Old foreman told me to quit using my grinder for everything, took me 3 months to get it

I was out on a job in Gary last month, cutting down some rusty bolts with my 4.5 inch grinder like always. This old foreman named Hank walks over and says, "You're making more work for yourself, grab a chisel and a hammer." I laughed it off but after 3 months of trying his way, I shaved 20 minutes off each flange prep. Anyone else ever get advice from an old timer that felt wrong but turned out right?

3 comments

3 Comments

craig.olivia4d ago

Also something folks don't always think about is how using the wrong tool all the time wears you down faster. @sandragrant I get where you're coming from but grinding every single thing just burns through discs and your hands start hurting after a couple hours. I've seen guys switch to chisels for heavy rust or bolts and their forearms last way longer through the shift. It's not about being good or bad at stripping paint, it's about saving your body for the jobs that actually need the grinder.

the_lucas4d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way stripping paint off a bridge in '09.

sandragrant4d ago

Oh come on, "learned the hard way" is such a cop out. If you were any good at stripping paint you wouldn't have had a problem in the first place lol.