should i remove the safety on my 3" cutoff die grinder?

[atch]

i'm sure there is a better name for them, but i call my air tools that take a thin 3" cutoff wheel a die grinder. sorry if that's wrong.

anyway, i just hate the safeties built into the triggers. i'm sure that all safeties on all tools are there for a purpose, but i'm suspecting that these are only on there to keep the manufacturers out of court.

i can't imagine hurting myself with one of these after removing the safety.

has anyone out there actually hurt himself/herself, or personally know anyone who has, after removing that little steel piece you've got to flip down before you can squeeze the trigger?

if someone can show me how or if i'm gonna screw up, then i'll use them like they are. but i've just about had it with the nuisance factor it creates.

comments? suggestions?

[singledownloop]

laying it down on the trigger comes to mind?

[Joe Bardell]

I scared myself once with a little 3" unit on by back under a van a couple months ago cause I was holding the safet out of the way. Even at the shop where I pump gas we leave 'em on. Just deal with it, one day something might happen and you'll be glad you left it http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[stolenmojo]

atch, we call them 'death wheels' in stock car land. we usually run one until half the blades are missing on the rotor inside. this leads to "jump starting" i.e. holding the trigger and hand spinning the wheel while yelling "contact" like a john wayne WWII movie. our tire guy cut off the end of his finger this way when it kicked. trigger safety will never fix stupid.

[PEDDRO]

Let us know AFTER you've taken off a few fingers...not just one (in which case you're just a sissy!).



Seriously, leave the sucker on. You might be clever (lucky?) enough to get away with it off, but someone else may not.

[long island vic]

if you can read this id say leave it on. you have two eyes

[Luckypabst]

Every one where I work is gone - first thing to go. We have in the neighborhood of 45 various die grinders and right angle grinders with all kinds of different attachments.

Only trouble I've had is laying the tool down on the handle. Do that a few times and you'll remember. Our belt sanders and disc sander have given me more hurt than the grinders ever will.

Chris

[mikes51]

I would be more worried about having that tool on the garage floor, then accidently dropping something on the trigger. My DA sander did a good jump out of the tool box when I accidently dragged the air line. The airline pulled the sander along until the trigger hit something.

[atch]

5 responses so far, saying leave it on. to be expected. that's the obvious answer.

the question is, though, has removing the safety resulted in any documented injuries?

and mojo doesn't count; that has nothing to do with the safety.

EDIT: at least there were 5 responses when i started...

[Roothawg]

safeties are for sissies.............

[PEDDRO]

[ QUOTE ]
has removing the safety resulted in any documented injuries

[/ QUOTE ]

There's always gotta be a first! Go for it. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[williebill]

Got several different die grinders,I just wrap duct tape around the safety to hold it to the handle.If I'm laying it on the garage floor,I disconnect the airline.I'd rather reconnect the line than dick around with the safety.Try my way,and if it scares you,just peel the tape off.Used them that way for years,and the die grinder in one of the few tools that hasn't sent me to the emergency room http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[metalshapes]

They are tricky little tools that need to be treated with respect.
Having a Safety on it may or may not make it that much safer.
Tools like that get unsafe when you get to familiar with them, and start to forget the damage it could do.
Just like driving around in an old car with no seat belts, no air bags and a painted metal dash might make you a better, more carefull driver.
The biggest danger I see with having no safety, is working inside a car with a tool like that laying on the floorboards , plugged in.
And then plant your ass, knee or foot on it, so it can turn itself on and dig itself into said ass, knee or foot doing about 15000 RPM...

[hatch]

Damn near sat on mine once(no guard)....think that mighta hurt just a bit

[gettingreasy]

If it gets in your way take it off. But IF something happens don't bitch about it just get it sewn back on. What I do to my side winders is way worse, I take the sheild off of them because it's ALWAYS gettin caught on something. I've never claimed to be smart, they just work better(for me)this way.
-Jesse

[deuce]

got kids?

[metalshapes]

[ QUOTE ]
got kids?

[/ QUOTE ]

Good idea!
Have them grind it for ya... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[atch]

kids are as old as a lot of hambers; don't live here.

[choprods]

Don't do as I say......AND WHATEVER YOU DO...Don't do as I DO. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[CharlieLed]

If you have a decent tool then the safety shouldn't be a problem. I've used the cheap ones and they are a pain in the ass. From what you have said so far in this post you are determined to remove this safety...I'll be looking for your future post telling us how you should have listened when you were warned. Tomorrow you may become the statistic that you are looking for today...

