Cutting Metal with an Angle Grinder: A Safe Approach
An angle grinder is a handheld power tool built for slicing through materials that are too thick or tough for standard blades. Instead of a toothed cutting edge, it relies on a substantial abrasive wheel, which lets it work through metal and similar dense substances without harming the tool. Using one on metal calls for certain safety measures.
By Blake Williams5 steps
Angle grinders cut metal.
An angle grinder is a handheld power tool made for cutting materials that an ordinary blade cannot handle because they are too dense or hard. As its name implies, this tool is equipped not with a cutting blade but with a hefty abrasive wheel. That wheel enables the angle grinder to slice through metal or other dense materials while keeping the power tool from being damaged. Cutting metal with an angle grinder involves taking a few particular safety steps.
Step 1
Begin by putting on the long-sleeved shirt. Lay the metal you intend to cut on the workbench, then fasten it down using the C-clamp.
Step 2
Check that the grinding wheel is firmly attached to the angle grinder. If the securing nut feels loose, tighten it by hand.
Step 3
Put on your work gloves. Grinding metal sends out a heavy shower of sparks, so the shirt and gloves serve as protection.
Step 4
Switch the grinder on and bring it down onto the metal at the spot you want to cut, moving very gradually. Avoid pushing the grinding wheel through the metal faster than it moves on its own.
Step 5
Keep grinding until the metal has been cut entirely through, then switch the grinder off.
