Satin Finish

wsfarrell

wsfarrell

Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
199
Wayne Goddard has a series in Blade Magazine on knifemaking (May 2010). He talks about using a 10" sewn muslin wheel at 1725 rpm to apply a satin finish at right angles to the edge. Whenever I've tried to use a wheel on a blade (8", 3500 rpm, admittedly), the wheel grabs the blade at the top edge and tries to rip it from my hand. Is this a question of:

(a) 1725 vs. 3500 rpm
(b) 8" vs. 10"
(c) just touching the blade to the wheel with light pressure
(d) something else entirely?

Thanks!
 
I'd much rather put a satin finish on the blade by hand with sandpaper or with on a grinder with a satin finishing belt than with a buffer. As you've experienced, it's a very risky game. All it takes is one time when you're not gripping just right or not concentrating 100% for that knife to become a missile. People have very nearly been killed (and some have been) when operating a buffer. It's pretty much unanimously considered the most dangerous machine in the shop.

I only use it to polish edges after sharpening or to lightly buff a handle prior to sharpening. Always use the lower 1/2 of the wheel with the top of the wheel spinning towards you. That way if the knife is pulled from your hands (it's happened to me several times), it burries itself (hopefully) in the floor or the wall and not your chest.

Don't be scared of it; you can use it to create a wonderful mirror finish on a blade if that's what you want, but you have to respect it completely (and in reality, that probably needs to involve some element of fear).

--nathan
 
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a loose wheel will grab in a heart beat , much quicker than a sewn wheel . Be very careful .

A tip , never have more than 60 % of the blade touch the wheel .
 
I have a piece of wood directly behind my buffer to catch anything that gets pulled out of my hands:) works great keeps the knives from flying into the wall or ground and getting damaged. Or damaging me!!!:D

I have though of putting a piece of thick rubber from a mudflap behind it to help too.
 
Buffers are an integral part of an accomplished knifemaker's shop. Don't be afraid of them.
Learn to use them, but respect them.
 
Well put, Bill. I don't mean to say that you shouldn't use a buffer, but you need to respect it, and there are procedures that are appropriate for a buffer and those that aren't. Also, proper prep time before buffing is a must so that the amount of time you have to buff is greatly reduced.

--nathan
 
It's tempting sometimes to go into the wheel edge up to hit that one spot thats hard to get to.That's what usually makes my knives bounce off the floor too close to my feet.
 
You can go to a wheel (edge up). Just make sure you're standing behind the buffer with the wheels turning away from your knife's edge and if held at the right angle, will not grab your blade. Try to do it standing in front of the wheel edge up and you're NUTS. :) Edge down should not be a problem.

Always think "What if I do this" what will happen as a result. Buffers are helpful, but are dangerous when used in the wrong way.
 
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