this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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Woodworking

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A handmade home for woodworkers and admirers of woodworkers. Our community icon is submitted by @[email protected] whose father was inspired to start woodworking by Norm and the New Yankee Workshop.

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

Happened really fast. It bound up twice, and before I could react it exploded.

Damn glad I have a healthy fear of cutoff wheels. I always use the proper guard and I recently bought a 3M face shield specifically in case of this..

I seem to have gotten away unscathed, except for my nerves of course.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Lord, I just saw MY life flash before my eyes just seeing this picture. Glad you're ok

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Thank you. Me too. I feel very lucky.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

except for my nerves of course.

What about the pants?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago

They've seen better days, certainly.

[–] KeyserSoze61 16 points 2 years ago (2 children)

This is the scariest tool that I have used. A table saw is incredibly dangerous, but it’s predictable and proper safety protocols will keep you safe. An angle grinder with a cutoff wheel can become shrapnel in an instant…

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Cutoff wheels aren't even the craziest thing people do.

Those people using power carving attachments have balls of steel or no sense of danger whatsoever. All it takes is the tiniest unexpected twist in the grain -- something EVERY piece of wood has -- to have that thing dancing across your knuckles and belly. I don't care how strongly you THINK you grabbed it, it's got more angular momentum than you have grip strength.

[–] mipadaitu 9 points 2 years ago

Stumpy Nubs, who advocates strongly for safety in all his videos, did some serious damage to himself doing power carving. He did a whole series of videos on it. Seems like he's recovered well though, he hasn't talked about it in a while.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

I was amazed how little warning I had. It was over before I realized I was in danger.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yep, I always charge hazard pay if I need to use my angle grinder. Even Dremel cutoff wheels make me incredibly nervous.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Watching people trying to make small cuts with a Dremel, face 10" from the wheel, with no eye protection gives me anxiety.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 years ago

Don't underestimate the effectiveness of a safety squint.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

Thankfully I've never seen this done. Although I used to regularly rake my co-workers over the coals for not wearing a face shield while wire-wheeling rims.

If you think wearing a grinding mask is uncomfortable, wait until you get shrapnel in your eye.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Guards and goggles and a healthy fear. I do use the angle grinder on screw tips sometimes when woodworking, so it is a good reminder.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

They're not called "wheels of death" for nothin.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That's a nice guard, I've only seen the half open crescent that is supposed to protect the user from sticking their finger into the wheel.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 years ago

Came with my grinder (MasterCraft). It came with the half-open style you mentioned as well, and I use that one for my grinding wheels/flap disks.

The guard change mechanism is pretty slick too. Once you get the wheel off its a tool-less cam lock mechanism