How to work with a grinder: safety measures + instruction manual

Do you plan to use a power tool in the process of doing home repairs, but don’t know how to work properly with a grinder so as not to get injured? Agree, it would be unreasonable, out of ignorance, to break a disk in the first minutes or, even worse, to hurt yourself.

Or did you just decide to get a power tool and study the rules for its operation in advance? In this case, pay attention to the products of eminent manufacturers with a good reputation, who sell really high-quality devices of excellent assembly with a long-term warranty.

After all, it is safer to work with a reliable tool. One of the excellent options is the products of the brand Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, as well as Metabo grinders sold in a wide range of moyo networks. The operating rules and basic errors when working with this type of power tool we will consider in detail in our article.

The material, in addition to recommendations on the use of angle grinders, contains visual photos on working with the grinder and useful video tips from experienced users. Having familiarized yourself with the latter and, observing the rules of personal safety, you will be able to cope with the shattering of a concrete wall, cutting tiles or bricks on your own, without involving specialists for these tasks.

Types and features of using angle grinder

The Bulgarian famous among the people is nothing more than an angle grinder. This power tool, according to the layman, is necessary for every owner who respects himself in the least.

It is not surprising, because in addition to grinding, the device is able to perform high-quality cutting of various kinds of materials, from simple wood to metal corners and fittings.

Most often in everyday life this tool is used not for grinding operations, but specifically for cutting materials.

The main types of grinders

This useful and almost universal power tool can not only saw, cut, but also grind the surface with emery wheels, clean rust with metal brushes and, in the presence of a diamond special circle, carefully cut glass.

But not every model of the grinder has a wide range of features. Yes, and technical specifications, such as power, revolutions per minute, the recommended diameter of the disk and a list of possible operations, varies.

In addition, all the grinders on the power tool market can be divided into the following categories according to their working hours and endurance:

1. For domestic use - this type involves the use of purely at home to perform simple tasks. The duration of such models is up to 40 minutes.
2. For professional use - This category of power tool is designed for a daily load of 3-4 hours. Similar models are used by craftsmen performing “turnkey repair” and other types of repair work.
3. Industrial - machines, even awkwardly to call them simply “grinders”, designed for continuous use by the angle grinder operator all working day.

If the first two species are common among the population, the latter are used exclusively in large enterprises working with serious facilities. And for the employee applying for the position of the operator, increased demands are made.

In particular, knowledge of the power tool device, the principle of its operation, the technology for performing work with it, and knowledge and compliance with individual safety rules.

The device is a domestic type grinder. It is useful for a beginner who has received a grinder from friends to get acquainted with its main parts. Indeed, for high-quality cutting and grinding, it is important to use this power tool correctly

In addition, the devices can be classified by type of power: network-dependent and battery-powered. And also divided into groups according to cost and other criteria.

The subtleties of operating a power tool

Before you learn how to make an even cut, you need to figure out how to use a household grinder correctly so as not to harm yourself.

First of all, you should read the manufacturer's recommendations indicated in the instructions / user manual. Although this particular moment often causes a storm of protest in the souls of new owners

But you should not ignore the instructions, because angle grinder is not only a useful tool in the household - the grinder is also extremely traumatic in the hands of an inexperienced operator.

Cases of causing serious injuries in the face, limbs, trunk with careless handling of the device are frequent.Even more often, the eyes suffer from ingress of scale, sparks and other foreign objects if they are not properly protected.

Moreover, no one is safe from the accident - even experienced users working for 20-25 years with a grinder, by coincidence, are visitors to the emergency room.

Therefore, it is important, first of all, to protect yourself with personal / personal protective equipment (PPE).

Another item that guarantees a certain level of protection, which the manufacturer insists on using, is a protective cover supplied to each type of cutting wheels. It is important to wear it before installing the appropriate nozzle and adjust it well.

Step-by-step instruction on the use of angle grinders

Having dealt with PPE, we will consider how to cut the grinder correctly - nevertheless, sparks “for oneself” or “for oneself”. More information about the direction of sparks later in the article.

