WARNING - ANGLE GRINDER DISC PROBLEMS

WARNING - ANGLE GRINDER DISC PROBLEMS

Author
Discussion

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

284 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Mods, not sure where to put this but may duplicate it in my usual forum.
A friend has recently purchased some angle grinder metal cutting discs from a well known retailer.
Three of them "exploded" shortly after starting to use them, the first one while his dad was using it, then the second and third when he was using it. The third one has ripped into his hand causing damage to tendons etc.
Now these discs had a stuck on expiry date label on them showing them current but the label is stuck over a date in 2010.
Now I'm not sure why angle grinder discs would deteriorate with age but BE WARNED.
If you want to know the store or if you have had a similar problem please pm me

AndrewW-G

11,968 posts

219 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Would the brand of disc be very similar sounding to Audi's S*****-Line trim level?

Silverdaz

83 posts

179 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
They are made from root vegatables, potatoes etc. So the date is very important as the materials breaks down over time.

VeeTEC

1,550 posts

190 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
I bought some 9" stone cutting discs a few weeks ago. Within a couple of minutes of using them the central metal disc that attaches to the grinder had torn away from the main part.

Luckily I stopped as it happened and it didn't explode on me.


theironduke

6,995 posts

190 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Yikes!

Always buy the best i can with angle grinder discs, as i see it they are vicious pieces of kit at best.

GAjon

3,742 posts

215 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Did you/have you checked the rotation speed rating is compatible to the machine you are using?

Big Al.

68,958 posts

260 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
Mods, not sure where to put this but may duplicate it in my usual forum.
H&S overrides a cross post. smile

Jamz3k

35 posts

168 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
I think you should mention where you bought them from as the supplier is completely at fault here for selling items that are past their expiry date.

Very worrying as I just bought an angle grinder and discs from a large DIY store and never thought it was necessary to check expiry dates on discs!

R1 Indy

4,383 posts

185 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Silverdaz said:
They are made from root vegatables, potatoes etc. So the date is very important as the materials breaks down over time.
yikes

Ive been using the ones i found in the old man's shed, that are years old. didn't realise they had a date on them!

I think i might give them back, if thats the case.

Reardy Mister

13,757 posts

224 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Jamz3k said:
I think you should mention where you bought them from as the supplier is completely at fault here for selling items that are past their expiry date.

Very worrying as I just bought an angle grinder and discs from a large DIY store and never thought it was necessary to check expiry dates on discs!
As said though, before we go sticking a name in lights, lets make sure it was right the disc for what was being cut and the correct rpms for the machine being used.

jamiebae

6,245 posts

213 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Discs have an expiry date as they can absorb moisture while stored which weakens them and can cause them to crack or shatter. Any retailer selling them should know this, although most don't have stock control systems sophisticated enough to manage this effectively.

supersingle

3,205 posts

221 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Discs can explode if they jam or you get kickback.

I'm sure you were wearing the appropriate PPE so everything was alright.

bmthnick1981

5,311 posts

218 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I thought that! In the bin would be best I would have thought!

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

248 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
GAjon said:
Did you/have you checked the rotation speed rating is compatible to the machine you are using?
Well OP, have you checked? Massive forces involved.

JPearson

1,269 posts

164 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Could have been cracked before you even used them.

shouldbworking

4,769 posts

214 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
Skyedriver said:
A friend has recently purchased some angle grinder metal cutting discs from a well known retailer.
Three of them "exploded" shortly after starting to use them, the first one while his dad was using it, then the second and third when he was using it. The third one has ripped into his hand causing damage to tendons etc.
I'd love to know the rationalisation that went into fitting the 2nd and 3rd discs after the first one disintegrated!

Perd Hapley

1,750 posts

175 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
I can understand using the second, but the third?

rash_decision

1,387 posts

179 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
I have to admit, I have never seen a Disc shatter in all the years I've been working with them, and in seeing them used!

Were they Cutting or Grinding Discs? There is a big difference in them, and if you are using a Cutting Disc heavily handed to grind with, this could exert too much force laterally on the disc. Equally, as has also been stated before, the speed rating is very important on the Discs. Cheapo Discs, coupled with a machine of good caliber with good torque, will not make for a happy user!!

I've pulled a few guys up over the years for dropping Grinding Machines and damaging the Discs. Fortunately they then changed them on my instruction, so can't comment on the outcome. I have worked on over 100 sites in the Oil and Gas Industry, and have seen countless Safety Induction Presentations, and they almost always include someone who has had a Grinder Disc explode on them!

Mr GrimNasty

8,172 posts

172 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
I'd say it was more a case of a cack handed user, rather than faulty discs. Cutting discs can be very thin and don't take well to misuse in the wrong material, too much pressure, lateral or bending forces, or use in twin wall cutting (e.g. pipe) where snagging is more likely. The fact that he clearly didn't have the correct protective equipment, guards, environment, stance etc. to avoid injury anyway, speaks volumes. Angle grinders are vicious tools in the hands of the stupid.

Skyedriver

Original Poster:

18,016 posts

284 months

Sunday 11th September 2011
quotequote all
The guy who this happened to is a competent home mechanic, car enthusiast sort of a guy who enjoys modifiying end engineering in general. He is old enough to know what he is doing with the equipment. He tells me that the disc and equipment were compatible.
the first disc he used exploded, the second was the one that did the damage, when he spoke to his father, who had used the grinder previously he was told, that the disc in the grinder had done that to him and he had bought another disc as my friend had only given him one disc when lending the tool.
I won't give out the name of the company in case it causes problems for Pistonheads or whatever however he has been back to the store today and they accepted that the discs expiry date had been modified.
What they were intending to do I don't know at present but I may well call in there tomorrow to see if they are still on the shelf.
Just check the discs you are using to make sure the expiry date is still valid AND THERE IS NOT SIMPLY A STICKER WITH A NEW DATE STUCK OVER THE OLD DATE