4 1/2 inch Grinders with non latching switches

[normspanners]

Just been thinking bout that foot switch what a good idea! not good on a step ladder though!
What about grinder cable length? I was once when an apprentice, long time ago I was sanding the paint off the sides off a truck trailer so the side( about 10" deep ) was at chest height.
The 9"makita I was using had a 40 grit sanding disc on BUT only the usual 2metre cable so the extension was on the edge of the trailer as I moved along the short cable pulled the extension reel off the side and pulled on the grinder which then dug in and causing me to grip hard on the side handle (which was off something else with a different thread!) the handle then came out coz it was only in 2 threads the grinder spun over and cut my wrist.
Again I was lucky.
But since then I have modded my 5 ---9" makita's to at least 25 ft lead I find it SO MUCH safer and hate using hand tools with short leads. I think all tools like that should have longer leads for safety not this stupid rule of 2 metres or whatever. whenever I change leads on anly tool now, they have along lead!
Views on tool lead length ???

 

[BillJ]

I have some rituals with these tools, When I finish, I'll wait till the disk stops spinning before putting it down, then I unplug it. Changing disks, adjusting guards and visual inspections are all done with it unplugged

I perform the same ritual. Angle grinders scare the s**t out of me. I've never had to use one overhead and I don't think I ever would.

 

[chunkolini]

Long leads rule, I wont buy anything on a short lead, I also hate stiff leads like on some cheaper tools and my old Makita sander, flexible leads much safer.
Some horror stories here.
The toothed arbortech carving wheels? I have got one of these I was scared to death of it at first but as said very smooth in use but has to be treated with massive respect.

 

[normspanners]

I also hate stiff leads like on some cheaper tools and my old Makita sander, flexible leads much safer.

I use good quality arctic grade cable for its lay flat capabilties

 

[Wallace]

Some of my DeWalt power tools have a nice flexible rubber 2m lead, I would do the same on all my power tools but I can only ever find the cable in 50m drums.

 

[armalites]

Some of my DeWalt power tools have a nice flexible rubber 2m lead, I would do the same on all my power tools but I can only ever find the cable in 50m drums.

Toolstation 25m £24.71 1.5mm

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Ele...+Rubber+3183TRS+15mm+x+25m/d190/sd2730/p76259

I bought a reel and made up 3 extension leads with rubberised plugs and sockets as changing cables on a couple of tools.

 

[jammy]

I have an old grinder that is a non latching switch on the top and always loved it, but I wanted a variable speed one so I could run knot wheels and not eat everything touched and leave my eyballs inside my head so this Christmas got a Dewalt 28117 which has a latching switch on the side. I was against it before I had used it but once I put a few miles on it really liked it. It has an anti-jolt mechanism which switches the machine off if you dig in a bit too deep and so safety wise, it's probably better than a non latching switch as if you cause it to trip more than once then you know that you're not treating it with the required respect and you're not always straining to hold the switch down. It's very easy to just glance the switch to turn it off too, so it's kind of semi-latching in a way.

 

[jonjoe]

head of a man one time working on a boat big 9inch grinder overhead blade jammed and broke and went into his head. ouch

 

[Windy Miller]

Some of my DeWalt power tools have a nice flexible rubber 2m lead, I would do the same on all my power tools but I can only ever find the cable in 50m drums.

Blimey how long did you want it then???

 

[Wallace]

Blimey how long did you want it then???

About that long!