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Using a grinder to get a rough form?

Not me. I like my fingers where they are - Hand grinders like that are exceedingly dangerous with those kind of wheels. I have a specialized kutzall type wheel for my Makita grinder that I will use rarely, but I wouldn't try it for roughing out anything - Most of the use it gets is when I need to cut a corner or two off a blank so it will fit my 12 inch swing. I have also used it where intended (metal grinding and the like, as well as with cut off wheels for thin steel or etc, but wearing welder's gloves and full face shield plus heavy leather welder's coat.) Other than that I'd sooner mount the blank on the lathe and nibble away til it gets rounded and balanced.
 
I’ve used the Lancelot on occasion to cut off something sticking out like a limb protrusion.

As far a bowls -practice - a bowl gouge will get a bowl rough shaped in 5 minutes and leaves a fairly smooth surface to clean up with smoothing cuts.
Turning a surface after using a cutter would be like starting the roughing.

I did do a couple of Stewart Mortimer syle spriral hollow forms.
Spriral slots are cut in the form before hollowing.IMG_3592.jpeg

I use the 2” wheel on the arbotech too. A lot less can go wrong with the arbotech than an angle grinder
 
The 4" wheels are very dangerous. The Holy Gallahad is relatively safe. The 2" Arbortec is easy to handle. The 4" Arbortec can really be dangerous.
 
I consider woodturning as a test between myself and the wood. I enjoy the sound and accomplishment of proper shearing cuts. No way do I want an angle grinder wailing away throwing sawdust all over the shop. Wasn't there a story of a someone catching that chainsaw disc in the throat?
 
Richard Coers said:
I consider woodturning as a test between myself and the wood. I enjoy the sound and accomplishment of proper shearing cuts. No way do I want an angle grinder wailing away throwing sawdust all over the shop. Wasn't there a story of a someone catching that chainsaw disc in the throat?
Click to expand...
Yeah Stumpy Nubs (the YouTuber) has personal experience with a similar disk and mangled (but repaired) fingers to show for it, in one of his youtube videos, plus a safety video regarding angle grinders, which mentions or recounts several other incidents that have happened on Youtube and elsewhere.
 
Richard Coers said:
I consider woodturning as a test between myself and the wood. I enjoy the sound and accomplishment of proper shearing cuts. No way do I want an angle grinder wailing away throwing sawdust all over the shop. Wasn't there a story of a someone catching that chainsaw disc in the throat?
Click to expand...
There was indeed -- a true story. A very narrow survival. I saw pictures years ago. Severe neck gashes and more. There is no way I would touch a grinder with a chainsaw disk mounted, even if the cord were not connected.
 
The cutting wheels in an angle grinder can be extremely dangerous and deadly.
Probably not worth the risk
Using one safely requires enough hand strength to control the tool, clamping the work piece, two hands on the grinder, knowledge of the disc, and avoiding kick back. A lot of turners lack the hand strength to use an angle grinder. Hand strength probably won’t stop a kick back.

A tool like the arbotech is a much safer way than an angle grinder.

Here is a link to the serious injury mentioned above

Carving Accident – South Puget Sound Woodturners

spswoodturners.org spswoodturners.org
 
In all fairness though, the accident under discussion had everything to do with the user. That tool and those wheels have been used by lots of folks without incident. Likely too much tool for the job (user error). Sounds like it was the first time he’d turned the tool on, at least with that wheel (user error, again). Work not fastened, one handed operation, sitting down (all user errors).

Imagine holding a log with one hand while cross cutting it with a chain saw held in the other. Bad things will happen, no fault of the saw. User error.

I feel bad for the gut who did this, hope he recovered well.

I think the lesson here is to be smart, not “bad, bad tool”. That’s too easy.
 
Marc Banka said:
In all fairness though, the accident under discussion had everything to do with the user. That tool and those wheels have been used by lots of folks without incident. Likely too much tool for the job (user error). Sounds like it was the first time he’d turned the tool on, at least with that wheel (user error, again). Work not fastened, one handed operation, sitting down (all user errors).

Imagine holding a log with one hand while cross cutting it with a chain saw held in the other. Bad things will happen, no fault of the saw. User error.

I feel bad for the gut who did this, hope he recovered well.

I think the lesson here is to be smart, not “bad, bad tool”. That’s too easy.
Click to expand...
But if we don't share the stories of severe accidents and even deaths, newer users won't understand the dangers involved. AAW is supposed to be about education. There has always been a disclaimer in every AAW magazine about the dangers of this craft.
 
Richard Coers said:
But if we don't share the stories of severe accidents and even deaths, newer users won't understand the dangers involved. AAW is supposed to be about education. There has always been a disclaimer in every AAW magazine about the dangers of this craft.
Click to expand...
I felt that I needed to say what I did because all of the other responses, and in fact the original post said essentially, “bad tool! Don’t go there!”, instead of advising that one engages their brain, recognizes the dangers, and takes necessary precautions to keep themselves safe. It’s not the tool or manufacturers responsibility.

