[Retric]

11k RPM is not as fast as you might think. That 660,000 RPH * ~8 inch diamiter circle. So outer edge is 3.14*8inch/12/5280 ~= .0004 miles per revolution or 260MPH. But the center is stationary so actual force is a little less than you can throw it.

Edit: Camera is not centered on the iPhone. So if you center the camera it's worse than that. I would personally not stand anywhere near it.

[jacquesm]

The very fastest fastballs are ~100 MPH. So 260 is not 'a little less than you can throw it', what will happen is that it will get dislodged on one corner, do a partial spin and then come flying at you (if it doesn't break up before that).

I'd really hate to be hit with anything at 260 MPH, especially not with a phone. Those things are hard!

[Retric]

That's why you want something that functions as a Shear pin. Basically, you don't want to have it attached in such a fashion that it could gain those kinds of speeds.

[jotm]

Have you never used a small 11k angle grinder? Those things try to jump out of your hand even worse than the big 6k RPM ones (without soft-start, of course).

[Retric]

I have used a 11k RPM grinder, not that I would have called it small the thing was like 10 pounds. So, I can can see how they might be harder control with newer motors and swapping steal for plastic.

Backing up, being safe with power tools is IMO more a mindset than a set of safety equipment. As such you need some understanding of the forces involved. Not, just to be safe right then but so you don't get lulled into a false concept of safety because the overblown worst case you picture did not happen.

[jacquesm]

You have absolutely no idea what an unbalance of even a few grams will do at those rotational speeds. The thing will escape your grip even if you're quite strong if you're not holding it very tightly.

[Retric]

I don't think anyone was seriously considering trying to hold it. My comment was more in line with "The iphone will desintegrate due to the forces involved and the shrapnel will cause serious injur". Granted, those disks can shatter and I assume an iPhone may also shatter, but saying it will is a different.

PS: I am going to leave this alone. It's dangerous, but I do hope someone posts a video of this at some point.

[jacquesm]

I have a hard time envisioning the kind of hold-down that would be required to hold a smooth iphone onto an angle grinder. That's going to be a really neat bit of engineering. And then of course the guts of the iphone will die anyway, I seriously doubt that it was designed with that kind of abuse in mind. But we can place bets on how many seconds it will last.

[Udo_Schmitz]

Happened to me 20 years ago while sanding wood flooring (the edges). The angle grinder got stopped by a brick and flew out of my hand. I'm not a strong person but seriously doubt anybody could have held to it. Moved totally erratically through the air and scraped my knee just so, but I still can feel the shock. Taught me to respect even small power tools.