Grinder safety

Hi

I have a question regarding CBN and diamond grinding wheels. I have an acute sharpening system and have just ordered a CBN wheel for it. I see on youtube than no one seems to have any guards around the wheels. Is this safe? I also have some diamond wheels on the way from China these are the sort with an aluminium hub. Can I run these without guards? Eye protection is standard of course

In a word, no. Guards on rotary tools are to prevent personal contact as well as directing or containing material created. In a single person environment it is up to the individual as to what precautions he takes as far as HSE is concerned, although if personal insurance is concerned that may be a different matter. You tubers should give a warning of correct use. One I saw recently did in use of CBN wheel use and used personal protection, ie glasses. The other reason they may use a wider wheel than the original guard will accommodate, so just remove it.

The biggest danger from a grinder is a burst wheel, which is potentially fatal, even with a small benchtop grinder.

There are other risks but grinding wheel which have a thin layer of abrasive bound onto a metal substrate are inherently much stronger and won't burst if they are cracked or damaged as a resin-bound grit wheel would.

A Howard states there are other reasons for having guards, but for metal backed wheels they don't need to be as robust.

Most importantly full guards should always be used when using resin bound wheels.

Neil

Recently I picked up a grinder and the diamond wheel was wrecked by a person grinding a drill and it grabbed and caught between the rest and wheel.

That was why I only payed £20.00 for grinder. I bought a new wheel.

David