Angle Grinder Guards

[nocheepgas]

I think pipeline welders are the worst offenders of removing guards. I wish I had a dollar for every one that showed up with their grinder guards removed! First thing they usually have to do when arriving at my job site is to go buy a new grinder....with a guard!

[kevin]

guards off, used for some jobs, guards on, used for some jobs, the thought of loosing flesh from all parts of your body, knocking your teeth out, burning the crap out of your body, cuts needing stitchs, metal in the eye, ear, if this souds too horrible for any one, then dont be a welder, welding is a very dangerous profession. this stuff is going to happen to you, no matter how safe you are, accidents will happen, its a fact of life, another fact, welding is not for the faint of heart

[aametalmaster]

I think pipeline welders are the worst offenders of removing guards. I wish I had a dollar for every one that showed up with their grinder guards removed! First thing they usually have to do when arriving at my job site is to go buy a new grinder....with a guard!

Yup when i worked at Marathon they had to have a guard and a handle, no ifs about it. Their rules....Bob

[tackit]

To each his own but to me smaller rat tail grinders are the most controllable. Here is my Makita 6" rat tail grinder that Makita quit making. I have two Hitachi rat tails in 5" but I run 6" wheels on them too. IMO 6" rat tails are the perfect size for most open jobs.

[Daniel]

guards off, used for some jobs, guards on, used for some jobs, the thought of loosing flesh from all parts of your body, knocking your teeth out, burning the crap out of your body, cuts needing stitchs, metal in the eye, ear, if this souds too horrible for any one, then dont be a welder, welding is a very dangerous profession. this stuff is going to happen to you, no matter how safe you are, accidents will happen, its a fact of life, another fact, welding is not for the faint of heart

Where I work we are not allowed to remove the guards of our grinders, they supply us with grinders that don't have trigger locks as well, for safety reasons.

If you cant use a grinder with a guard to do a job, there is another tool, that will do that job.

If I need to grind in some tight area, I'll do everything I can with the grinder that I can loosen up the guard easily and turn the opening of the guard in the direction I need it to be and do all the rest with a industrial die grinder with the right size carbide bit.
Nice and safe.

[cope]

[QUOTE=tackit;305551]To each his own but to me smaller rat tail grinders are the most controllable. Here is my Makita 6" rat tail grinder that Makita quit making. I have two Hitachi rat tails in 5" but I run 6" wheels on them too. IMO 6" rat tails are the perfect size for most open jobs.

I agree. I have a 5" DeWalt, and unless I am doing serious grinding, my 7" Milwaukee stays in the cabinet.