True, this moment is the subject of heated debate by many owners of angle grinders. And each of the users makes significant arguments in favor of his point of view. But in one their opinion agrees - you need to work in such a way as to protect yourself as much as possible.

Consider a step-by-step instruction for working with a grinder.

Step # 1 - cleaning the workplace

Before starting work with angle grinders, you should remove as much as possible all that is unnecessary in the working area - bars, buckets with mortar, bays with cable, plastic wrap and other useful things.

No other people should be near a working power tool so that they do not accidentally suffer from sparks and dust. If assistants are present due to the specifics of the process, they need to wear PPE and move to a safe distance from the operator

There should not be anything superfluous under the feet and on the working surface, for which the grinder can accidentally catch on.

Step # 2 - preparing the material for work

An equally important stage is the preparation of the material. To avoid problems with the processing of angle grinders, you need to securely fix it. To do this, use a vise, clamp, clamps and other devices that can hold a board, corner, pipe, etc. in place.

If you have to work with concrete or cinder block, then it will not be amiss to moisten it, which will reduce the amount of dust generated

As holders, you can not use parts of your body - arms, legs, torso. Also, you can not attract an assistant who will support the pipe or brick in the right position - if the tool gets out of control, the consequences will be disastrous.

Step # 3 - preparing the tool for work

The process of preparing the grinder should begin with the selection of the right nozzle - recommended by the manufacturer to perform a specific task.

It is important to carefully inspect the selected disk from all sides, and if any cracks, nicks, chips or other problems are detected, immediately discard it.

As a rule, branded angle grinders are equipped with several types of devices:

• universal cutting wheels;
• diamond nozzles for cutting durable materials;
• circles for working on concrete;
• grinding nozzles of various types;
• metal brushes.

The quantity and range of optional accessories depends on the model you are purchasing. Often, universal circles have to be bought separately, and their cost is quite considerable.

For comfortable operation of the grinder, you can use additional devices. It is a pity that not all manufacturers supply them as a set.

A set of additional accessories depends on the model of the grinder and its capabilities. The manufacturer must inform the owners of this in the instructions. Moreover, it states that it is strictly forbidden to do.

No less important is the diameter of the cutting wheel, the recommended rotation speed - the number of revolutions per minute should exceed this parameter for the grinder. Putting large nozzles in size is not worth it - this is a risk of injury.

All work on changing the disk must be performed when the device is completely disconnected from the network.

The correct installation of the disc is demonstrated in the instruction manual. Moreover, in some branded electrical appliances there is only one option for placing a cutting disc.

Step # 4 - initial launch and testing

If the tool preparation process is completed and the desired disk has taken its place, consider how to properly and safely hold a working grinder in your hands.

This item is especially useful for beginners who do not yet have experience in using angle grinders. First you need to correctly pick up the machine and take a stable position.

Firstly, to take the device so as to ensure the direction of the "spark over itself" is a symbol for the position of the grinder.

The plane of the circle is strictly parallel to the plane of the user's body, and the head is strictly outside the plane of the same circle.

When the tool looks in the direction opposite to the operator and it will cut, and, accordingly, the disk will move, in the same direction - from the operator. But the sparks must be directed down to the left of the operator, adjusting the casing

Secondly, the additional or auxiliary handle screwed to the grinder body must be occupied by the right hand. This is for the right-hander. The point is that a strong hand guides and controls the movement of the instrument.

Thirdly, the on / off button, power adjustment controls the left hand. Which holds the device by the handle on the case, if any.

The button is usually located in a convenient place on the body - directly under the fingers. That allows you to instantly turn off the grinder as soon as the circle starts to wedge

As for the angle grinder, it must be located to the left of the operator’s body, without touching the latter. The position of the body - the legs stably stand on a solid surface, the right shoulder and arm are moved forward.

In this position, you need to train idle so that your arms and legs get used to the desired position.

Then you have to turn on the grinder and wait about a minute for the drive to disperse. After that, you can proceed directly to the work.

