Blade Polisher

bobrap

bobrap

Joined
Jan 3, 2002
Messages
104
If this isn't the correct place to post this, I apologize. But, I am looking for a place to buy a bench polisher/sharpener. Dremel doesn't work real well for me. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks all.:confused: Are Lansky kits a good choice also?
 
Bob before I got my Grizz buffer and knife grinder I made do with a little Black & Decker bench grinder I got @ Wal-Mart.
Both grinding wheels can be taken off and replaced with 6" buffing pads with different compounds to make life a little easier.
The B & D isn't all that powerful or fast, but if one takes their time a reasonable job can be done.
Taking steel from smooth ground to scratch free takes a good
while.
For just a little bit more you can order a buffer from Grizz. They ship everywhere if a showroom isn't within driving distance.
Whatever you get it will need some kind of bench to set on.
I also bought a couple of tables from Grizz to set my new equipement on.
The tables are easy to move around my very small 10'x 10' workroom that used to be our youngest daughter's bedroom, at least I am out of the cold.:)
Now I can bog the Grizz buffing motor down as it's only 1/2 horse, but better than the B & D that I could stop completely while buffing on it, But I can also take a piece of steel from smooth ground to what Uncle Bill calls the, "Magic Stone Mirror" much faster than before.
Having my workshop in the house ( And it's a *Small* house) makes for certain concessions to my dear wife Barb.
Using a buffer makes for a huge mess and especially when dressing new buffing pads down.
The resulting loose fibers can be very flamable so needs to be cleaned up well before any sparks are made with anything.
Just so you will know if you didn't already.;)
It pays to be safety concious and especially so when working inside your home!!!!:)
 
I must be having one of those nights. I can't seem to find any link to Grizz buffer. Anyone have a clue? Obviously I don't.


Had to edit. Got lucky and tried putting "ly" on the end of grizz and a whole new world opened up:D Clever aren't I?:rolleyes:
 
The most important thing to remember when buffing is DON'T LET THE BLADE GET AWAY FROM YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The second thing to remember is don't get the metal too hot. Take your time.
 
The trick is to keep the wheel (Dremel, buffer, whatever) well rouged, and DON'T BEAR DOWN - This, as Uncle says. gets it hot and can also cut into the metal instead of just polishing. Keep the pressure light, let the compound do the work, and even with a felt drum on a Dremel, you can get an even polish. If the Dremel drum isn't square in the chuck, it will wobble and mark up the blade. Like the buffing wheels, it needs to be dressed before you put on the rouge, against a rough dressing stone or even an old wood rasp (flat side).
 
I watched a local knife maker polish one of my Ks and I was mezmerized watching him. I now want to do this myself. He said the same thing about not letting the blade get away from you.

So I must ask - how do you get the knife off your fingers when the super glue that you used dries, so it won't get away from you!!??:rolleyes:
 
Three choices...Acetone, straight razor (messes up your fingerprints a bit) or old age. If you choose the last, be sure you have someone around who is willing to spoon-feed you for a while. :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for AM chuckles, both.

Our old "buffing man" at BirGorkha let a khukuri get away from him and it went into his leg. Two days at the hospital, can't remember exactly how many stitches but certainly too many, and 30 days unable to work. BirGorkha private insurance took care of the costs and the buffing man and everybody else in the shop got a good reminder. It could have been a hell of a lot worse.

I think most of the old shop hands will agree that buffing a knife, especially a big one, is one of the most dangerous jobs you can tackle.

Be careful!!!!
 
Guess a full length leather apron and a welders mask are also on the wish list!:)
 
Originally posted by bobrap
Guess a full length leather apron and a welders mask are also on the wish list!:)
Click to expand...

Bob even a full length *Heavy* welder's apron won't stop a flying khukuri that has been jerked outta your hands by a
buffer.
A full face welding mask may help dissipate some foot pounds of energy and keep your head mostly intact, but the foot pounds of torque is probably gonna give you a headache if it happens to hit
there, perhaps even penetrate a little bit.:eek:

Some guidelines to safely using a buffer..............
Always wear safety glasses or a face shield!!!!

Never buff when you're the least bit tired.

Never buff edge up and always keep the object being polished slightly below the centerline of the wheel.

Never look up before removing the object you're buffing from the wheel.

