20v grinder for cutting away rigging

matt1

matt1

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So, Aldi have these battery powered angle grinders coming up soon

https://www.aldi.co.uk/20v-li-ion-cordless-angle-grinder/p/079079168015400

Am going to get one as an easier way than using a hacksaw to cut my pile mooring chains - but it got me thinking about whether you could use one as a way of cutting away rigging in the event of dismasting. Obviously you would have to maintain it charged for just such an eventuality (likely a bit problematic) and of course probably not good to get it wet...!!!

Anyone have any experience of using a battery powered angle grinder and like to suggest whether it may work or not?
 
I have a Bosch 18v lithium ion angle grinder and have found it very useful for cutting chains on my mooring and also with a sanding disc for grinding grp. I'm sure the Aldi one be fine for similar uses.
 
My Makita one has been brilliant- hacksaw now consigned to the bottom of the toolbox.
For emergency use, I would seriously consider it. Wrap a plastic bag around the body if you're worried about it getting wet? It'll only need to run for a few seconds so won't overheat. Far faster than a saw and easier to use with one hand. Of course you could drop it, shatter the blade, etc, so don't chuck away the bolt crops, hacksaw, etc just yet.
 
It looks like it comes with a grinding disc which I guess would be 6mm thick.

It will cut even easier if you replace that with a cutting disc which will probably be more like 1mm thick. You'll not need to use any pressure then.
 
A problem, with angle grinders. They are extremely powerful and really need 2 hands if there is a chance they will lock up, even for a second. Masts do fall down in benign conditions but, based on no statistics at all, I'd suspect most masts fall down in demanding conditions.

Personally I'd not want to use an angle grinder on a tossing, wet deck with wires that need to be secured to cut and the need to secure self as well. You could attack the clevis pins - but they might be near, or intermittently, under water.

They are great to cut chain and shackles - but you do need to secure the chain - extrapolation - not easy to cut anything on a heaving deck (unless the deck is considered sacrificial)..

Angle grinders are brilliant, and battery operated ones more so, but in benign conditions speed, imparted by the angle grinder, is less of an issue. When you need speed, to discard a mast bashing the hull, then I'm less sure.

Having fall backs and alternative back ups for any piece of kit on a yacht is sensible and this increases with the further you sail from home port and the further you sail from the nearest help. I think they could be considered as part of the kit (as they have uses other than cutting free a mast), but I'd have the bolt croppers and moles handy as well.

I use angle grinder very frequently, and have lost 2 masts (one in big seas) - Personally I'd not rely on one to free a mast - but I would, we do, have one on a yacht.

Edit

I agree you need a thin blade to be useful in the circumstances suggested - To have one charged and ready, with a thin blade, seems 'unlikely' (ours is stored with whichever blade/device we used last). Hopefully others would be stricter with their plans - we are not that pessimistic!)

Close edit.
 
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Pulling out the clevis pins sounds great until you realise that they will inevitably be heavily side loaded as the turnbuckles and shrouds are twisted sideways during dismasting. It is easy to simulate this in the workshop to find that even in the most perfect of conditions it is a major job to remove pins from bent fittings.
 
matt1 said:
So, Aldi have these battery powered angle grinders coming up soon

https://www.aldi.co.uk/20v-li-ion-cordless-angle-grinder/p/079079168015400

Am going to get one as an easier way than using a hacksaw to cut my pile mooring chains - but it got me thinking about whether you could use one as a way of cutting away rigging in the event of dismasting. Obviously you would have to maintain it charged for just such an eventuality (likely a bit problematic) and of course probably not good to get it wet...!!!

Anyone have any experience of using a battery powered angle grinder and like to suggest whether it may work or not?
Click to expand...

Thanks for link-I have been looking for one for various uses both on boat and at home at a reasonable price.
 
After spending decades working with steel wire rope it's a good idea as first option to cut away an errant mast, wrapped in a plastic bag probably a good plan..

1mm slitter disc will go through in seconds, one handed with the wire under a foot or somehow restrained a bit for a second or 2. Probably impossible to get the disk to bind on such small material.
Even with brand new felco c12 cutters 8mm stainless is not easy, 10mm really hard plus you need to get the wire inside the jaws to start with. Bolt croppers, forget it. Hacksaw you'll need a wooden block with a slot and at least 2 hands, nightmare on a tossing deck again. Other options would be hydraulic cutters or those ones that use some sort of explosive cartridge.

Wonder if Aldi Portugal will have them, would be so handy to have onboard , ta for the link. :cool:
 
GHA said:
1mm slitter disc will go through in seconds, one handed with the wire under a foot or somehow restrained a bit for a second or 2. Probably impossible to get the disk to bind on such small material.
Click to expand...

I have to admit my comments on using an angle grinder are purely personal - and based on having small hands. I watch and marvel at professional rugby league players and how they field the ball one handed (which I would find impossible).

I bow to GHA's decades of working with steel wire ropes - which I suspect might need larger and stronger hands than mine :)
 
There is no way I would use an angle grinder on a small boat at sea - especially not in the conditions that are likely to have lead to a dismasting. I regard them as by far the most dangerous power tools I use even properly set up on dry land.
 
Neeves said:
I have to admit my comments on using an angle grinder are purely personal - and based on having small hands. I watch and marvel at professional rugby league players and how they field the ball one handed (which I would find impossible).

I bow to GHA's decades of working with steel wire ropes - which I suspect might need larger and stronger hands than mine :)
Click to expand...

It's only a 115mm grinder, not a 9 inch.
 
Great for work that is planned but you would need to keep to a strict charging routine to ensure the thing is fully charged and ready for the emergency situation.
 
Never mind the rigging, for dozens of other uses, at under £50 that looks like a good deal with a three-year warranty. :encouragement:
 
Neeves said:
That's all mine is - but I would not, or could not, use it one handed on a rolling yacht, with the possibility of rogue waves with feet planted either end of stainless rigging to hold it steady while I cut through.
Click to expand...

Did you watch Martins video? You're making it sound much harder than it is, no need to hold the cable rock solid - what other methods are there that are easier?

Felcos aren't, hacksaw definitely isn't, leaves splashing out on hydraulic (2 hands) or the percussive cartridge one which doesn't seem to come up in google.

You really can't use a 4 1/2" grinder with one hand? Do you need help pouring a full bottle of wine? ;) ;)
 
Is there a case for rigging with a Senhouse slip or similar, if this problem is a possibility? Bit like seatbelts and airbags, when you need it, you really need it.
 
fisherman said:
Is there a case for rigging with a Senhouse slip or similar, if this problem is a possibility? Bit like seatbelts and airbags, when you need it, you really need it.
Click to expand...

I think that would give you a bigger risk of accidentally losing the mast, than the risk of losing it and not being able to clear the wreckage.

Pete
 
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