Buffer Safety

D

Darren Ellis

Joined
Sep 14, 2002
Messages
992
Well, it's taken me a few days to get over being angry at myself to where I can even post this... Here's the story. I get a call last Friday about the opportunity to have one of my razors photographed for an article in a popular men's magazine (not one I read, but one that has a worldwide distribution nonetheless). They're doing an upcoming article on traditional shaving products and practices for men. This is one of those opportunities that just fell out of the sky and was a last minute opportunity, needless to say I was ecstatic. The only catch was that since it was last minute that they contacted me I had to have one ready to send to them by Monday or Tuesday for the article as the photo deadline was on Thursday. I tell them I will try my best, hang up, make some phone calls to cancel my plans to be out of town that weekend and then head to the shop to get to work. So anyway, I work non-stop all weekend on this razor and get it to where I'm happy with sending it out Monday night to be photographed. Deep hollow grind brought to a mirror finish, file worked backspine, gold plated pivot screws (which I had to plate as I was out of the right size already plated), G10 spacer with mosaic backpin, and presentation grade Desert Ironwood scales adorned this razor. So Tuesday morning, I'm inspecting my work carefully and notice a few scratches that occurred during assembly, and I decide to buff them out quickly. Instead of walking the few extra steps to get the buffing belts off of the wall and put them on my KMG, I'm in a hurry and haven't engaged my brain for the day apparently, so I head straight for the buffer, turn it on, and start buffing. Then it happens. Before I can even think about what just happened, my "opportunity" flew through the air and slammed into the adjacent workbench. Cracked blade and a bad ding in one of the scales... This razor now lives somewhere in the creek out behind my shop.

The missed opportunity to have my work photographed for a popular magazine article really bites, but I guess I should be extremely thankful for still having my fingers attached. We hear people say all of the time that the buffer is the most dangerous tool in our shops, and until Tuesday morning I've never had it take a work piece away from me... thankfully it didn't take a few fingers with it! So anyway, I'm going to make sure my brain is fully functioning from now on when I work in the shop...and I have a new found respect (and hate!) for the buffer. Just wanted to say, everyone who said it before was correct, the buffer is the most dangerous and insidious tools in our shops.

:)

-Darren
 
Darren,

Don't feel too pregnant. I did one today to myself too. I was tightening a jig down on a Scandinavian grind that I had sharpened before heat treating. The jig slipped and the scandi grind cut my finger in half (this afternoon). That is the second time I have allowed this to happen. The first time was a couple years back when I turned to answer the phone and ran my index finger into the edge of a full scream running 1 X 30 belt.

I veiw buffers like I do looking into the face of God. Take it for granted and you can die. Knives can cut and so can belts but buffers kill.

EDIT: I mean down to the bone, not in half like there is only one half finger left.

RL
 
Big John, It's not cut off. Just to the bone. It'll be okay in a few days. I can still feel on the tip of the finger.

I just wanted to share (however, I wish it was not me that had to) with Darren that any of us can bite the big one at any time when we think we know best about what we are doing.

It really sucks big time about Darren because he was going to be published in a very big national magazine. I thinkst and hope though that the opportunty may not be lost to him.

RL
 
Darren, what Roger said is too true! Dang shame, all that hard work trashed. I am really glad you came out in one piece, Darren. You deserve another shot at it, fella.
 
Ugh, Darren, this is so sad!!!!!!!
I'm sure there'll be other chances for you to show your work in the magazines!
I sure am happy you weren't injured!
This kinda makes me think it would be a good idea to keep a sample of our work on hand. Maybe a really fine sample at that. It's always good to have something nice to show off and when an oppourtunity pops up you'd be ready for it.
 
How many blade makers use kevlar or chain mail gloves or aprons ?
 
Kevlar gloves protect against slicing actions but do not protect against puncture wounds and are no protection to speak of against coarse grit belts.

Chain mail is fine for rough grinding but will scratch final finishes.

Aprons end up with holes in them from flying blades but protect very well otherwise.

Most accidents with buffers tend to happen when we are touching up at the end of the job, coincidently that is when we are usually tired and let our guards down. Take care, too many accidents happen to sleepy knifemakers.
 
Didn't Don Fogg say he uses gloves when buffing?

Not to diminish this thread, but Darren... man that bites, huh? Do you have any razors out there in customer's hands that you could have borrowed for the shoot?
 
well said guys and I hope the cuts and pride heals well.
The buffer is like a cute little dog then
finding out later he didn't like the way you pet him. ouch:(
The pitbull can't rip you apart :eek:
 
Very sorry to hear about that Darren -- it'll come around again.
 
Thanks guys for the kind words. I guess I've learned a couple of things from this...1) not to be complacent at any time working around power tools, especially the buffer...Like George said, it was at the very end and just a little touch up...and I was tired and not really thinking clearly in hindsight. 2) I need to start taking more pictures of my darn work, I lost all of my old photos in a hard drive crash, but haven't been vigilant about photographing new stuff. If I had had some good professional photos I could have asked if I could have sent them instead. 3) While I could have contacted an old customer to borrow a razor as Jeff mentioned (I actually didn't think of this at the time!), this one was more eye candy than previous ones I've made since it was going to be in a magazine and not just a user model. Michael's comment about keeping a high end sample on hand is something I'm definitely going to do from now on!

Roger, I'm glad to hear that your finger is going to be ok!!! That hurts just thinking about it! We all need to be careful!

Well, I'm off for the weekend a little early, going to go visit some friends who are blacksmiths and learn about how they do their big production work and check out their shops. Thanks guys, again, for the kind words. Opportunities come and go, and I'm sure another one will eventually pop up again....at least that's what I keep telling myself to feel better! :)

-Darren
 
I wear fleece lined gloves when I am grinding and buffing to avoid losing concentration because of burns but I usually do the fine touchups without gloves to avoid glove scuffs on the finished piece.

I have actually set up a rule in the shop concerning last minute touchups before shipping....they will not be done after 1:00PM because of fatigue and the possibility of things going wrong. I will work on anything else but no final touchups.
 
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