pic: Angle Grinder Carnage

[JamesCH95]

Speaking from experience - ALWAYS anticipate failures from angle grinders/cutters like this one. They happen routinely, and can be caused by the slightest amount of mis-use.

What was this cutter being used to cut? How experienced was the operator? What type of blade was it?

Originally Posted by Cash4587

I could be wrong, (please somebody correct me if I am) but I am pretty sure you are not supposed to grind aluminum with that type of abrasive disc. Grinding aluminum can gum those up and cause them to explode like that because it gets in the pores of the disc and causes it to expand. Then again, somebody please correct me if I am wrong.

This is correct, at least in principle. Abrasive wheels are generally not designed for aluminum (I've never seen one anyway!) and should not be used to cut aluminum for a variety of reasons. Cutting discs should only be used to cut the materials they're rated for.

I don't think it's because aluminum 'gets into the pores' of the cutting wheels. I believe its because aluminum adheres to the disc, preventing the disc from cutting properly and causing catastrophic heat build-up in the disc from friction.

Originally Posted by Tyler2517

Its always been my rule to have a full face shield on when using any type of grinder/sander/cutoff saw. Not to stop sparks and the like but because those things blow up and when they do they don't show it sometimes and could really hurt some one.

This. This. This.

Even with the blade guard they can still cause a lot of damage. A friend of mine wound up needed 40 stitches when a blade like this shattered and tore into his face. He was wearing safety glasses, so he can still use his eyes, but it still really messed him up.