[atch]

actually, charlie, i'm not really determined to do so. that's why i asked on here instead of just removing it.

that said, though, i still haven't heard anyone say that they have hurt themselves, or knew anyone who did, by removing the safety.

[briggs&strattonChev]

I have one die grinder without the flipper safety and a few others with it and ive never felt that the flippers were enough of a nuisance to remove it, but if I thought it was a nuisance than I would take it off. If you arent using the thing, why have it attached to air power? thats an accident waiting to happen with or without a safety. I always take the 1.34 extra seconds to take the tool off the air hose. Actually, although it is a bad idea, there isnt a shield around the disc on the one I use as a cutoff wheel (and I have no idea where it is). Ive learned that its simple to put on safety glasses/goggles, and its easier than squinting at what you are trying to cut and trying to evade metal filings and shavings. They dont seem to be too comfortable in or around the eyes http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

if you want to see if its any better going "flipperless", wrap some tape around it so it stays open like someone else said.

Briggs

[desertratrodder]

Whatever choice you make, wear safety glasses. I got stabbed in the eye with a test light, just walking through the shop. Turned around to see what the cord caught on and whammo! Right in the eye...dented my skull too. When theyre pulling stiches out of your eyeball, it doesnt feel good either.
Just protect yourself appropriately, and you will be OK. Those cutoff wheels like to blow up, as you already know..

[331caddy]

how do ya think ya get cool scars.... haha im on number 2 from die grinders that cut me to the bone .. it gives ya a little more respect haha.... just watch your fingers if ya take it off

[TheDooWopKid13]

if you dont want a safty use old air tools that are at least 10-15 years old. my pops still has them and they dont have any saftys on them, and none of us have gotten hurt with them yet. and they work great.

[Flat Ernie]

First, I don't got a cut-off wheel - I've got a die grinder - the difference is no guard on the thing. I like it that way so I can get it in all kinds of places!

Second, I got a cheap Taiwan POS that never even had a safety. I hate when I'm thrashing & shit is strewn everywhere I'll invariably step on mine & break the wheel. Then I gotta change the wheel & of course it only happens when I'm on my last wheel! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I always unplug the air line & set the thing somewhere I won't step on it. Safeties? Wee don need no steenking safeties!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[TheDooWopKid13]

[ QUOTE ]
Safeties? Wee don need no steenking safeties!
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
you got that right.

[Morrisman]

"Anybody who believes the world can be made a totally safe place is either stupid, or quite possibly dangerous"

Can't recall where I heard that quote, but it is true. I work in the oil and gas industry and believe that you can't make anything totally safe!. Just safer. (Which is contrary to what management preach!)

I have tied up the safety on a couple of my tools, and removed the guards on a couple of my angle grinders, but all it does is remove some of the safety level.

Let's face it, if you want 'SAFE', you would be driving a stocker Chevy, with air bags and side seat belts, not a hot rod http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[moondisc]

Like Charlielead said, the safety on my cheap one was a pain in the ass. Took 2 hands to run it.
I put a piece of tape on it. It's still there and works, but I can run it with 1 hand now.
Last year for the third time I got a piece of steel in my eye running a cut off wheel.
My old eye doc wouldn't see me as it had been 5 years since I'd been to him, so I had to find a new one.
I told the new eye doc it was the third time with safety glasses on this happened.
He asked if I wear a hat in the shop. I told him I did.
He told me the the shit is hitting the brim and boucing behind the safety glasses, and to always turn my hat backwards when cutting or grinding.

[Petejoe]

[ QUOTE ]
the question is, though, has removing the safety resulted in any documented injuries?


[/ QUOTE ]
I used to use these extensively when I worked for a tractor tank trailer rebuild shop many years ago. I have five or six scars on top of my right hand from these things. The most dangerous thing I found is they normally will take off away from the cutting area and eat you up. Takes a hell of a long time for those wide cuts to heal too.
I have had a few break and fly into pieces but have always used a face shield with them. You can imagine what one of those flying disc can do to your handsome face. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[ray]

a lot of times when i'm using the cutoff wheel, i'm also alternating with welding, so i'm wearing leather gauntlets, which makes it impossible to work the flipper and have any control over the tool as well, off it went. also no wheel guard, but like i said i wear gloves, a face SHIELD, not just safety goggles, but you should wear safety glasses even with a shield if you don't normally wear glasses, i usually have a heavy jacket on, denim or leather, and jeans, steel toes much of the time too out of habit, it may sound like overkill, but i always regret when i get in a hurry and have to chase sparks and slag down my clothing, etc. if you are working on your car in shorts and flip-flops than you are asking for a hurtin.