Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a grinding tool may comprise a housing including a mount, a shaft extending from the mount along a drive axis, where the shaft is configured to support a grinding wheel for rotation about the drive axis, and a guard coupled to the mount. The guard may comprise a central ring extending around the mount, a shroud extending radially outward from the central ring along a first portion of a circumference of the central ring, and a standoff coupled to a second portion of the circumference of the central ring. The standoff may extend from the central ring along a direction substantially parallel to the drive axis such that the standoff limits rotation of the guard about a tipping axis that is substantially perpendicular to the drive axis.

Abstract: Hand-held power tools with an external composite sleeve having a forward portion and a rearward portion and defining an axially extending cavity. The power tools also include an internal metal housing having a substantially cylindrical body with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, longitudinally-extending front posts that project radially outward from the cylindrical body. The metal housing resides in the composite sleeve. The front posts can be closely spaced to or abut an inner surface of the forward end (e.g., front cap) of the sleeve. In a front exhaust configuration, the front posts and sleeve cooperate to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart gap spaces, a respective gap space bounded by adjacent posts, an outer surface of the cylindrical body and the inner surface of the sleeve.

Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, a grinding tool may comprise a housing including a mount, a shaft extending from the mount along a drive axis, where the shaft is configured to support a grinding wheel for rotation about the drive axis, and a guard coupled to the mount. The guard may comprise a central ring extending around the mount, a shroud extending radially outward from the central ring along a first portion of a circumference of the central ring, and a standoff coupled to a second portion of the circumference of the central ring. The standoff may extend from the central ring along a direction substantially parallel to the drive axis such that the standoff limits rotation of the guard about a tipping axis that is substantially perpendicular to the drive axis.

Abstract: Hand-held power tools with an external composite sleeve having a forward portion and a rearward portion and defining an axially extending cavity. The power tools also include an internal metal housing having a substantially cylindrical body with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart, longitudinally-extending front posts that project radially outward from the cylindrical body. The metal housing resides in the composite sleeve. The front posts can be closely spaced to or abut an inner surface of the forward end (e.g., front cap) of the sleeve. In a front exhaust configuration, the front posts and sleeve cooperate to define a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart gap spaces, a respective gap space bounded by adjacent posts, an outer surface of the cylindrical body and the inner surface of the sleeve.