Grinder Safety Starts Here
MSC Industrial Supply's grinder safety guide helps you prevent injuries and stay compliant. Your safety is our priority.
Grinder Safety Rules to Always Follow
Never use a tool if the actual free speed exceeds the nameplate RPM.
Use a tachometer to confirm that the grinder’s free speed at 90 PSIG (6.2 bar/620 kPa) does not exceed the RPM on the nameplate.
Check the grinder before mounting a wheel, before use, after repairs, and at least once per shift.
2. Always Use the Wheel Guard
Only use the wheel guard provided by the manufacturer. Failure to do so could result in injury.
Replace any damaged, bent, or worn guards immediately.
Do not use a wheel guard that has been subjected to a wheel failure.
Make sure the guard opening faces away from the operator and the wheel doesn’t project beyond it.
3. Match the Wheel to the Tool
Do not use a wheel with an operating speed lower than the grinder’s free speed.
Inspect wheels for cracks, chips, or water damage before mounting.
Do not use a wheel that has been soaked in water or any other liquid.
Avoid using wheels that fit too loosely or too tightly on the arbor. Use only manufacturer-recommended bushings.
4. Mounting Best Practices
Plain-hole wheels should have no more than 0.007" (0.17mm) diametrical clearance.
After installing a new wheel, test the air grinder under a bench or inside a casting for at least 60 seconds before using it. If the wheel is defective, improperly mounted, or the wrong size or speed, this is when it will usually fail.
Make certain no one is within the operating plane of the grinding wheel during testing and use.
5. Safe Operation Techniques
When starting a cold wheel, apply it to the work slowly until the wheel gradually warms up.
Avoid bumping the wheel or applying excessive pressure.
Maintain smooth, steady contact with the workpiece.
6. Wheel Flanges and Blotters
Use flanges that are at least one-third the diameter of the wheel.
Ensure they are free of burrs, nicks, and sharp edges.
Always install a blotter between each flange and the wheel to ensure proper clamping pressure. The blotters must be at least as large in diameter as the wheel flanges.
Always use the wheel flanges furnished by the manufacturer
Never use a makeshift flange or a plain washer
7. Do Not Modify Internal Components
• Never attempt to disassemble the grinder’s controller.
• The controller is a sealed unit and is guaranteed for the life of the tool if it is used properly.