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  1. #61
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Melbourne West
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    At 25 - 34 you think you are 8 foot tall and bulletproof

  2. #62
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    UK
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    1

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    I am left handed and find that used that way the lock button on many machines is automatically pushed in by the finger holding the trigger, it has caused me a few "moments"

  3. #63
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
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    429

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    I have to agree that the angle grinder ( all sizes ) is one of the most dangerous and over used power tools there is.

    Among builder boys and metal workers the grinder seems to be the go to tool for any task it can possibly perform. ... AND there are a range of accessories marketed to this expectation.

    It does not matter if there is another tool that will do the job better or safer, some people will always prefeer to do whatever it is with a grinder.

    On the matter of 9 inch grinders ...... many people simply do not grasp the amount of power involved .... most of the modern 9 inch machines are 3 or 3.5 horespower, that is as much power as a typical lawn mower or a small outboard motor .... way more power that most brushcutters and as much power as a medium sized chain saw.

    That is a lot of schnaps to hand hold.

    I spent many hours in my 20's hanging off a Wolf 9 inch, at the time it was the biggest badest grinders available, it was 2400 watts, when the makita and hitachi of the day where 1800 watts ....... no soft start, no antikick back clutches, no anti-vibration grips ..... they where a real handfull. .... I was clearly warned before I started to use it.

    One of the blokes had one catch in a slot one time, & the grinder propelled it self over 8 feet thru the air. ... fortunately into reasonably clear space.

    I have a late model Hitachi, these days .... a world of difference. .... but a 3.5 Hp machine still demands a great deal of respect.

    Unfortunately most of the lower priced 9 inch grinders do not have the multiple safety features or the ease of use and predictability of the name brands.

    People consistrently underestimate the cutting power of grinder blades, particularly in fairly soft skin, flesh and bone.

    If the grinder blade had visable nasty big teeth, they may view them differently ..... but be assured they cut skin, flesh and bone very efficiently.

    I know a bloke by the name of Kevin Pimm, he cut his own leg nearly off just above the ankle with a 9 inch ..... if you meet him he will show you the scar, he is very lucky to have 2 feet to stand on....... he was cutting a handrail post off, had his leg in the wrong place ..... the blade caught and in less than the blink of an eye his foot was hanging by a very thin strip of skin and flesh.

    ... I added to my tag line in his honor.

    I can easily believe that a 9 inch grinder could burry its self full depth of the blade in someones chest, with speed and ease.

    I prefeer to learn by the mistakes of others ..... I can not pick up my 9 inch without thinking of Kevin ..... and I do not wish to ...... the thaught of him with a foot dangling by a strip, keeps me safe.

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  4. #64
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,373

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    Quote Originally Posted by soundman View Post
    I have a late model Hitachi, these days .... a world of difference. .... but a 3.5 Hp machine still demands a great deal of respect.
    The new 9" grinders are a revelation, I just bought one of the German built Metabo units to replace 15 year old Makita. Soft start, spanner-less clamp nut, multi-position handle and most importantly an electronic cut-out if the blade jams. Hopefully it will be as robust as the previous units I've had, it wasn't cheap but as I get older I become more aware of my mortality and anything that helps prolong is it worth the expense.

  5. #65
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    429

  6. #66
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gavin Newman View Post
    The new 9" grinders are a revelation, I just bought one of the German built Metabo units to replace 15 year old Makita. Soft start, spanner-less clamp nut, multi-position handle and most importantly an electronic cut-out if the blade jams. Hopefully it will be as robust as the previous units I've had, it wasn't cheap but as I get older I become more aware of my mortality and anything that helps prolong is it worth the expense.
    I wonder how much these excellent features will really help reduce life threatening injuries cause by grinders.

    Not you, but I'm thinking about eedjets, although I suppose it's difficult to cater for this cohort and some say why should we.

    Soft start is good. How quickly does it reach full speed? I ask this because eedjets are less likely to wait for this.

    By the time the electronic cut out happens if a disc was going to shatter it has probably has. I guess prior to shattering it will feed back to a user "Hey stoopid - you shouldn't be doing that" and this may convince them they shouldn't be operating the grinder that way.

    Multiple position handles will help reduce the problem provided they are not removed altogether. We have had 5, 9' grinders donated to the mens shed and I notice most of them have no additional handles. I threw the one with no guard in the bin but someone has taken it out of the bin and took it home.

  7. #67
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
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    68
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    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Not you, but I'm thinking about eedjets, although I suppose it's difficult to cater for this cohort and some say why should we.
    When it comes down it, you cannot guard 100% against the Darwinian principle of selection...

