Grinder Safety: How to Properly Use an Angle Grinder

Let's talk grinder safety! Grinders are one of the most dangerous and misused tools in many shops. Most injuries can be avoided by following the simple steps we go over in this video. Watch the whole thing, stay safe, forward to a friend.

ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN UTILIZING ANY DISPLAYED TOOLS, EQUIPMENT, TECHNIQUES OR PROCESSES. IF EVER IN DOUBT, CONSULT A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL. ANY RELIANCE ON THE PRESENTED INFORMATION IS STRICTLY AT THE VIEWERS OWN RISK. EACH VIEWER EXPRESSLY AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUMES ANY AND ALL RISKS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DEATH, DISABILITY, AND/OR SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY RELATED TO THE USAGE OF ANY TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR TECHNIQUES OR PROCESSES IN THE PRESENTED CONTENT. IN THE EVENT OF AN INJURY IMMEDIATELY SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

[miken.]

True story: coworker was using a grinder with a cutoff wheel and no guard. I was about 10 feet away. The wheel exploded on him and a big chunk hit him in the neck by his throat. I got to try to slow the blood coming from his neck while waiting on the ambulance. I’ll never forget him telling me not to let him die and that he wanted to see his kids. He got lucky and lived. Use the damn guard.

[RichGrimshaw]

I'm an amateur with a new grinder. Thank you in advance for saving my life.

[fsfltsurg]

Jason, you have performed a tremendous service. I'm a retired eye physician and surgeon and have seen some bad shop accidents. You certainly have a talent for instructing and teaching and this was one of the best. Your videos are great and much appreciated!

[mrvvoo]

I’m 100% guilty of just picking up this kind of tool from Home Depot with no education and starting to use it for minor DYI tasks, trying to apply my own limited “common sense.” I was not respecting the potential danger of these devices by a huge margin.

I refuse to touch my grinder again until I at least memorize everything brought up in this video. You might have just saved my life or myself from serious bodily injury in the future.

I can’t thank you enough for this video.

[rudymaldonado]

Tonight my son's life and/or limbs might have been saved from your video. He's very stubborn and never thinks anything bad is going to happen, regardless how much I nag him about safety. He even joked in saying, "don't expect me to be looking like an astronaut just to cut some metal." His attitude quickly changed after seeing the consequences of not respecting your craft and tools. I can't thank you enough for this excellent video

[Molester-Stallone]

It's insane that green guys in the field are just handed an angle grinder to figure out how to use, on their own. Every newbie should have to watch a detailed instructional like this.

[chochoglist]

This videos was posted 4 years ago, i am pretty sure you saved many lives all over the world. As a power tool newbie, this is the kind of content i want to see for tools i am not familiar with. You are a hero!

[shamirkhan]

Proper PPE: 2:11
Tool Pre inspection: 7:15
Tool accessory safety features: 9:00
Choosing the appropriate disk size: 10:15
Choosing the appropriate disk type: 12:55
Checking the serviceability of a grinding wheel: 15:45
Mounting the wheels onto the grinder: 18:20
Foolproof system for changing out wheels: 23:30
Technique and operation of varying wheels: 25:10
Cutoff wheel: 29:00
1/4" hardrock: 33:00
Flapwheel: 35:30
Working with stainless steel tips: 37:00
Wire wheel: 39:40
1/8" hardrock: 41:10
Grinder accidents: 43:40

[rapsured]

I had a cut off wheel explode on me. I had the guard and it saved me. I didn't listen to others about taking the guard off.

[timwilliams]

I am "over 50" and used grinders for at least 40 years, still picked up many good tips. Thank you for the content.

[denniswhite]

I am so glad I watched this. I am a novice- hobby- in the garage guy who works mostly as self-taught. Yes, I've thrown the wheel protectors away. Yes, I use the wheels for applications I should have used something else. Never knew the right way to put the nuts on and crank them down too tight. This really opened my eyes (thankfully I still have them). Going to check all my grinders tomorrow and get set up correctly. I just hope I won't have any nightmares sleeping tonight. Have I been lucky. Years doing it the wrong way. Thanks so much for your instruction.

[gfy]

This is priceless.
Having spent time in the military, training and safety is everything. This guy takes his training and safety for those he's instructing nothing but serious. This guy has seen it and done it. He has organized and planned his training on here with explicit easy to follow, step by step, and by the numbers instructions. I just bought my first grinder.
So glad I found this video.
Great video sir!

[richardcook]

I've been using angle grinders for about 35 years and am likely more safety oriented than most guys. I learned a whole lot more than I expected from your video THANK YOU!

[NicHume]

This is a great video - I'm a "Self-taught" hobbyist just getting into working with metal - I've never had the benefit of a "proper" intro to metal shop safety... This was almost every dumb question I've ever had, answered in one spot. Thank you! :)

[complexity]

This is the best grinder class for graduates, engineers, mechanics, and overall smart people. He uses appropriate words, demonstration, and guidelines. You can tell he instructs|teaches. Been watching alot of these videos (lately (over about a month)) and this is the best one yet. The video is 45 minutes of gold and uranium. It actually took me 1.5 hours to get through because I was jotting down notes.

[Nanogrip]

Damn, I didn't realize how unsafe I had been with grinders, 38 years old and been using grinders since I was in my late teens. I've been very careful but still I am lucky I haven't been seriously injured. You've potentially saved my life bro. Been watching a couple of videos this channel, and I'm definitely subscribing due to this video. Greetings from the tiny islands of Palau

[aquadan]

Jason, I have been doing automotive repair, automotive HVAV repair and fabrication as well as general welding and fabrication work for over 40 years now. When I saw the title of this video I almost ignored it completely, then I noticed the running time was significant. I watched the entire video and I must say I was beyond impressed. I am guilty of a lot of the how not to in this video, and I learned a few things as well. Thanks for putting this video together, I will most definitely be sharing this with my shop mates.
Be safe and thanks Jason,

Dan

[johnellison]

Mate. I'm really glad that you've made this video. There's far too many people on YouTube telling others that the guard on a grinder isn't necessary. It's there for a reason. And I hope that many people watch and learn from this video. Well done. Cheers.

[davidolson]

To all hobby welders, and professional welders alike. This is the best instructional video about grinders, grinding wheels, and using them safely and efficiently, that you will find on the net.
Very well done. Camera techniques excellent, and particularly the "what can go wrong" instructional vid demonstrations remain in the consciousness. Excellent job all round.

[vinaygupta]

The person is caring and has used the best ways to teach us how to use grinder carefully 👍