Abrasive Wheel Tool Safety

Portable abrasive grinding, cutting, polishing, and wire buffing wheels create special safety problems because they may throw off flying fragments.

Abrasive wheel tools should be equipped with guards that:

• Cover the spindle end, nut, and flange projections.
• Maintain proper alignment with the wheel.
• Do not exceed the strength of the fastenings.

Before an abrasive wheel is mounted, it must be inspected closely for damage and should be sound or ring tested to ensure that it is free from cracks or defects. To test, wheels should be tapped gently with a light, non-metallic instrument. If the wheels sound cracked or dead, they must not be used because they could fly apart in operation. A stable and undamaged wheel, when tapped, will give a clear metallic tone or "ring."

To prevent an abrasive wheel from cracking, it must fit freely on the spindle. The spindle nut must be tightened enough to hold the wheel in place without distorting the flange. Always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Take care to ensure that the spindle speed of the machine will not exceed the maximum operating speed marked on the wheel. An abrasive wheel may disintegrate or explode during start-up. Allow the tool to come up to operating speed prior to grinding or cutting.

Never stand in the plane of rotation of the wheel as it accelerates to full operating speed. Portable grinding tools need to be equipped with safety guards to protect workers not only from the moving wheel surface, but also from flying fragments in case of wheel breakage.

When using a powered grinder:

• Always use eye or face protection.
• Turn off the power when not in use.
• Never clamp a hand-held grinder in a vise.

More Specific Safety Rules/Information:

• 5 Basic Safety Rules for Hand & Power Tools
• Hand Tool Safety
• Power Tool Safety
• Safety Guards, Operating Controls & Switches
• Electric Tool Safety
• Abrasive Wheel Tool Safety
• Pneumatic(Air Powered)Tool Safety
• Liquid Fuel Tool Safety
• Gun Powder Actuated Tool Safety
• Hydraulic Tool Safety

This article is courtesy of www.TheToolHut.com, your online source for hand and power tools information, safety information and a online marketplace for all kinds of tools.