I did that one time when the disc I was using wouldn't fit over the arbor correctly due to a little surface rust. It grenaded and made a loud boom when parts hit a 5 gallon bucket. I think I preloaded the disc somehow and put tension on it. Definetly gotta use the full face sheild. I use one of these:

hope you can get back to the SAS soon and recover

that's going to be a really nice scar. I'm not even sure your story has to be embellished that much. I guess "my grinder exploded in my face" sound nice. Anyway, sorry about the accident...hope you heal up nice. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I really reccomend that you start treating it with "Mederma" or a similar product as soon as it heals. The sooner you start treating the scar, the better the chances that it will become less noticable.

I've pretty much stopped using any type of abrasive from harbor freight, but because they wear out quickly and aren't that much cheaper. Sadly this is a problem with any brand of cutoff wheel. Because they are so thin they just cant handle any kind of side loads or binding. I've had many wheels rip apart and had a few kick back. Never had your bad luck, but did have one kick and wind into my shirt once though. Luckily it was a cheap HF grinder and the motor stalled instead of doin more damage.

Dallas

Hey everyone,

Thanks for the kind words, and other war stories with the grinders... Im glad im not the only one..

Just to clear things up, the actual grinder skipped back and hit me in the face, with the broken disc still spinning around 13,000 rpms. I have gotten in a habit lately of locking the trgger on. So i think im going to break that habit real quick haha..

My face hurts a lot more today than it did when i actually did it. Its swollen really bad, and i cant open my mouth more than half an inch or so. No talking, it hurts to much, and im afraid of ripping out the stitches.

Sean, i just ordered that UVEX face mask, so thanks for posting that up...

Its funny because my friends always make fun of me for wearing all the safety equipment.. and this still happens. Rather ironic i do believe.

The doc said face injuries heal faster than the rest of the body, so hopefully i can get back to work on the truck soon..

No more grinding and cutting until my face shield gets here though hahaha..

Peace

Joel

OUCH!

I have plans of maybe SAS-ing the Rodeo in about another 18-months-or-soà
That UVEX Bionic face shield just went to the very top of my æto-getÆ list.

Joel - I bid a speedy recovery to you, my friend.


<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

when I bought my grinder, the one thing I made sure of was that as soon as I let go, it would stop. I don't want it to stay on if I drop it! only think wrong with the one i have, is that it is just a button, so if I set it down and I'm not paying attention, I could lay it on the button, or someone could step on it.

anyway, speedy recovery <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I actually just ordered one myself. You can never be too careful.

Nice find Sean <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

My dad just gave me his old DeWalt grinder and he got himself a new one for christmas. His comes with some funky locking mechanism so that it is more trouble than it is worth to lock it in the ON position. Mine is still pretty easy to lock, so i guess ill change that.

We use all DeWalt blades. Super thick, and we've never had one explode on us before.

Joel, had you taken off the pesky safety sheild that they put on from the factory, or would it not have helped anyway?
-J <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I stopped using the cheap wheels from HF,Northern and the fleamarket.
I only use black and decker ones.

I wear safety glasses,full sheild,respirator and ear muffs(now) as well.

I also wear a denim apron it helps to keep splinters out of my belly <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't like to lock a trigger and always use the side handle.I try to brace the arm with the handle in it against something solid and always plan your attack,Make sure the grinding grit/sparks will not hit anything ( bodymount etc)before grinding and i rotate the grinder on my braced arm so kick backs are eliminated or reduced.

Glad to hear your ok,and <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" /> to a speedy recovery.

Another safety tip:

Also don't use cutoff wheels(1/8") for grinding and don't use grinding wheels(1/4") for cut-off wheels they can more easiely be wedged and explode.

Edit for hi-jack <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Also this applies to cheap saw-zall blades,the cheap ones are to hard and shatter on impact with say a frame etc.
The good ones wii bend and not explode......I like milwalkie brand they are not that much more,but well worth it.......my ...... .02 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Just makes you look prettier!

Wasn't as bad as I thought. Glad you're ok.