Shield??

[Arthurdaily]

Hi all, quick question - when using a grinding wheel on a small angle grinder, do you use the 'shield' thingy, I suppose it is called a guard actually... 'cos if you do you can't get the grinder 'flat'... or do you take it off? Thanks!

[bmcecosse]

Guard ON - are you mad ???? And wear eye protection and ear protection and hand protection - and make SURE the sparks don't go near the fuel tank - or anything flammable - or against the paintwork or the glass on the car......... Knotted wire brush is more effective for some jobs........

[beero]

Definately guard on, if you have ever had an abrasive disc break then you would understand why.

[Arthurdaily]

Ah, BMC - that begs another question, sort of, I'm going to be welding a new 'lip' on the rear wheel arch, near side, should I remove the petrol tank first? It would seem the safe thing to do...

[bmcecosse]

I would say YES!

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Yes tank out!

[drivewasher]

As said defo gaurd ON. It infuriates me these restro programmes on tv useing a 115mm grinder with grinding or slitting disc with the guard removed. There should be a law against showing information prog's with breaches of H&S
All our machines are guarded and maintined so. lso personal protection equipment (PPE) is always at hand and a real good old fashioned b******g (telling off) if anyone caught not useing it. In fact I would imagine it would be a verbal warnng if not a written one.

[ASL642]

Remember to always disconnect the battery/alternator before starting to weld

[Alec]

Hello Arthur,

I'm guessing from your original question that you think the wheel is use flat, while in practice it is the edge that is used, i.e on an angle to the surface being ground. The wheel will lose it's sharp edge very quickly and become rounded. Also flap disc are worth getting as they give a smoother finish should you wish that?

Alec

[IaininTenbury]

Always use the guard, not as I do and take it off.... I normally use flat soft backed linishing discs on my grinder (far more flexible than a flap wheel) and the gaurd is just in the way. I rarely use a grinding wheel, probably three this year so far if that as opposed to several hundred linishing discs...
1mm thick cuttign discs are always worth using the gaurd for as a moments innatention results in a spectacular breakup!

[Arthurdaily]

Thank you fo all the advice - a finishing disc? Is that finishing metalwork or for finishing paint?

[IaininTenbury]

Its a Linishing disc - a fibre backed thin sanding disc that you fit on a flexible rubber back pad. Great for cleaning paint off prior to welding and sanding raised welds off as it follows the contours of the panel unlike a hard grinding disc. More flexible and quicker acting than a flap wheel, but you do get throughthem quickly. I normally buy both 60 grit and 36 grit ones in boxes of 25 for abotu £8 to £12 a box full.
Its odd really, these always get missed out in Practical Classics type magazine tests and are not available in general DIY shops (wleding supplies merchants are best) yet nearly all professional bodyshops seem to use them...