Safety information for straight grinders
- This power tool is intended to function as a grinder, wire brush or polisher. Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifications provided with this power tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed below may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.
- Operations such as sanding or cutting-off are not recommended to be performed with this power tool. Operations for which the power tool was not designed may create a hazard and cause personal injury.
- Do not use accessories which are not specifically designed and recommended by the tool manufacturer. Just because the accessory can be attached to your power tool, it does not assure safe operation.
- The rated speed of the accessory must be at least equal to the maximum speed marked on the power tool. Accessories running faster than their rated speed can break and fly apart.
- The outside diameter and the thickness of your accessory must be within the capacity rating of your power tool. Incorrectly sized accessories cannot be adequately guarded or controlled.
- Threaded mounting of accessories must match the grinder spindle thread. For accessories mounted by flanges, the arbour hole of the accessory must fit the locating diameter of the flange. Accessories that do not match the mounting hardware of the power tool will run out of balance, vibrate excessively and may cause loss of control.
- Do not use a damaged accessory. Before each use inspect the accessory such as abrasive wheels for chips and cracks, backing pad for cracks, tear or excess wear, wire brush for loose or cracked wires. If power tool or accessory is dropped, inspect for damage or install an undamaged accessory. After inspecting and installing an accessory, position yourself and bystanders away from the plane of the rotating accessory and run the power tool at maximum no load speed for one minute. Damaged accessories will normally break apart during this test time.
- Wear personal protective equipment. Depending on application, use face shield, safety goggles or safety glasses. As appropriate, wear dust mask, hearing protectors, gloves and workshop apron capable of stopping small abrasive or workpiece fragments. The eye protection must be capable of stopping flying debris generated by various operations . The dust mask or respirator must be capable of filtrating particles generated by your operation. Prolonged exposure to high intensity noise may cause hearing loss.
- Keep bystanders a safe distance away from work area. Anyone entering the work area must wear personal protective equipment. Fragments of workpiece or of a broken accessory may fly away and cause injury beyond immediate area of operation.
- Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces only, when performing an operation where the cutting accessory may contact hidden wiring or its own cord. Cutting accessory contacting a "live" wire may make exposed metal parts of the power tool "live" and could give the operator an electric shock.
- Position the cord clear of the spinning accessory. If you lose control, the cord may be cut or snagged and your hand or arm may be pulled into the spinning accessory.
- Never lay the power tool down until the accessory has come to a complete stop. The spinning accessory may grab the surface and pull the power tool out of your control.
- Do not run the power tool while carrying it at your side. Accidental contact with the spinning accessory could snag your clothing, pulling the accessory into your body.
- Regularly clean the power tool’s air vents. The motor’s fan will draw the dust inside the housing and excessive accumulation of powdered metal may cause electrical hazards.
- Do not operate the power tool near flammable materials. Sparks could ignite these materials.
- Do not use accessories that require liquid coolants. Using water or other liquid coolants may result in electrocution or shock.
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or snagged rotating wheel, backing pad, brush or any other accessory. Pinching or snagging causes rapid stalling of the rotating accessory which in turn causes the uncontrolled power tool to be forced in the direction opposite of the accessory’s rotation at the point of the binding.
For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or pinched by the workpiece, the edge of the wheel that is entering into the pinch point can dig into the surface of the material causing the wheel to climb out or kick out. The wheel may either jump toward or away from the operator, depending on direction of the wheel’s movement at the point of pinching. Abrasive wheels may also break under these conditions.
Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
- Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and position your body and arm to allow you to resist kickback forces. Always use auxiliary handle, if provided, for maximum control over kickback or torque reaction during start-up. The operator can control torque reactions or kickback forces, if proper precautions are taken.
- Never place your hand near the rotating accessory. Accessory may kickback over your hand.
- Do not position your body in the area where power tool will move if kickback occurs. Kickback will propel the tool in direction opposite to the wheel’s movement at the point of snagging.
- Use special care when working corners, sharp edges etc. Avoid bouncing and snagging the accessory. Corners, sharp edges or bouncing have a tendency to snag the rotating accessory and cause loss of control or kickback.
- Do not attach a saw chain woodcarving blade or toothed saw blade. Such blades create frequent kickback and loss of control.
- Use only wheel types that are recommended for your power tool and the specific guard designed for the selected wheel. Wheels for which the power tool was not designed cannot be adequately guarded and are unsafe.
- The grinding surface of centre depressed wheels must be mounted below the plane of the guard lip. An improperly mounted wheel that projects through the plane of the guard lip cannot be adequately protected.
- Wheels must be used only for recommended applications. For example: do not grind with the side of cut-off wheel. Abrasive cut-off wheels are intended for peripheral grinding, side forces applied to these wheels may cause them to shatter.
- Always use undamaged wheel flanges that are of correct size and shape for your selected wheel. Proper wheel flanges support the wheel thus reducing the possibility of wheel breakage. Flanges for cut-off wheels may be different from grinding wheel flanges.
- Do not use worn down wheels from larger power tools. Wheel intended for larger power tool is not suitable for the higher speed of a smaller tool and may burst.
- Be aware that wire bristles are thrown by the brush even during ordinary operation. Do not overstress the wires by applying excessive load to the brush The wire bristles can easily penetrate light clothing and/or skin.
- If the use of a guard is recommended for wire brushing, do not allow any interference of the wire wheel or brush with the guard. Wire wheel or brush may expand in diameter due to work load and centrifugal forces.
Wear safety goggles.
- Use suitable detectors to determine if utility lines are hidden in the work area or call the local utility company for assistance. Contact with electric lines can lead to fire and electric shock. Damaging a gas line can lead to explosion. Penetrating a water line causes property damage or may cause an electric shock.
- Release the On/Off switch and set it to the off position when the power supply is interrupted, e. g., in case of a power failure or when the mains plug is pulled. This prevents uncontrolled restarting.
- Do not touch grinding discs until they have cooled down. The discs can become very hot while working.
- Secure the workpiece. A workpiece clamped with clamping devices or in a vice is held more secure than by hand.