Yup. Just like that. A piece about 1 inch across peeled off and smacked me in the face. I was only shaping a piece of aluminum, wasnt even working it that hard. Of course the one time in weeks that I did not have my face shield on, and only safety glasses. A little scratch on the top of my head, that's about it... The belt wasnt even that wore out.
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So I got smacked in the face with a 50grit belt this evening...
- Thread starter gixxer
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Man that had to hurt!
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OUCH! sorry to hear about the beat down.
Same thing happend to me bout 3 or 4 months ago with a 60 grit Klingspor, BRAND NEW/NEVER USED and it splits and smacks me in the chest.
Learned my lesson, Now I turn it on from the side and wait for it to come to speed before I get in front.
Same thing happend to me bout 3 or 4 months ago with a 60 grit Klingspor, BRAND NEW/NEVER USED and it splits and smacks me in the chest.
Learned my lesson, Now I turn it on from the side and wait for it to come to speed before I get in front.
Don't worry, it will feel much better when it quits hurting!!
Several years ago I tried a discount abrasives/el cheapo 50 grit belt and had a similar experience.
While flat grinding a blade, the (new) belt snapped in two with out any warning. It grabbed the blade and slammed it into my chest directly over my heart and dropped me to my knees. It hit me edge on (not point first) and cut me to the bone.
Had it hit point first it would have killed me.
Sometimes we can get so used to our tools that we forget that ALL power tools can be very dangerous. Complacency can kill.
I learned my lesson and will not be using any more cheap belts and I ALWAYS inspect the belts before I turn my grinder on. If it looks even a little suspect I throw it out.
In this case the belt was new so I had no reason to suspect any potential problem. Just a cheap belt that came apart at the splice.
Now ALL belts get a close look before I run them and as Rusty said, turn them on from the side and let them get up to speed before working with them.
-Mike-
Several years ago I tried a discount abrasives/el cheapo 50 grit belt and had a similar experience.
While flat grinding a blade, the (new) belt snapped in two with out any warning. It grabbed the blade and slammed it into my chest directly over my heart and dropped me to my knees. It hit me edge on (not point first) and cut me to the bone.
Had it hit point first it would have killed me.
Sometimes we can get so used to our tools that we forget that ALL power tools can be very dangerous. Complacency can kill.
I learned my lesson and will not be using any more cheap belts and I ALWAYS inspect the belts before I turn my grinder on. If it looks even a little suspect I throw it out.
In this case the belt was new so I had no reason to suspect any potential problem. Just a cheap belt that came apart at the splice.
Now ALL belts get a close look before I run them and as Rusty said, turn them on from the side and let them get up to speed before working with them.
-Mike-
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I feel for ya.... had a used 50 blow up yesterday while I was working some steel, I always wear at least safety glasses and a hat (course the hat is because I'm kinda rednecky 
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Had a 60 grit explode on me a few months back. Scratched my old bald head pretty good and ruined my glasses.
Now, I won't grind without wearing a baseball cap. That ball cap bill will help save your old head and glasses when an explosion occours.
Ain't this stuff fun? Ya never know if you are gonna make it back home alive.
Be careful out there boys and girls. If it can happen in a knife shop, it will.........sooner or later.
Robert
Now, I won't grind without wearing a baseball cap. That ball cap bill will help save your old head and glasses when an explosion occours.
Ain't this stuff fun? Ya never know if you are gonna make it back home alive.
Be careful out there boys and girls. If it can happen in a knife shop, it will.........sooner or later.
Robert
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Been there done that myself only it slapped me in the top of the head. I always wear a face shield and ear protectors in the shop anyway so no damage except for the shock of getting whacked but its enough to put you on guard I'll tell you that, but of course you learned that tonight. I feel for you. Get you a face shield and some extra shields for when they get scratched up. You'll be in better shape next time. Anymore thats all I use is the full face protection and kevlar gloves from McFeeleys .
