Grinder safety: don't be a statistic like my brother-in-law

So my brother-in-law borrowed my angle grinder last weekend. I told him to wear a face shield and gloves. Guess what? He used it with just sunglasses and no gloves. The wheel caught a nail and sent a chunk flying. Got him right in the cheek. 6 stitches. Luckily missed his eye. Don't be like him. Always wear a full face shield, not just safety glasses. And gloves. And hearing protection. That thing screams at 11,000 RPM. What's your go-to PPE for grinding?

Man, that's rough. Glad he's okay. I'll admit, I used to just wear safety glasses, but after seeing a cutoff wheel explode, I switched to a full face shield. Cheap ones on Amazon are like $15. Worth every penny. Also, make sure you're using the right wheel for the job. I see guys putting wood blades on grinders. That's a death wish.

I always wear a face shield, ear muffs, and leather gloves. But here's a tip: don't wear loose clothing. I had a hoodie string get caught once. Scared the crap out of me. Now I tuck everything in. Also, check your wheel for cracks before you spin it up. A cracked wheel can blow apart. And let the tool do the work, don't force it.

Been in the trades 25 years. The number of guys I see not wearing a face shield is insane. Even a small fragment can blind you. I wear a full face shield over safety glasses, plus a dust mask for concrete or metal dust. And I never remove the guard. Some 'pros' take it off for better access. That's how you end up in the ER. Also, use a proper grinding wheel for the material. Metal wheel on metal, masonry wheel on masonry. Don't mix. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby too, sparks can ignite sawdust.