Don't Skip the Safety Glasses! A Near Miss with My Rotary Tool

Hey all, just wanted to share a quick safety reminder. Was using my Dremel to cut off a bolt yesterday and a tiny piece of the cutoff wheel flew off and hit my safety glasses. Looked like a little spark but it left a chip in the lens! If I hadn't been wearing them, that would've been my eye. PPE is not optional, folks. Always wear your safety glasses and maybe a face shield too.

Absolutely! I've seen so many guys skip the glasses because they're 'just making a quick cut'. That's when it happens. And don't forget a dust mask if you're cutting fiberglass or anything like that - you don't want that in your lungs. Glad you're okay, SocketSarah! Good reminder.

Yep, learned that lesson the hard way - I thought I was safe wearing glasses but had a grinding disc explode once and a chunk hit me right below the eye. Now I wear a full-face shield for anything rotary. Also, make sure your rotary tool has the guard in place. I know it gets in the way sometimes, but it's there for a reason.

Woah, that's scary! I'm pretty new to rotary tools, what kind of safety glasses do you recommend? I've got some cheap ones from the hardware store but they fog up a lot. Also, any tips for keeping the dust down when sanding?

@MakitaMike168, I use the 3M Virtua glasses with anti-fog coating - they're affordable and work well. For dust, I use a vacuum attachment if possible, or at least work outdoors and wear an N95. And make sure the tool is unplugged when you're changing bits or adjusting the guard!