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Soft start is good. How quickly does it reach full speed? I ask this because eedjets are less likely to wait for this.
    The grinder comes up to speed quickly enough so as not to be a nuisance, what it does do is remove the violent kick as the machine starts up in a traditional device.

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    By the time the electronic cut out happens if a disc was going to shatter it has probably has. I guess prior to shattering it will feed back to a user "Hey stoopid - you shouldn't be doing that" and this may convince them they shouldn't be operating the grinder that way.
    The cutout is more to cater for circumstances where the blade jams when cutting and the normal grinder then drives itself out of the cut and towards the operator. It may have a side effect of protecting from circumstances where the blade is likely to shatter, hopefully I never find out. I must say though that I've never had a 9" cutting blade shatter in 40+ years but I have had a couple of the 1mm thin 5" blades let go recently.

    Quote Originally Posted by BobL View Post
    Multiple position handles will help reduce the problem provided they are not removed altogether.
    The handle I'm referring to is the main rear handle with the switch. The Metabo allows this to be rotated so that the switch still faces down when the grinder is being used in the cutting orientation, this makes it easier to control the device especially over extended periods of use. I cannot imagine anyone using a 9" grinder with no side handle!

  8. #68
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    429

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    If you have worked with 9 inch grinders you will understand ..... on conventional machines there is the "white knuckle period" where you hang on to the handles for grim death while the start up kick occurs and the machine stabilises and is OK to engage the work ........ soft start machines take no more time to be ready to work ...... they just aren't fighting for their freedom and possibly tyring to kill you, while you wait.

    Nothing is going to save you from shattering disks but propper guards and PPE. ...... buying quality abrasives an taking care of them goes a long way.

    The electronic cut out function is exactly that, a device to shut down Jammed grinders.

    ALL grinders have removable handles ....... same old same old.

    the good thing about the handles on the better modern 9 inch machines is they have antivibration mounts and some the main handles can be rotated, but not removed so the main handle and the trigger are in a natural position for the work in hand . On big heavy grinders "white knuckle syndrome" and the effects of vibration are very much an issue ...... anti-vibration mounts.... big improvement.

    These features are mostly only on larger grinders like the 9 inch and a few of the 7 inch machines.

    As far as leaving a handle off a 9 inch ...... yeh I'm sure someone will but, most people need both hands and thus both handles just to pick up a 9 inch.

    The thing that impresses me about my modern Hitachi is how smooth and well mannerd it is ...... it IS very much easier and safer to handle than older 9 inch machines I have used in the past .... which have a well earned reputation for being bilegerant machines that had to be wresseled into submission every time the trigger was pulled.


    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  9. #69
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

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    Quote Originally Posted by soundman View Post
    If you have worked with 9 inch grinders you will understand ..... on conventional machines there is the "white knuckle period" where you hang on to the handles for grim death while the start up kick occurs and the machine stabilises and is OK to engage the work ........
    If you are that weak you should not be using one.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  10. #70
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    429

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    OH RC you are my hero
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  11. #71
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    Well for only $29.99 I will sell you an effigy of me you can worship in your own way in your own home. Please no probing and no pins and needles.
    Gold, the colour of choice for the discerning person.

  12. #72
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Emerald Central Qld
    Posts
    349

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    It does not matter how many guards or other safety devices are fitted to a grinder they will still bite if not treated with respect and a minimum dose of common sense.

    The biggest problem is "you cant fix stupid"

    Michael

  13. #73
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    149

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    "......a minimum dose of common sense" sadly lacking with this fella:
    https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...285d2e3cfe7f14

    Sorry, the above link may be paywalled, but the story is here : https://www.google.com.au/search?sou....0.diSOMU6DSHI
    Attached Images Attached Images

  14. #74
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

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    On a similar line, where I help out at the local """"""" shed, on of the "Volunteers" cut the back of his hand on a mitre saw, by having his right hand on the switch and his left hand holding the piece of timber on the right hand side of the saw.
    In other words he had his arms crossed over, he's a Southpaw. Outcome we're not allowed to use any machinery until further notice!!!!
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  15. #75
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

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    There seems to be never ending supply of individuals who persist in the belief that they know more than the manufacturers of these tools.

    Probably a caution is there, in the instructions for the tool,to avoid fitting other than the recommended grinding or cutting discs.

    Unfortunately these geniuses know so much they never read the instructions.
    Crikey! those blades frighten the BJ's out of me and that's when they are used on a guarded circular saw designed for their use.

    A little respect for the bitey tools is a good thing to have.

    Grahame

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