I do appreciate sharing the tales so that newer craftspeople see the results of being careless or thoughtless. I’m all for that. But put the onus where it belongs, that lump that sits on one’s shoulders.
 
Seems to me if you use the correct tool in the right way the wood peals away in long ribbons, I have a hard time imaging the grinder being much faster for something 16 inches across.

Now if you want to do something 48 inches across with big voids Ok maybe you need a different plan. I recall somebody had a chainsaw mounted in their tool post and would rotate the wood manually.

Walta
 
@Alan Weinberg

RE: The way these things eat timber is impressive. Anybody use one to rough out a form quickly either on or off lathe?

I use a 4" on an angle grinder, and a 2" on a Proxxon and a flex shaft Master Carver. However, NEVER just to speed up stock removal. Being in that much of a hurry doesn't end well in my world.
 
I have used the 4" Arbortech to take off corners so piece will fit lathe. Used the 2" to carve spoons, have a better way now. Also used the 2 to carve out a art piece of Live Oak Burl. Yes the work should be secured in chuck or vise as the tool will propel wood a long ways. Not to mention how scary the sound is. Oh did I say wear hearing protection as well as face shield and gloves.
 
That tool is meant for use with two hands, the man being talked about was using just one hand and it got away from him.
 
I use a grinder chainsaw wheel often, but not to rough out form. I use it to trim blanks when needed. I use it to get clearance for the lathe bed (after chainsawing a large blank), and to remove a heavy area on large blanks (I have a 16” swing). Once I have clearance, and can spin the blank up to ~250 rpm without the lathe shaking all over, I go to a bowl gouge.

I tried one of toothed products like the blue wheel in the video, no thanks. Much more difficult to control vs chainsaw wheel - too easy to get too much tooth bite.

Yes it can be dangerous. As @hockenbery says, a user needs the strength to do it (shoulders, arms, hands) and respect for what the tool can do to the unprepared operator.

To anyone choosing to use the method, secure the wood, always use 2 hands on the grinder, and start with very small bites/cuts and build experience with how the tool feels.
 
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Bill Blasic said:
That tool is meant for use with two hands, the man being talked about was using just one hand and it got away from him.
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Two capable hands. It’s up to a user to judge whether they have the hand strength to use the angle grinder.
I’ve use that tool for carving for thirty years. Can I use in 2 or 3 ?

One thing I’ve learned in teaching is that young and older turners often lack range of motion and hand strength to do some turning operations like pressure fitting a lid on a box. If they get it on they can’t get it off.
 
The most important thing in using that aggressive disc is that the guard must be located correctly on the grinder so that when it (the disc) is engaged with the wood, the grinder is pulling itself away from you.
 
Well, I have never used one or considered it. However, the engineer's conundrum comes into play here. "You can never idiot proof anything. As soon as you do, some one invents a better idiot!" With a chainsaw, you NEVER engage just the nose of the tool because it will jump back and bite you, some times with fatal results. I would expect the same with this tool, you always have to cut with the 'down' side of the cutter. Not sure if they ever made a guard for it or if their instructions cover this or not.

robo hippy
 
One trick when using thev4" arbortec or the 4" chainsaw. Use the blade guard like a bevel. Touch the blade bmguard to the wood. Then rotate the tool until the cutter engages thecwood. This controls the depth of cut and makes it much safer.
 
Be very very careful with one of those. I spent the last 33 years working for a steel shop and not only saw the aftermath of someone not being attentive with a grinder but hauled several in to get stitches. One thing I'll always warn of is to keep your shirt tail tucked in. I can't count the number of times I told someone in the shop to tuck his shirt tail in and he ignored me, especially in hot weather. First thing he knew that grinder, 4" or 7" grabbed that shirt tail and crawled from his belt to his chest before he could do anything about it. Think bad road rash from navel to nipples. One thing about it I never had to tell them again. I often said if there were as many hand grinders in amateur hands they would do much more damage than table saws.
 
I got the SawStop because I want to trend to safer options. That screams “young and dumb” to me!! I categorize that as a regressive move on the safety scale!! Possible, yes; not for me.
 
I use them frequently for free form carving, the majority of large format carvers do these days, but I dont see any advantage in using them on turning blanks, A gouge will remove the wood much quicker.
 
I have and use it some times is this Arbortech ball gouge, making oval recesses for larger ladles and spoons, yes clamp the object securely and use two hands on the angle grinder, it works for me.

I have a small scar on my leg from a 7 Inch Bosch angle grinder that jammed and cut my knee as it flung back even though I was holding it with 2 hands, the sudden inertia I could not control, lesson learned the hard way.

These tools must be respected and handled accordingly, and have their uses where other tools just will not do

Arbortech Ball Gouge.jpg
 
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