[Roadsters] Semi-OT: Bench grinders

[Eddie]

Thought I'd chime in on this one.

Bench grinders can be extremely dangerous.  You've got a wheel spinning 
at 5,000 rpm or more.  Trying to grind something on a grinder that isn't 
anchored down is asking for trouble.  I've known people who've seriously 
messed themselves up, nearly ripped off fingers, ripped apart flesh, 
etc, because they decided to use a grinder that wasn't anchored. 

It's a bad idea.

All it takes is for you to put too much pressure, or for something to 
catch, and that grinder can flip over and go flying.  Now you've got an 
object with a spinning wheel tearing around your garage, and you're 
right next to it. 

If you don't want to loose workbench space, then make some holes and use 
bolts and wingnuts so you can remove it quickly and easily.  But PLEASE 
don't use a grinder that isn't bolted down.

( I know, now people are going to say they've done it that way for years 
and they've never had a problem.  To that I say, you've been lucky.  
People drive without seatbelts and survive too, people ride bikes 
without helmets and survive.  Just because you've used a grinder that 
wasn't bolted down and haven't lost a finger doesn't mean you're not 
taking an unnecessary chance every time you do it....)

Better to be safe than sorry...

Eddie 

Gordon Glasgow wrote:
> Good point about anchoring the grinder. I don't currently have room for a
> dedicated grinder stand and I got tired of chasing the grinder all over the
> workbench, but I didn't want to bolt it in place and take up all that room
> on the bench. My cheapo solution was to drill two holes in the workbench and
> then drop a couple of bolts through the grinder into those holes and use
> them like dowel pins. It's not 100% solid but it seems to work well enough.
>
> Gordon Glasgow
> -----Original Message-----
> From: datsun-roadsters-bounces at autox.team.net
> [mailto:datsun-roadsters-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of MH
> Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2009 7:32 AM
> To: hallosb at juno.com; datsun-roadsters at autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Roadsters] Semi-OT: Bench grinders
>
> I have a cheap Harbor Freight grinder that I use along with a variable speed
> control (that was also from HF, for about $8 at the time). They're not real
> heavy and they can scoot around a little bit. I use bar clamps to anchor to
> my bench and it's no problem at all. For safety's sake, you should always
> solidly mount a grinder to something anyway.
> Mike Hudson  '67 - Stroker / 5-Speed
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