Band Saw Question

[Patrickknives]

I used an angle grinder prior to getting my bandsaw, the dust drove me nuts, it went everywhere and a lot of if. Please wear a good respirator, dust from the cutoff and metal particles cannot be good, and nice heavy gloves, and just to remind others in California and other warm weather states, good shoes, not flip flops or sandals.

 

[J.Babody]

Posts like this one always set my teeth on edge. I refer to them as "contrarian posts." Essentially, the message in a contrarian post is, "ignore all the naysayers... what they warned you about isn't as bad as they say."

The subject of using angle grinders to cut blanks has been dealt with many times. The simple statement is it is not the best approach, and that there are safety concerns (yes, largely caused by operator error). Frankly, one of the reasons it is so often stated that people should not use an angle grinder is because it is most often sought as a cutting tool by inexperienced users... the very sort that are prone to operator error... the very sort who should NOT be encouraged to use the tool for cutting blanks.

I agree in a sense, but I also see the same to be true when encouraging people to use belt sanders and band saws from that perspective(the more powerful the better, right). I don't mean to be confrontational but the equipment we use are more dangerous strictly because we are working on such small objects compared to the 90 percent that use the same machines for other tasks. I don't want to scare people away from a valuable tool used in many shops successfully, I would rather encourage safe operational procedures and proper safety equipment (as I did in my previous post)

Please don't take it personally tryppyr, but I stand to reason that a band saw is equally as dangerous with improper operating procedures as an angle grinder for our application. I'm sure you've met at least one person in your life that lost a finger or two on one. I know I have, and I must say OUCH!!!
Justin

 

[tryppyr]

I don't want to scare people away from a valuable tool used in many shops successfully, I would rather encourage safe operational procedures and proper safety equipment (as I did in my previous post)

The problem I have with that statement is that you didn't do anything to encourage safe usage, you simply encouraged usage. You said

Ultimately, don't be afraid of an angle grinder being overly dangerous, most times it's operator error when it fails.

Now put yourself in the mind of a fearless 16 year old who thinks he is invincible, as all 16 year old boys believe. Believe me, on this board we have seen a LOT of stupid behavior from overconfident young people who just don't understand the limitations of the tool. They don't need to be encouraged to ignore the advice of people who know how to use tools... they are predisposed to that opinion in the first place. You don't help encourage safety by telling them not to be afraid (and then failing to offer specific advice about how to use it safely, and what constitutes unsafe usage). I've seen contrarian posts that at least TRIED to give guidance on safe usage. Yours was not one of them.

 

[LARRYZ10]

I have already posted my opinion here but I am still amazed at the posts which suggest that we should fear angle grinders like sharks in the bathtub I have been a white collar guy most of my life and now that I am retired and am a full time knife maker I hear these cautions about how dangerous angle grinders are. Isn't it obvious to a normal person when you hold a motor with that high of a speed to cut steel that it could be dangerous? Some of you say don't do it because you can use a band saw instead. Well that's fine but some guys can't afford a good band saw. Here's my situation: I have trouble finding space for my equipment. I am not rich but am 64 years old and financially very comfortable. I have a "Swag off road table" on my bench with a Milwaukee Portaband. I still put on a leather apron and a face shield as well as earplugs and a paper painters mask to make cuts on the steel prior to grinding a nice profile with my KMG grinder and various attachments. I have been doing this for quite a while and I prefer the angle grinder to start. I fear my drill press and buffer much more than the angle grinder. This is just my opinion but I had to say it. Larry

 

[John Moran]

I have to agree with trypyr on this, and to further the point, even written warnings fall short for someone who is a beginner. "Beware of Kickback" what the heck is kickback? There are somethings that should be used "under proper supervision" until a level of proficiency is achieved.

There are 6 angle grinders hanging on my workbench; I've been using them all my life, and have the scars to prove it.

 

[synthesist]

Whewwwwwwwwwwww

Simple Statement

Angle grinders scare the crap outta me.

Buttttttttttttttttt

Since I started learning to weld I've used them a lot more, with a variety of wheels, sanders and wire brushes. The aura of fear has diminished to be replaced by respect and focus. The tool has earned place in my welding arsenal but when it comes to cutting knife blade blanks I think I'll stick to my SWAG/Milwaukee setup with a foot control (like having 3 hands IMHO).

Corey "synthesist" Gimbel

 

[J.Babody]

The problem I have with that statement is that you didn't do anything to encourage safe usage, you simply encouraged usage. You said



Now put yourself in the mind of a fearless 16 year old who thinks he is invincible, as all 16 year old boys believe. Believe me, on this board we have seen a LOT of stupid behavior from overconfident young people who just don't understand the limitations of the tool. They don't need to be encouraged to ignore the advice of people who know how to use tools... they are predisposed to that opinion in the first place. You don't help encourage safety by telling them not to be afraid (and then failing to offer specific advice about how to use it safely, and what constitutes unsafe usage). I've seen contrarian posts that at least TRIED to give guidance on safe usage. Yours was not one of them.

Please re read the rest of that paragraph. Easy to manipulate when you only quote part of it. I didn't go into ALL of the safety precautions but offered a good foundation. Please don't attack my character because we don't agree.
Hate to be "that guy", but here it is again in its entirety:

Ultimately, don't be afraid of an angle grinder being overly dangerous, most times it's operator error when it fails. People use them for their careers every day. Proper safety practices are a virtue. Always check your discs for cracks and don't try to make curved cuts that put tension on a disc. As I said before, it's a cheap way to get into cutting blanks reasonably quickly, but the investment adds up because discs can be quite costly.