Cool, now ya got something lethal when the plastic pin breaks. Seriously guys, a bodyman in the bay next to me had a cut off wheel fly. The hole it left in my garage door got my attention. His missing thumb got his.
Grinding wheels shatter, explode, and splinter all the time. That set-up is asking for trouble. I applaud the creative thinking, but that's not safe.
One note to point out; when you tighten the threads into the arbor, don't snap it off in the arbor. I've done it.. oh, about a dozen times. Mainly 'cause i like my thumbs & I just want that extra tightness. Then, snap! Dammit! You'll quit breaking them off after trying to dig a few of them out of that stinkin' arbor. But it really does work real well, no doubt about it.
Also, the 3M & wurth discs are way better than the Nortons. I have had them come off, but mostly when I lift the wheel off the surface & let it decelerate too fast. It's like they don't stay tight all the time. They'll stay on for awhile, then after around the 3rd/ 6th lift.... wizzz.... there it goes. Most of the time, in the floor.
yea i thought it was a good looking idea but it sure doesnt seem safe. my wizy wheels shoot off about 1 out of every 10. least its allways on start-up. (i think i needs a new arbor)
I did mean to sound like a wimp, I know we work in a somewhat dangerous enviorment, I have plenty of scars to prove it. This one struck a nerve cause it was just what my buddy was doing, putting a cut off wheel in a grinder, cost him a thumb and his livelyhood. He damn near bleed out in my car on the way to the hospital.
Come to think of it. i use cheeper wheels and they fly off. but the 3m's do tend to stay on much better. but i cant pass up a pack of 50 for 20.00 from the abrasive supply place
Ya I've snaped the threds off many times ya it sucks I use a snapon pick set to get them out. 3M all the way dude nothing else like it. Cheep wheels shatter and suck. They wear down too fast. I'd rather spend less time grinding and less time changing grinding discs and more time dreaming of driving my car one day. go to hokey ass message board and serch "kenny g from philly"
I had a body grinder (the pistol grip style with the big flexible discs) come apart on me a week ago while I was grinding down welds. Sounded like a gun going off, and the biggest chunk of the disc hit me in the inner thigh of my left leg. For a few days my entire left leg hurt like hell, had a mild 7-8" cut and about an 11x6" swollen bruise that still hasn't went away.....if it hit me about an inch high, I probaly would've had to have gotten dick stitches, and if it had flown up instead of down I probaly would've lost some teeth! Moral of this story, don't fuck around with your grinding equipment! It can fuck you up as it is!
Hey, Not to piss in anyones punch or anything, but it's time for my semi-anual "chicken-little" number........ Don't by cheap off-shore cut off discs- think about it, those discs are spinnin at 10-12 THOUSAND rpms., don't meet any safety regulations, and are made of what? Swankey Devils C.C.
At my old job this guy had a grinder setup like that with a double sided disc except it was extremely close to the trigger I grinded part of my finger off andit sucked. Point is if you like your fingers dont do the double sided grinding disc.
maybe you should just let the subject drop? look, it's dangerous, so what if you've been doing it that way for years, i doubt you can predict when a disc is going to fail. the last thing a guy needs is a cutoff wheel flying at him. especially from an angle die grinder that puts your body right in the plane of the flying wheel in the event of failure. it ain't safe, and hambers like to look out for each other, nobody here wants anybody else hurt by poor advise by someone who has been lucky.
that solid disc is a cutting disc and should only be loaded on its edge, not side loaded........Ive had one explode on me and went through the side of my metal shed........maybe if you used a thicker grinding disc, this setup would be good, also those flap wheels are great for cleaning up welds too....they dont leave little flat spots like a hard disc does.......just my 2c bud .....cheers, Bert
oops sorry guys......didnt mean to state whats already been stated. .... Hey, I want a cyber gun .....Bert
Just as a side note, when the threaded part breaks off in the arbor, the way I get it out is to heat a screwdriver with a pocket torch (only takes a few seconds) then push the hot blade into the plastic and back it out.
Cant say that I'll try that anytime soon. Just personal preference. Nevertheless, I work for a tool company that sells a ton of abrasive wheels, cut-offs, flaps, etc. If theres one thing I could stress to you guys, dont go with the off shore brand cut-offs. They are really not safe at all. As mentioned earlier. Those no name wheels sold at the swaps arent regulated by anyone other than yourself, if you chose whether or not to buy them. From what I've learned here at work, United Abrasive and Standard Abrasives are great companies for your cut-off and grinding needs. As well as Random Products (cheaper flap wheels and discs). But you cant go wrong with 3m either. Just my thoughts fellas, be safe and rod on!
I am glad I got to see the post before you deleted it. I am also glad I don't have a ton of grinding to do. Thanks for your efforts.
I totally missed this post. ANyone mind PMing me the suggestion so I DON'T do it? Just curious if it might be something I've done myself.