Professional Builder recently caught up with Chris Murray, Bosch UK Power Tools Trainer, to talk about the health, safety and efficiency features inherent in the manufacturer’s accessories
Dust is one of the creeping hazards of a construction site where the full harm might not become manifest for many years. Using masks and extractors are obvious mitigating factors but companies like Bosch are also committed to designing a whole range of solutions that can equally play their own part – and that includes its accessories.
Chris Murray is an expert in all things Bosch Professional and he emphasises the urgency of the issue: “Any processing of material, whether that’s wood, concrete or stone, will produce dust, and breathing it in can cause a number of health issues. These include silicosis – caused by silica dust – to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. If we use the example of silica dust, it is believed that up to 500 UK construction workers are dying from complications caused by silicosis, and there are up to 4,000 deaths from COPD linked to silica each year. Not only that, if you get a visit from the HSE, and you’re not seen to be protecting your workforce, you can be shut down and fined.”
Bosch has taken a very close look at its accessories and has come up with some clever answers. The Expert M480 Sanding Net, for instance, is designed for woodworking, painting and drywall applications. It is compatible with all the main random orbital sanders and orbital sanders on the market, as well as some hand tools such as dual density sanding blocks. It’s available in 125, 150, 225mm with a grit range from 80 to 400.
The real innovation can, however, be found in its Bosch Particle Control Technology, as Chris explains: “Instead of the traditional punched hole design, the Bosch solution features a fine net with abrasive material bonded to the surface. The dust can then be pulled through the entire surface of the accessory, making it up to four times more efficient and removing dust when compared to those aforementioned hole punched sandpapers.”
At the same time a reduction in clogging and material build-up makes for a better finish. The sanding net will last longer before you need to replace it. A sanding net that maintains its optimum performance for longer mean you get the job done quicker and, when you’re done, there’s a lot less cleaning to do.
Continuing the health and safety theme is the Expert SDS Clean Max-8 Set– the ideal companion to any of the Bosch rotary hammer drills – from the smallest to the very largest. SDS hammers are, in fact, a class of equipment that Bosch pioneered and, whether it’s in the tool itself, or the accessory, the manufacturer is still setting the standard.
Essentially, the Expert SDS Clean Max 8 Set is a considerable improvement on a hollow drill bit that cleans holes in reinforced concrete as it drills them. Featuring a partially fluted bit within a steel sleeve that sits just short of the 4 cutter full carbide head, it allows a suitable extractor to more effectively remove dust right at the source.
Less dust, more safety
Not only that, but the accessory itself can easily be removed and cleaned when necessary. “Thanks to this design it’s possible to produce up to 25 times less dust compared to a conventional drill bit,” Chris enthuses, “but the benefits don’t stop there. The 4-cutter full carbide head is very robust and hard, so if you do hit rebar it will cut through it. As a result, the machine won’t jam, reducing the risk of a potentially injurious kickback.”
It’s not just sanding and drilling that have received the full attention of Bosch’s research and development team – grinding has too. This is particularly important, as angle grinders have a relatively high incidence of accidents, especially when used with bonded abrasive cutting discs. The Expert Diamond Metal Wheel Cutting Disc offers a safer, more durable solution. Available in a range of sizes from 115mm to 300mm, it covers the full Bosch angle grinder portfolio.
A multi-material solution, it will power through cast iron, steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminium, as well as plastic and fibrous materials. “It is the high-grade diamonds that makes for a considerable 100 times longer lifetime compared to their bonded abrasive counterparts”, continues Chris. “Crucially, the Expert Diamond Metal Cutting Wheel is solid metal and inherently more robust and stable than bonded abrasive with a much reduced chance of the disc shattering. It’s also about thinking in terms of cost per cut, where you’ll spend a lot less time changing discs, and save some money into the bargain.”
In the context of these Bosch solutions productivity and performance have been combined with health and safety – and that means you don’t have to compromise on either.
Listen to our full conversation with Bosch below:
For more information on the Bosch Professional range of accessories visit Bosch Professional Accessories | Bosch Professional.
