Perhaps one of the most popular questions asked by almost everyone who is just starting to work with a grinder is how to cut metal: with sparks on yourself or on your own?
In this review, we will put all the dots over the "i" in this question. Moreover, the author will demonstrate with a clear example what can happen in either case. We recommend reading to the end.
Sparks from myself
You need to remember a simple rule: if you will cut the metal with a grinder sparks from yourself, then you need to be very careful. If the disk is clamped, then the grinder can be pulled out of the hands, and it will fly in your direction. This could result in serious injury.
Of course, this cutting method is very good because sparks fly in the opposite direction from you. However, one should try not to be on the cut line of the grinder - if the disk is clamped, the instrument will fly past you.
Sparks on yourself
When cutting metal with sparks, the risk of getting injured is much less, because if you hold the disc in the tool, if you don’t hold it in your hands, it will fly in the opposite direction from you.
But here it is important that no one is in front of the cutting line. The disadvantage of this method is that sparks fly towards the operator and can burn clothing.
Of course, this is better than getting hurt, but still - unpleasant. Today, both of these methods are applied in practice, and in the end we want to give general recommendations where it is better to use which method of cutting with a grinder.
To summarize
If the metal workpiece is not under load and is not rigidly fixed (not welded, not bolted, etc.), then in this case it is allowed to cut with sparks from yourself.
But still, you need to look so that no one is in front of you on the cutting line. And the grinder herself must always be on the side of the operator.
If the metal billet is under load and there is a risk that the disk may be jammed during the cutting process, then in this case it is more expedient to cut it with sparks.
Moreover, the protective cover itself must be set so that sparks fly more to the floor, and not to you. Here, in fact, all the rules that you need to know when working with a grinder.
For details on how to cut metal with a grinder, see this video. Thanks for your attention!