Step # 5 - cutting or grinding

If you first picked up a power tool and don’t know how to properly cut a metal pipe with a grinder, do not be discouraged. First, carefully read the manufacturer's recommendations and only then proceed with cutting.

In the complete set of branded angle grinders, additional accessories, nozzles and accessories intended for use with the purchased machine are necessarily supplied. And also there is always an instruction that states which disc to wear for what kind of work

When cutting, hold and guide the tool, avoiding excessive pressure on the handle. Cutting is carried out by the edge of the nozzle. Moreover, jerks and sudden movements are contraindicated - such a behavior of a grinder is fraught with a way out of the cut.

It is also important to control the depth of the circle entrance - it should not be large. The less the nozzle is immersed in the material, the less will be its wear. And the less danger of getting stuck in the cut.

When performing grinding, it is important to use strictly designed equipment. These are special circles - stripping. The casing most often goes to them, which will prevent the scattering of small particles that appear during the surface cleaning process.

When grinding a certain area, it is important to observe an inclination angle of 20-40 degrees between the disk and the surface to be ground. But polishing with the end face of the diamond wheel is impossible - it can explode and fly apart

If you are cleaning in circles with metal bristles, you need to be extremely careful with them - such a harmless nozzle during the processing of the part loses pieces of bristles that fly in different directions and can injure parts of the operator’s body by breaking through protective clothing.

Tips for beginners and major mistakes

Experienced users of angle grinders recommend that beginners buy a grinder of a well-known brand, with instructions in Russian and with a convenient button located on the case “under the fingers”. To get started, it is better to get a device with a power of up to 1 kW.

Such an instrument costs about 5 thousand rubles, but personal safety and health are much more expensive - you can not save much on a grinder.

Another piece of advice for discs is better to take branded and the right size. They are more expensive, but cheap Chinese are very thin and explode tens of times more often.

Some owners of the grinder can argue about the thickness, proving that a thin disk during an explosion less injures, especially with a diameter of 115 mm.

But their opponents give a sufficiently powerful argument in favor of branded and thicker ones - they do not explode, if improper use is excluded. And the service life of the latter is longer.

The following are common mistakes when working with a grinder that can result in disability or death.

Hands should not be near the disk or in close proximity - there is a great risk of being left without fingers or even without a hand

Errors when working with a grinder:

1. Ignoring Remedies - hands without gloves suffer from sparks, scale when working with metal, particles of concrete and other things.
2. Using your own legs as a vicewhen you need to hold bricks or other processed materials - this is a gross mistake.
3. Unauthorized improvement of a tool not adapted to these needsfor example, artisanal water supply, if the manufacturer indicates that the machine cannot be used with water, which is fraught with electric shock.

Among the errors, the most important should be highlighted - the use of a grinder while intoxicated or under the influence of psychotropic drugs. Which is strictly prohibited.

Also, there is no need to rush, leave the tool plugged in or set aside immediately after disconnecting - first you need to wait until the disk stops.

We also have other useful articles on the site about another dangerous power tool - a welding machine. In which the rules for performing electric welding work for beginners and instructions for performing horizontal and vertical seam are considered.

To familiarize yourself with the material, please click on these links:

• Electric welding for beginners: rules and nuances of welding + analysis of the main mistakes
• How to cook vertical and horizontal seams with electric welding: analysis of methods + instructions

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video about using angle grinders and recommendations for beginners:

The Bulgarian can become an indispensable assistant for fans to do everything with their own hands. But it can also cripple if it is improper to hold a power tool, not follow simple operating rules, and ignore protective devices.

If you use the machine for its intended purpose, put the wheels recommended by the manufacturer, confidently hold it in your hands and stand steady on your feet, then working with this power tool will be a joy.

Are you studying the rules for the safe use of the grinder and want to clarify a couple of points that we did not pay attention to in this article? Ask your questions in the block below - our experts will try to help you.

Or do you professionally own a power tool and want to give a couple of useful tips for beginners? Write your recommendations in the comments section, if necessary, add unique photos of your grinder or its individual elements.