h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I bought an angle grinder yesterday. For those of you not familiar with power tools, it is a device which rotates a metal disc at high speed, and you can use it to cut through stone or concrete. I'd never had or used one before. This one was for cutting some paving slabs down to size for fitting into a new path in our back garden.

After all the building work, the garden was a mess, so we're gradually tidying up. By the weekend I'll have a new garden path in place - this one looks like big stones, but it's actually made from concrete slabs.

I expect you know not to put pressure to the disc as it cuts? When they shatter, the shrapnel can be deadly. I have mostly used them for cutting very large bolts and other metals.

It sounds like your garden will be a pleasant place to enjoy, once sorted and tidied.

The grinder came with five pages of safety warnings!

Most of them were fairly obvious things like 'keep the power tool away from children' and 'don't carry it by your side when it is switched on and running'.

Others were ones I knew about anyway but were worth repeating, such as that you should make sure that no part of your body is in the same plane as the disc, as it might jump if it hits a pebble.

Toys such as that, and gas-powered chainsaws for instance, really can not have enough advisories and warnings. Indispensable items when you need them, but unholy hell in the wrong hands. As a Canuck, I am obviously a French speaking Innu lumber-jack, (who lives in an igloo, of course) and so know these things.

Do not use in the shower.

Do not use while operating a vehicle.

Not for internal use.

Another good safety tip...

Don't use the thing when you're on your own, especially if you're cutting metal

Sounds silly, but they do have a tendency to give off an awful lot of sparks, and as your surrounded by smoke and a burning smell when you're using it, you don't necessarily notice either your trousers going up in flames, or something behind you going up in smoke, until someone taps you on the shoulder and points it out to you.

Not necessarily a safety tip, but mind your work surface. My dad left a nice S shaped gap in his patio tabletop using a rotary cutter. In other words, don't use nice furniture for a saw horse.

I once hired a chain saw. They don't hire them out any more, I think. Good fun -- I've bought my own since, a tiny one, the kind they call a cabinetmaker's chainsaw. Still cuts big trees.

Those little ones are great for art. After hurricane Ike killed hundreds of the trees on Galveston Island, local artists went to work.

http://hubpages.com/hub/Galvestons-Dead-Tree-Sculptures

Share and Enjoy

I've never, unfortunately, had cause to use my angle grinder, but my dad told me (when he gave it to me) always use goggles and always have someone with you.

Preferably someone who knows first aid.

Count Zero, some lovely artwork seen there. THAT takes some talent.

My Dad, and Grand-Dad, their better advice for things like chain machines ... Hire someone who knows what they are doing. But nobody named 'Lefty' ...

I thought the subject line read "Angel Grinder"!

Not exactly sure what I expected it to turn out to be.

Sounds like a great film title for a collaboration between Wim Wenders and Quentin Tarantino.

The only person in my family who'd use an angle grinder is my mother. I think she has two, now.

TRiG.

I'd like another one with a pink, fluffy handle...

Fluffy? It would get full of dust and look mank.

TRiG.

washable...
ok, a pink, fluffy cover.