Buffing wheel,,, Man does it sharpen or what!

[SAUERGLOCKS]

I have a buffing wheel on my grinder and I bought some metel polish at SEARS today to try out on my CRKT for the hell of it. What a difference! I used the fine polish and swept the blade a couple times and then cleaned up the blade with some oil and I can now Literally shave my arm hair with the knife. The knife was really sharp when I bought it and still is, I just wanted to try it out and I'm happy I did. Now the blades super sharp.


As an example; I can hold the knifes edge to a piece of notebook paper and with only the knifes weight slice right through it. Thats leting the knife fall at its own force! :thumbup:

 

[Knifeclerk]

Awexome, but be careful man. That is the most dangerous piece of equipment that you will own in your shop! I've heard a lot of horror storries and seen a lot of nasty pictures with regards to buffing wheels.

 

[Cutshaw]

Awexome, but be careful man. That is the most dangerous piece of equipment that you will own in your shop! I've heard a lot of horror storries and seen a lot of nasty pictures with regards to buffing wheels.

Pardon my ignorance (my wife tries ) but "horror stories" like what? It sounded like a good idea to me. I've been using my dremel with metal polish and a buffing wheel from time to time to do some polish (mostly on guns, not knives...) but was excited at the idea of putting a big buffing wheel on my inherited grinder.

 

[socintel]

Pardon my ignorance (my wife tries ) but "horror stories" like what? It sounded like a good idea to me. I've been using my dremel with metal polish and a buffing wheel from time to time to do some polish (mostly on guns, not knives...) but was excited at the idea of putting a big buffing wheel on my inherited grinder.

Like making knives fly across the room, cutting anything in their path to little bits.

 

[Matches]

I use a buffing wheel to clean-up and polish my briar smoking pipes. I've had a pipe or two get hurled at high-speed into my face Knives?...no thanks

 

[tim8557]

I have a buffing wheel on my grinder :

Just what exactly is a buffing wheel? I have the 2 wheel cardboard sharpening system, amongst every other sharpening gizmo known to man. One wheel is gritted and does the profiling; the other wheel has slots that you 'hit" with a white chalky compound. Is that wheel a "buffing wheel" as you refer to it?

 

[tim8557]

I use a buffing wheel to clean-up and polish my briar smoking pipes. I've had a pipe or two get hurled at high-speed into my face Knives?...no thanks

I guess that is why I love my Edge Pro. One would really have to work at hurting themselves with that.

 

[ANGRYMOB]

I use a cloth polishing belt on my little 1"X30" grizzly grinder and polishing compound....blade down...less hazardous

 

[Gollnick]

Blade Magazine has a series running right now on the hows and the dangers of buffers. It's really nicely written at a very practical level.

 

[t1mpani]

Just like using any power tool---keep in mind that it won't stop until the button is turned off, no matter what has gone wrong. Always wear safety glasses, beware of loose/hanging sleeves, always have LOTS of light to see what you're doing, never use when tired, distracted, etc. I've been using all sorts of power saws, grinders, drills, etc. for years and have never gotten hurt, but I've seen people who HAVE and that helps me keep the right mindset when I'm working.

Back in highschool shop I saw a kid try to stop a winding-down drill press with his hand because you couldn't leave your tool until it stopped and he was going to be late. Just grabbed the bit with his hand! I shudder now thinking about it and that was years ago. Granted, that was less a case of poor safety and more downright stupidity, but the visual aid was very effective.

 

[Travis Edwards]

i used to work for a sharpening firm and this was one of the techniques i used till i removed the end of a finger and buried a knife deep into my thigh not too far from the vital crown jewels. i still use a buff occasionally but with great care and do not go near the point or beyond halfway up the blade when buffing from back to front.. always polish the bottom edge only then turn it 180 to get the other side looking the same.to get to the tip always turn your knife to run with the wheel...i.e. parrallel and above all else hold on to that sucker for grim death and try to apply just enough pressure to the wheel to stop the blade from bouncing but do not push that hard that the wheel slows dramatically. This is one of the most dangerous ways if not the most dangerous way to sharpen and should only be used to remove burrs after finishing on a stone. personally a leather strop will give as good an edge just takes a few minutes longer but it is much safer...and safety is something all knife makers and users alike should preach.

 

[Psychopomp]

I guess that is why I love my Edge Pro. One would really have to work at hurting themselves with that.

I managed to hurt myself (and my kitchen floor) with my Sharpmaker lastnight. I caught the guard of a knife on the brass rods and knocked it off the table. One of the sharpening rods poked my foot, the other took a chunk out of the floor.

The series in Blade is really informative. This month's anecdote of the knife bouncing off the table and hitting someone in the neck really made cringe.

If you're comfortable with it, keep at it, but be careful and invest in a suit of chain mail.

 

[socintel]

If you're comfortable with it, keep at it, but be careful and invest in a suit of chain mail.

Here is what I use with my buffing wheel, it's not chain mail but it sure works.

 

[Walkabout]

Another thought about buffing wheels on blades... Is there a risk that enough heat will be generated to affect the temper?

Walkabout

 

[Matches]

I'm not totally positive on this, but I think the buffing material would catch fire before the metal lost temper

 

[Steven Roos]

Another thought about buffing wheels on blades... Is there a risk that enough heat will be generated to affect the temper?

Walkabout

A good rule of thumb is that if you can hold it you aren't risking the steel.

You shouldn't bear down on the buffer that much anyway.

 

[Brian6244]

I like to clamp the knife down and then use a Dremmel. Then if anything goes flying it's the Dremmel rather than 4" of razor sharp steel. Seems safer that way, plus I don't own a grinder so I haven't got that option.