An angle grinder, or as it is more commonly called a grinder, is perhaps currently the same common power tool in home craftsmen's kits as a conventional electric drill. This is a very useful tool that can be used to grind various materials, primarily metal, sharpen the blade of a hand tool, cut a metal rod, cut sheet material, etc.
But like any tool, if it is mishandled or ignored basic security measures, it is dangerous. If you violate safety measures when working with an angle grinder, you can cause yourself a very serious injury or even die. In order for such cases to occur as rarely as possible, we decided to write this article.
Security measures
- To begin with, we note that your workplace should always be clean and tidy. There should be no scattered tools, scraps of material, deployed cables, etc. The more there are, the more chances you will trip or get caught on them when working with angle grinders, respectively.
- LBM should not be left in places with high humidity. Like other power tools, the angle grinder must be stored in a dry, heated room. Otherwise, gradual oxidation of contacts and metal parts of the mechanism will occur, which will lead to increased wear and, as a result, rapid failure of the tool. It is also possible for condensation to form inside the grinder, which can lead to a short circuit and electric shock to the operator.
- Use the automatic protection system in conjunction with the tool being used. It can be various transformers, network filters, circuit breakers. In the event of a short circuit, they will de-energize the network and possibly save your life. It is best to use a grounded electrical network when working with a grinder.
- When working with an angle grinder, use only mains with constant voltage to prevent damage to the tool.
- Work only in good lighting. Insufficient visibility is a factor that increases the possibility of making mistakes and the occurrence of traumatic situations.
- During the operation of the angle grinder, special clothing plays a very important role. It is not recommended to use this instrument in long coats, in clothes with wide sleeves, in old clothes with ruffled ends of the sleeves. In the process of work, such clothes can be wound around a circle, as a result, you will get injured. The best option when working with a grinder is a jumpsuit made of dense fabric. If you have long hair, you need to put it under a cap or pull it off at the back of your head with an elastic band.
- When using the tool, you must also be protected by special protective equipment. If work is carried out outdoors in the rain or on damp ground, rubber gloves and rubber shoes are required. Be sure to protect your eyes with special goggles. Glasses must be used without fail, despite the great practical experience with the grinder. The fact is that as a result of using angle grinders, a large amount of metal chips arise (from the side they look like beautiful sparks). This shaving has a torn shape and, if it gets into the eye, it is simply impossible to pull it out without specialized surgical assistance.
If you try to wash and wipe your eyes, then just hook a piece of metal that has got into the tissue of the eye even more strongly. If the grinder is used to cut tools such as concrete, brick or similar materials, a large amount of dust is generated. In this case, be sure to use a respirator to protect the respiratory tract. Another means of protection are special headphones. They are necessary for people who constantly work with an angle grinder if the noise level exceeds 85 dB.
- In the process of working with an angle grinder, the disc must be directed so that the cutting or grinding angle coincides with the angle of inclination of the disc. Only in this position will the main load be transferred to the edge of the disk. If this is not done, the load will act on the disk plane, which will lead to its rapid wear and possible destruction. The correct angle of inclination must be controlled throughout the work.
- In the course of work, the grinder should not be heavily “loaded”. In this case, the disc may stop completely due to excessive friction, which may lead to tool breakage. For example, an electric motor burns out.
- Observe the time of the maximum possible continuous operation of the tool. Depending on the quality of the angle grinder, category, as well as technical characteristics, this parameter may differ significantly. If for a professional grinder this is a long period, then for a cheap household tool this time period is no more than 15 minutes. This is necessary due to the fact that during operation the electric motor and internal parts heat up.
If you continue to work, the motor winding may fail and burn out, and other parts of the tool may also fail. Despite the built-in cooling system, periodically check the case temperature by touch and if it has risen significantly, turn off the angle grinder and wait until it cools down to ambient temperature. By the way, under load, the power tool heats up much stronger and faster than at idle.
- It is necessary to turn on and off the power tool only at “idle”, this will increase the service life of the tool, as well as prevent premature destruction of the cutting disc due to a sharp dynamic load.
- During operation, do not touch metal grounded objects such as radiators, metal pipes, metal racks, etc. This may cause electric shock.
- Do not allow people who do not have sufficient experience and knowledge, children, citizens who are in a state of drug or alcohol intoxication to work with the tool. This can be very dangerous for them and for those around them.
- The instrument must be handled with care. Do not throw it on the concrete floor, store it dirty. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that carrying the grinder by the cable is prohibited. Also, you can not pull out the angle grinder from the outlet by pulling the cord only by the outlet itself. Failure to comply with this rule will lead to a gradual breakage of the internal conductors of the electric wire and will require its replacement. The tool must be kept clean, cleaned of dirt and dust after the end of the working day.
- It is necessary to work with the grinder only in a comfortable and stable position. It is also necessary that the object or material being cut is well fixed. Unexpected changes in the position of the tool or material during operation can result in blade failure and injury. Before working with the angle grinder, it is recommended to periodically check the integrity of the cable and if it is damaged, contact the service center.
- After finishing work, be sure to unplug the tool from the mains. You can't keep it connected.
- Carry out regular maintenance according to the tool's instruction manual. This is primarily an external inspection, as well as changing accessories, lubricating rubbing parts, replacing carbon brushes, etc.
- During operation, avoid that the power cable of the tool comes into contact with objects with a high temperature (for example, a switched on electric stove), as well as objects with a sharp cutting edge and oils.
- Before turning on the grinder, make sure that the start button is in the “off” position. The handles during switching on, as well as after a short break without disconnecting from the network, must be held in such a way that you do not accidentally press the button to turn on the electric motor.
- Before working with the tool, you need to check the reliability of fixing all the constituent elements of the grinder. This is an additional handle, disk, protective cover. Also make sure that nothing is blocking the disc from spinning. You should not work without an additional handle, especially if the grinder is heavy enough. This increases the speed of hand fatigue and can lead to injury. It is necessary to work with a grinder only with two hands. Do not operate the tool without a protective cover, while during its installation, check that the mounting bolts are well tightened.
- If you need to use an extension cord during work, then it must be selected according to the working conditions. The sockets on it must be intact and satisfy the parameters of the withstand voltage. The cable must be sufficiently flexible and powerful, and also have a good, best of all, rubberized insulation.
- To work with the grinder, it is best to use only those accessories and consumables that are specified by the manufacturer. If this rule is violated, tool life can be significantly reduced. It is better to troubleshoot or replace damaged parts in a specialized service center where specialists do this.
- Special attention is required to control the cutting discs. Firstly, only discs that are suitable for the material being cut can be used. Do not use a concrete disc for cutting metal and vice versa. It is not recommended to use larger discs in grinders than specified by the tool manufacturer. As a rule, this is not possible without dismantling the protective cover, which is reflected in the safety of work. Before starting the angle grinder, be sure to check how well the disc is fixed between the clamping flanges. To prevent accidents, it is recommended to drive the machine at "idle" during the first 20 - 30 seconds of operation.
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