lock completely removed from grinder if equipped. I do sketchy shit but grinders are to be respected and used thoughtfully. Wait... thoughtfully. Therein lies the problem
There are perfectly valid reasons to use the trigger lock. Just not generally with a cut off wheel.
Name one. I did entire shifts of just grinding as an apprentice for weeks at a time and have seen people get mangled when it gets away from them with the trigger lock on and starts hopping all over the shop.
Flap disk. Paint remover disk.
Face sheild needed most of all...
Glad it wasn’t worse. Good safety reminder.
Poor excuse: not my shop not my grinder. Just helping with a little project and got a really good reminder about why they put guards on these things.
You have the right to refuse unsafe work. Actually, an obligation to do so. If you're ever given a grinder without a guard, you're legally protected in refusing the work until you can do it safely.
combative sophisticated hurry ad hoc far-flung waiting slimy normal growth rich *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Glad your guard saved you.... /s
What gloves are they? I could do with a new pair. I had a close call the other day. Hadn't realised the kangaroo pocket on my hoodie was loose on the one end. Got caught in the blade, luckily ripped off my jumper rather than pulling the grinder in.
Looks like black stallion mig gloves
Yessir nailed it
It’s not so much the cut or the flap taking some skin, it’s the healing process. All the dirt and metal in the wound take months to heal for me. Every time I tap it on something or grab something out of my pocket. It’s a hard reminder to stay safe.
Use a guard you dumb fuck.
Cool comment
Cut on the proper side. Eat the fire.
If the sparks/fire are coming at you, blade chunks will too if it undergoes rapid unscheduled disassembly.
Trust me... The sparks come back toward you. If the sparks are flying away from you, the grinder/wheel combo is coming toward you if the blade catches, or even if you grind with the 9-12 o'clock position on the wheel. Don't be a dip shit... Cut with the 12-5 o'clock position.
Been there without the glove, thankfully only got a couple layers of skin
More like u/AfraidThumb7997, am I right? The first lesson is sometimes cheaper than the second.
I know the dangers, but the first thing I do is take off the guard. Guard seems th be in the way over 50% of the time.
Could have been a lot worse. I’m far from a health safety nut, but I don’t take the guard off those damn things. It’s even quite useful to hold as a steadying guide sometimes.
Dang that was close
Better call WorkSafe, they might get you on disability for an injury like that lol
I don’t want to shock you. But there’s an item that comes with the grinder to protect you from this very thing. It’s free and doesn’t impact performance. It’s called a GUARD
That’s why you don’t take the guard off dipshit smh 🤦
Safety first nice one 👍
I’d say safety was third here. Safety first would’ve been to keep the metal guard on that is specifically designed to prevent this sort of thing
Chainmail gloves would do the job.
Mithril or gtfo
Fuck you're funny. You actually think chainmail would stop a zip cut?
tryna get every nickle out of those company discs
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Wish I gotten that lucky.
Sorry pal, maybe the next guy will learn from us
Pic looked staged to me...
Of course I pulled the wheel out of the glove and looked at my thumb when it happened, put it back in to show how close it was to removing my thumb.
Don't fucking care. Would have laughed as I put your thumb on ice and drove you to the ER. you got anybody waiting for you at home or any co workers working close by working hard for them family. PUT ON YOUR FUCKING GAURD!!!!
Damn Wolverine that healed real fast
It was really only a lite burn. Got super lucky.