Safety alert on cutting discs

[Noods]

Hi Guys..

I guess you get what you pay for, but, I was using my angle grinder with a blue spot cutting disc EN12413 on 1.5 mm SS sheet when it completely broke up... Was running at 11,000 rpm ... After a certain Ameba climbed into my left eye a Couple of years ago now, I've been very careful especially with eye protection, for 11 weeks I was close to losing my sight in that eye, thankfully a London eye surgeon got me 70% back via a cornea transplant..

I was wearing a full face guard and very thick gloves, so I was very lucky..

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

I have only ever see that happen when using discs to cut up wooden pallets Never seen that happen from using it for its intended purpose though.

 

[cumbriasteve]

What's the brown coating that's on the disc surface?

 

[Jim Davey]

Was the panel you were cutting vibrating badly or well clamped down? I've seen a lot of failures via poor or non existent clamping arrangements allowing the workpiece to either twist and grab the blade or vibrate hard and smash into the disc causing instant structural failure.

 

[Jim Davey]

What's the brown coating that's on the disc surface?

That looks like the colour of the disc itself showing through the worn off painted surface.

 

[brightspark]

I use blue spot-disks all the time for -thick and thin metal and never had any bother .the only time they let go is through being rough with them or the metal jams them and-they bust . that topdisk looks like its been rubbed up on the sides with something sharp and worn it out

 

[cumbriasteve]

That looks like the colour of the disc itself showing through the worn off painted surface.

Perhaps, I thought if that was it then it would have been a much more even pattern of wear, one part of the disc has virtually none.

 

[Jim Davey]

Perhaps, I thought if that was it then it would have been a much more even pattern of wear, one part of the disc has virtually none.

That can be explained by the disc having a slight varying thickness from one side to the other.

 

[Spark plug]

When cutting have you been running the disc back and forth across the surface of the workpiece or plunging the disc through the workpiece then pushing forward through the cut?

 

[Pete.]

I've done that to many a disc cutting rebar during demolition. Quite often the bar gets bent or is part of a tangled mess and so when you cut part way through it either twists or bends and pinches the disk. It's not as dramatic as it looks but it is a time when you're thankful you have PPE.

 

[BrokenBiker]

to me that looks like the grinder has been slightly twisted during the cut...ive had discs of all brands let go during use and its always down to operator error, either having something flimsy that isnt clamped down, or putting too much pressure on the disc, twisting it when it cutting etc...

 

[Jim Davey]

This is why I like to see a side handle fitted and in use. You have much better control of the tool and are better able to cope with the twisting action if the job starts to grab the disc.

 

[Pete.]

If you work on my crew you'll have a side handle on a 9" grinder and it'll be on the left not the right. I don't know what goes through people's minds when they put the handle on the right.

 

[Dimitri De Spiegeleer]

What was the expiry date (on the small metal insert in the middle of the disc) ?

 

[BrokenBiker]

If you work on my crew you'll have a side handle on a 9" grinder and it'll be on the left not the right. I don't know what goes through people's minds when they put the handle on the right.

i cant see why there is a threaded hole on the right...also baffles me when people use a grinder without a disc guard too

 

[pedrobedro]

If you work on my crew you'll have a side handle on a 9" grinder and it'll be on the left not the right. I don't know what goes through people's minds when they put the handle on the right.

I had one with 3 handle positions and the Metabo I have now has a swivelling handle for cutting slabs. My friend is left handed and always uses the handle on the other side. You can turn the guard as well. The cutting disc in the picture looks like it has been used for grinding.

 

[Jim Davey]

If you are working vertically cutting from the ceiling down then it's useful to have the handle underneath to get access to the corner.

 

[Pete.]

Aye but you can roll the guard round to do the same by putting the handle parallel to the work.

 

[dobbslc]

If you work on my crew you'll have a side handle on a 9" grinder and it'll be on the left not the right. I don't know what goes through people's minds when they put the handle on the right.

What if I'm left handed?
I'll put the handle where it works for me and move the guard round.
This manufactures bias toward you right handed freaks really ****** me off!

What about the drills that have the switch lock button on on the left of the handle? Right where the Palm of my hand is so it gets unintentionally pushed in and locked on! ******* dangerous.

 

[Noods]

For all the CI guys out there ..

Disc expiry date is 2016, no not used for grinding as I have grinders built for that and also use 120 80 and 40 flap wheels..
They hang in my heated workshop with old stock coming to the front when a new batch arrives.. No wobble as work was clamped to work bench with 3 g clamps, handle on the left of b ginder.. I'm right handed, I pre score sheet work and then just let the cutting disc do its own work along the guide eh not wheeling it back and forwards.. Can't say it twisted as such but hey you never know, the work side and the waste side were both fully supported and clamped so it shouldn't have.. And no timber ha been cut using these or any other discs of these nature ... I have 4 options for wood cutting, all of which are purpose built for timber and not metals ..