Angle grinder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

An angle grinder is a handheld tool powered by an electric motor, petrol engine or compressed air. The motor drives a geared head at a right-angle on which is mounted an abrasive disc that can be renewed when worn. Angle grinders typically have an adjustable guard and a side-handle for two-handed operation. There are myriad different disks that are used for various materials and tasks, such as cut-off disks (Diamond Blade), abrasive grinding disks, sanding disks, wire-brush wheels and polishing pads. The angle grinder has large bearings to counter side forces generated during cutting, unlike a power drill, where the force is axial.

Angle grinders are widely used in metalworking and construction, as well as in emergency rescues. They are commonly found in workshops, service garages and auto body repair shops. However, they can be dangerous due to the high rpm involved and the sparks and bits of metal that fly off as they cut. Another dangerous aspect of Angle Grinders is that a bad cutting disk can explode when used. A third risk is that if the edge of the grinding wheel catches in a corner of the material the torque from the spinning grinding wheel will attempt to propel the tool up and back at the operator.

While these risks can occasionally cause serious injury, use of proper protective gear will greatly reduce the risk. Because angle grinders use a light weight abrasive disk, rather than a sharp metal blade, most injuries are not threatening. Even an exploding disk tends to produce a nasty scrape or "road rash" type injury, rather than the catastrophic injuries possible with tools such as a circular saw.

Safety equipment should be worn while using this, or any power tool. Goggles or a face shield should always be worn along with ear protection. A respirator is recommended, especially when grinding toxic materials like lead based paint. Gloves and long sleeves have pros and cons in terms of protective value and risk. More brittle metals can produce shards and splinters that may stick in the hands and arms while grinding, but this is not common. Gloves and long sleeves should be tight fitting, as loose cloth actually poses a greater threat: it can catch in the wheel and pull the operator's hand into the blade.

The angle grinder can be contrasted with other varieties of grinders; see grinding machine, bench grinder and other diamond tools.



Metalworking:

 Grinding and lapping:

Metalworking topics:  

Casting | CNC | Cutting tools | Drilling and threading | Fabrication | Finishing | Grinding | Jewellery | Lathe (tool) | Machining | Machine tooling | Measuring | Metalworking | Hand tools | Metallurgy | Milling | Occupations | Press tools | Smithing | Terminology | Welding
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../a/n/g/Angle_grinder.html"
In other languages