Injuries from a bench grinder often go well beyond a Band-Aid, sometimes requiring stitches, surgery, or months of physical therapy to recover the use of a hand. A careful pre-use inspection and proper setup prevent most of them.
What Should You Check in a Pre-Use Inspection?
Confirm the grinder is secure and the guards are set before you switch it on.
- Make sure the bench grinder is firmly secured to the workbench or other surface per the manufacturer’s instructions, because vibration can otherwise cause it to move and fall, or shift as you apply pressure and pull your hand into the wheel
- Make certain the lower work rest, or tool rest, is installed and adjusted so the gap between the face of the grinding wheel and the rest is no more than one-eighth of an inch, which keeps the workpiece from wedging between the wheel and the rest; readjust this gap as the wheel wears down
- Make sure the upper tongue guard is installed and adjusted so the opening between the face of the grinding wheel and the guard does not exceed one-quarter of an inch, which helps deflect sparks and contain parts if the wheel shatters; adjust it as the wheel wears down
What Should You Avoid While Operating a Bench Grinder?
Keep anything that can get caught well away from the wheel. Do not wear loose-fitting clothing, gloves, jewelry, or have hair or other items dangling as you operate the grinder. If one of those gets tangled in the revolving wheel, an injury is almost certain to occur.
