Rigging and Lidl angle grinder

[Rappey]

I wonder how many times you would go below looking for another angle grinder blade as they snap easy when what your trying to cut is moving around?
It is a great way to cut, but would assume most would also have bolt croppers with wire cutting jaws (cut outs to stop slippage) and a good hacksaw and spare blades.
Then it's down to what works best at the critical time.

 

[lw395]

I've got one of those Lidl mini grinders.
TBH it's a slightly awkward tool and I would be afraid for my fingers if trying to use it on a moving deck.
The switch action just seems cackhanded, makes you hold the tool awkwardly.
It has been handy, I use it a reasonable amount.
I have the hedgetrimmer which shares batteries, that has been a gem.
If I was going to Lidl, I'd get the drill for £15 to share the two batteries I have, but Lidl is currently about 20 minutes unnecessary drive each way.
I've asked a mate to pick one up if it stares him in the face.

 

[GHA]

Out of all of those, which ones work when soaking wet?

From spending plenty time in the p!ssing rain on site, all of them. Choice is a wonderful thing, just doesn't exist in the black and white Internet - you're allowed more than one in the real world

 

[cherod]

I wonder how many times you would go below looking for another angle grinder blade as they snap easy when what your trying to cut is moving around?
It is a great way to cut, but would assume most would also have bolt croppers with wire cutting jaws (cut outs to stop slippage) and a good hacksaw and spare blades.
Then it's down to what works best at the critical time.

well worth taking a few minutes and learn how to use this very versatile tool,,, ( btw , i am referring to decent grinders in general not ness the lidl one which i dont know, but will be checking out soon . ) i dont know if anyone is suggesting that is is used under water !! ,, if the deck is under water i would suggest ( for monohulers ) the life raft would be more urgent than the rigging wires.

 

[LadyInBed]

I've said this before - bolt cutters aren't designed for cutting wire rope. There's a clue in the name.

I agree, but I have successfully cut my rigging wire - two backstays to shorten them and inner forestay when I cut it to length, so for the number of times that I might use them in the future I'm quite happy to have them as the tool of choice for the job. A heavy duty hacksaw being the backup.
If they didn't work on the rigging wire, then there is always the turnbuckle, which is bolt like, to attack.
The problems that I see with a battery powered grinder are 1. The state of charge needs checking regularly and 2. Trying to use it in extreme conditions.

 

[vic008]

Bit OT, but, waiting for my new star/hex thingy and then to see if the Ryobi can work the self tailing furling winch.

 

[Kelpie]

If you think you can manoeuvre around the deck of a dismasted boat, when the motion becomes insanely wild and unpredictable, and cut your way through up to nine wires or turnbuckles in "a few seconds", then make sure you get it on video and post it on Youtube - I'd pay to see it!

Who knows how it would work out in reality.
The point I apparently failed to make was that you could tape up the grinder to stop it from getting drowned, and not worry about it overheating, because each cut would only take seconds. I wasn't actually suggesting leaving it switched on whilst you moved from one shroud to the next.

Would I suggest carrying a battery grinder as my only means of cutting the rig? Of course not. Would I consider using it if I had it aboard anyway? Absolutely.

 

[Poignard]

Something I haven't done that I should have is to attach a lanyard to my bolt croppers. If they went over the wall at the crucial moment it would make a bad day worse.

 

[Daverw]

Grinder would be my first choice, use them all the time on site, would have my rig cut off in seconds. One handed operation easier than bolt cutters or shears, you will see most small grinders on site used with out side handle and easier to use as lighter and balanced. Also the new brushless ones work under water, I’ve seen one dropped in a tank and it kept running until battery went flat. Also the batteries stay charged for months.

 

[cherod]

Grinder would be my first choice, use them all the time on site, would have my rig cut off in seconds. One handed operation easier than bolt cutters or shears, you will see most small grinders on site used with out side handle and easier to use as lighter and balanced. Also the new brushless ones work under water, I’ve seen one dropped in a tank and it kept running until battery went flat. Also the batteries stay charged for months.

at last , someone with some experience .

 

[LadyInBed]

Also the batteries stay charged for months.

I've not been dismasted in over 40 years, how do you reckon the battery will stand up to that MTBF?
.
.
.
That's done it!

 

[capnsensible]

Grinder would be my first choice, use them all the time on site, would have my rig cut off in seconds. One handed operation easier than bolt cutters or shears, you will see most small grinders on site used with out side handle and easier to use as lighter and balanced. Also the new brushless ones work under water, I’ve seen one dropped in a tank and it kept running until battery went flat. Also the batteries stay charged for months.

Thats what I want!!!! What make and how much?

 

[Kelpie]

Thats what I want!!!! What make and how much?

Makita LXT are good. Li-ion batteries have negligible self discharge, motors are brushless.
Other makes will be available but Makita do a very nice little cordless sander which swayed me... so handy for the boat... once you've bought into a system you're kind of stuck...

 

[Rappey]

The makita brushless angle grinder is easy to use one handed as it has a relatively thin body enabling a very secure grasp. I use mine for all sorts of multitrade.
Have cut off 24mm bolts in very awkward places, use the 1mm discs to cut plastic waste pipe. Has to be the best thing ever for cutting formica.
A flexible abrasive disc for rapid removal of grp or wood.
Poly discs for rough polishing of stainless.
Some of the lxt range are built to be "weatherproof"
A small inverter will power the charger .
These things are not cheap though.
A ebay cheap grinder will do the same job but not be as ergonomically as comfortable or run as long with power.
The cordless drills can be crazy powerful, as in if you were drilling something hard like steel on deck with a large bit and it bites it really will throw you over the side !

 

[Slowtack]

I bought a bolt cutter some years ago. Tried it on some 6mm waste rigging.... Cut it no problem.

 

[Stemar]

provided you have a charged battery

It seems to me that this is the biggest issue. I took some stuff off a friend's boat when he became too ill to sail. It included a decent cordless drill & screwdriver, but the batteries probably hadn't been charged for several years, so even less use than the proverbial umbrella, wheelbarrow and naval officer. It isn't too hard to get into a routine for charging if you have shore power, but sod's law says it'll be flat when you need it.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Something I haven't done that I should have is to attach a lanyard to my bolt croppers. If they went over the wall at the crucial moment it would make a bad day worse.

Same applies to using any tool on a bucking deck of even up the mast on a carm day

 

[rogerthebodger]

L

Makita LXT are good. Li-ion batteries have negligible self discharge, motors are brushless.
Other makes will be available but Makita do a very nice little cordless sander which swayed me... so handy for the boat... once you've bought into a system you're kind of stuck...

Looking at the LXT battery circular saw , this may be safer to use if its fitted with a abrasive cutting disk at they are designed to be used one handed with a trigger operating switch and a automatic safety guard.

 

[capnsensible]

Anyone got a recommend that they know for sure will continue working after being immersed in seawater?

Ta in advance.

 

[matt1]

Just as an aside, I've had no split pins in my rigging screws for the past 10 years when I took them out to adjust the tension, left them out while I got it right and then found that the screws don't move on their own anyway. They haven't moved in all that time so I don't think they will now but if they started to do so I'd notice a long time before they fully unwound. OTOH if I ever have to undo them in a hurry, bingo. Sometimes we're constrained by convention.

You have been very lucky then! Like you I removed some pins to tune rig / adjust tension. In all honesty, forgot to put one of the pins back in (iirc on a lower shroud). A few sails later it was very nearly undone and I only noticed it by chance.