A friend of mine has one of those old style four wheel grinders with the cover on it. Says its not an issue with that one when a belt tears. I've wondered about making some kind of makeshift guard for my KMG but I've never got around to doing anything about it. It probably wouldn't take much. Just a hanging piece of thick leather from the ceiling would probably be sufficient. I may have to come up with something like that.
On my 2x48 Kalamazoo grinder a new belt I was putting on got loose on me and sliced a big ole flap of skin of my right hand in the meaty part of my palm and thumb. Took weeks to heal up before I was back to snuff again. I should have gone to the ER for that one but super glue and bandages were my very stubborn choice at the time. It was cheaper that way.
Anyway, you might want to get some nice aloe lotion for the face to ease any burning until you get back to normal. Good luck.
STR
A friend of mine has one of those old style four wheel grinders with the cover on it. Says its not an issue with that one when a belt tears. I've wondered about making some kind of makeshift guard for my KMG but I've never got around to doing anything about it. It probably wouldn't take much. Just a hanging piece of thick leather from the ceiling would probably be sufficient. I may have to come up with something like that.
On my 2x48 Kalamazoo grinder a new belt I was putting on got loose on me and sliced a big ole flap of skin of my right hand in the meaty part of my palm and thumb. Took weeks to heal up before I was back to snuff again. I should have gone to the ER for that one but super glue and bandages were my very stubborn choice at the time. It was cheaper that way.
Anyway, you might want to get some nice aloe lotion for the face to ease any burning until you get back to normal. Good luck.
STR
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Back in the year of 2004 I got hit in the face with a 50 grid belt. I did not know what happened til it was all over. I immediately went into the house and straight to the restroom and look at it in the mere. My wife ask what happened and I told Her that I just got out of the ring with Mike Tyson. But in a few days I returned and still there yet. So, be careful when you are at the grinder.:yawn:
Terry
Terry
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i have had quite a few good belts break on me and i noticed on some that they developed a wobble just seconds before letting loose, enough time to get out of the way. i'm lucky so far that i never had one hit me. now that i run my sander slow i can usually stop the sander before they break all the way.
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Haha... Oh man that's funny. I only laugh because I can relate. I'm so cheap with my belts that I use them until they snap at the seam, and an unruly strip of abrasive goes flailing about wildly, usually slapping me in one manor or another. The snapping sound always scares the Sh*t out of me, lol.
P.S. I only use a 1" x 30" so it's probably not nearly as dangerous as one of your 2" x 40" belts flying about...
P.S. I only use a 1" x 30" so it's probably not nearly as dangerous as one of your 2" x 40" belts flying about...
I always do that with grinding wheels but haven't so far with belts (and I have Klingspoore belts too). Guess I will start standing to the side with these too.
I do have to admit that I have been erring not on the side of safety, sometimes I let the belts get chewed up on the edges from cutting a plunge, and still continue to use the belts. Shame on me. At least I was lucky in the sense that it did not peel my face off, and it was more surprising, like when the woman gives you a little smack, and you are like WTF?!
safety is a big issue with me when it comes to buffers, sanders or anything similar. in high school i took machine trades at a vocational school and after seeing a grinding wheel explode it kind of sticks in your mind. luckily nobody was hurt but seeing what the wheel did to a 1/8" steel guard makes you think.
i inspect the backside of each seam often on my belts to make sure there is no signs showing of a belt getting ready to fail. you can hold the belt on one side of the seam and let the rest hang free. if there is any seperation you will see it show. i will take some pictures to explain what i mean if anyone is interesed.
i inspect the backside of each seam often on my belts to make sure there is no signs showing of a belt getting ready to fail. you can hold the belt on one side of the seam and let the rest hang free. if there is any seperation you will see it show. i will take some pictures to explain what i mean if anyone is interesed.
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Photos would be nice Richard. Thanks!
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So, did it hit you more than once?
The belt or my woman??
It only hit me once then peeled completely off.
you're lucky, it's when it slaps you 3 or 4 times before the shock kinda wears off and you decide to move that hurts. Who was the guy here that had like a 2nd degree black belt and got slapped silly? He said all those years of martial arts training didn't get him ready to fight his BLG- (Bruce Lee Grinder)....