I would also say, "Never let yourself be distracted when buffing." as well, but that's dayum near impossible.
Just try to remain focused, stress to family members that when you're using the buffer to wait until you remove any object being buffed from the wheel to speak to you. And if you can't do that consider putting a lock on the door so people will have to knock to get your attention and explain that it's for your safety that you're locking the door if it's a problem for some family members.

Always remember, "Safety First!!!!"

Bro is spot on when he said,
"I think most of the old shop hands will agree that buffing a knife, especially a big one, is one of the most dangerous jobs you can tackle."
Click to expand...

You're possibly aware of all the things stressed about safety, but a good reminder is always good for all of us.
I know I learned to never grab a stainless steel shaving coming off of a screw machine several hundred times and if I was back doing the same thing today I would probably have to learn all over again.
It wasn't if it was gonna cut you, but when!!!!:rolleyes: :eek:
That's what happens when one gets to taking things for granted and I was one of the worst when it came to my machines!!!!:rolleyes:
 
I'm really starting to get the feeling that the local knife maker is my best choice to safely get a blade polished. It sounds as if trying to buff out your own knife is really dangerous and that does not equate to pleasure for me. I thought about a vise, super glue knife in vise?:rolleyes: and try to buff with a drill based wheel. (what was that? acetone, straight razor or old age when your done.ust look into acetone, the others don't seem to fit into my ideas of using the knife when I'm finished) What'cha think? I do really appreciate all the replies and suggestions.

However: Where I am originally from, I would say "thanks ya guys". Now that I have moved to Tenn I'm not so sure of the spelling when one would say "You'inns had bean perty hepful". Some yanks never change.:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by bobrap

However: Where I am originally from, I would say "thanks ya guys". Now that I have moved to Tenn I'm not so sure of the spelling when one would say "You'inns had bean perty hepful". Some yanks never change.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Y'all did done prolly make tha best dee-sishun.:)

Yanks is okay as they come 'n visit.
Dayum Yanks come 'n stay.:p
Dayum Yanks ennyways!!!!;) Bob I can't say much. I married a gal from Pennsylvania, but she's half polish and was raised onna farm wit 'n outhouse so bein a yank done don't count agin her.;) :rolleyes: :p :D

And you're very welcome. Buffing is very dangerous and we like to keep our members and guests and lurkers in one piece if possible.:)
 
..Estill Springs, and we're only about 150 miles apart. You're further into them thar hills, though, so y'all oughten be too long larnin t' tawk 'murican, with local he'p 'n awl. Wheels, belts or even Dremel tools can be iffy with a blade. There are many ways to mask an edge, or protect yourself, but like a 1911, the best safety is between your ears. Running through the forums, you will not find a custom blademaker who has not cut himself. Several have had experiences that were near crippling. My Dad was a master machinist, for over 50 years, and nearly lost the fingers on his left hand when a "friendly idiot" passed by and slapped him on the shoulder while he was running a precision grinder, so there are always outside influences to consider. That is why I generally stick to the small hand power tools and willingly pay someone more accustomed to them to run the heavier stuff. I've accumulated too much hospital time in the last 15 years to set myself up for any more. Y'all come bah, y'hyar?
 
Thanks again for the advise and linguistic lessons. Here's a 3 question language test that I always get wrong:

How many syllables in the word RED?

How many syllables in WIRE?

How many syllables in DAM?



Hmmm....NDN and Polish - must make for some interesting meals:)
 
How many syllables in the word RED?
How many syllables in WIRE?
How many syllables in DAM?
Click to expand...
Ray-ud=2 syllables.
War=1 syllable.
Day-um= 2 syllables.

Don't get caught on the bob war.
:)
 
You should now those by now, Bob. "Rayud" has alway had two sybubbl..sillyb...parts :) But you misspelled "wahr", not to be confused with "whar", as in "Whar is the wahr, fool...don't mess with the rayud one, it be hot". I've been here nearly twenty years, and don't have to make up much of this stuff any more :eek:

Berk and I were posting at the same time, so I should come back and edit to save confusion - Berk is from Tayexus (21/2 syllables) where they put the hard accent on "war" rather than the genteel, softer "wahr" used in the rest of the South. I love this stuff, but if I keep it up, I may have to move north for my health :rolleyes:
 
Do you know how long it has taken me to pass this test? I still haven't!! You guys, sorry, ya'll did it in one post. I be mazed!:D
 
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