The buffing wheel grabbed the knife and threw it..

I

idahoron

Joined
Jan 18, 2015
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9
I was working with the bottom of the wheel. The dang thing was done I just wanted to polish the blade after I took off the tape. The wheel grabbed it and threw it. It flew back at the work bench and hit then bounced back at me. Somehow it hit my hand instead of my chest. I called my son who is an EMT. He came over and put in a couple stitches no pain killer.

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and they say there is no use for chain mail in modern times.

Take 'er easy.
 
I can second that a buffer is probably one of the more dangerous pieces of equipment in the shop.
I used to restore cars several years ago, and was buffing a original headlight trim ring for a Oldsmobile 442. I was about done with it, and whack it ended up on the floor pretty much wadded up. A coworker said "hey Jim, your bleeding". I told him "yeah I figure I probably am, but don't want to look". Ended up slicing into two of my fingertips on my left hand pretty deep. Never hurt until I went to the doctor and they went to numb it.
I personally will never try buffing a knife on one, I can tell you right now I'm chicken. It's brushed finishes for me.
 
Nice knife! Good to see it survived, as did you.

Count yourself lucky. A brief search will turn up fatalities from buffer accidents and knives, including some prominent and accomplished makers. There is no such thing as "too careful" with the buffer...
 
Here.^
fwiw, I use a variable speed buffer because it just takes a little longer.
rolf
 
A buffer with its pleasant hum can lull you into a false sense of security, but it can bite you pretty bad. You found that out the hard way.
 
The ways to make buffer use less dangerous are:
Have a firm grip and a good stance.
Use a large wheel. 12" is much easier to buff on than a 6" wheel. There is a larger "safe" zone to work in.
Buff only in the safe zone between 3:00 and 5:00 ... with the wheel turning downward.

Never ever buff on the top or bottom of the wheel.

Wearing Kevlar buffing gloves is a good idea.


Note:
I said "less dangerous" in the opening line. There is really no way to make the buffer safer ... just less dangerous
 
Mossyhorn said:
A buffer with its pleasant hum can lull you into a false sense of security, but it can bite you pretty bad. You found that out the hard way.
Click to expand...

Yes very possibly this could lull the newbies. Once one has put a few hours on the buffer, just the sound of it heightens one's senses of alertness, as buffing is the most dangerous step. The sound of stress. I had my learning curve on this machine, it teaches respect and demands it.
 
I'm not at a point where I need or want to buff anything but if and when I am, I believe that it will be better to mount the blade and use a wheel on a drill or some other such device. Mounting the blade and moving the wheel seems much safer. I could see where it might be a bit less convenient but would it be any less effective?
 
There is a reason why all pro buffers are mounted on pedestals and not mounted on benches. When a buffer mounted on a pedestal throws something (and it will happen), the work piece hopefully gets thrown to the floor and there is nothing to deflect it back to you. Buff as if you expect it to get thrown, and use appropriate section of the wheel. Whatever you do, don't buff on a bench or lathe mounted buffer.
Glad to see your injury wasn't too serious!
 
This is one of the BIG reasons I use a 1/4hp motor at 1725 rpm. With a max of 1/2" wide wheel there is "virtually" no way for the wheel to grab the blade. 1/4 hp is plenty of power for buffing "IF" you sand to 1,000 or better grit - just a light touch is all that's required. The narrow buffer wheel will collapse before grabbing.

Now, with the above said, ALL safety rules for buffing MUST be followed just as Stacy laid out above.

Ken H>
 
Ouch. every time I see this, it makes me think that using something like the Japanese style "grinding board" for buffing blades would be a good idea.
 
With my luck, that merely means that I'm going to get cut by my knife while the board bludgeons me to death...

:D
 
Ken H> said:
With a max of 1/2" wide wheel there is "virtually" no way for the wheel to grab the blade.
Click to expand...

I have to question this ??? If you push the blade into it at the 1oclock position would it really make a difference how wide the wheel is ? Just like a chainsaw there is a kickback zone.
Glad your injuries were not worse.
 
Only buff the bottom half of the blade and then flip it over and buff the other half which is now the bottom half. Hitting the top half is where it grabs. Glad you're ok and nice knife!
 
LEATHER GLOVES...
I try to always wear gloves but like everyone else do not always, sometimes regretting it. Thanks for sharing glad it wasn't worse only a couple stitches and bruised ego :) awesome your son could do the honors and save you a trip to ER too!
 
Perrin said:
I'm not at a point where I need or want to buff anything but if and when I am, I believe that it will be better to mount the blade and use a wheel on a drill or some other such device. Mounting the blade and moving the wheel seems much safer. I could see where it might be a bit less convenient but would it be any less effective?
Click to expand...


This is a really poor idea. Mount the buffer on a pedestal and have a big enough wheel. The buffer and wheel need to be rock solid.You can mount the blade on a polishing board and hold the board as you buff.




"..... something like the Japanese style "grinding board" for buffing blades would be a good idea. ..."

My friend does this. Every knife he makes is mounted by the tang to a 1" thick board with bolts and wing nuts. The knife is profiled, ground, sanded, and polished on the board. Once it is shaped, the board is the same shape, too.
In sanding and polishing, he has a solid grip on the thick board and can buff to a mirror polish before HT with ease. After HT the final sand and polish are done on the same board. He keeps the boards in 5 gallon pails and pulls the desired one out when he wants to make a knife.
 
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Perrin said:
I'm not at a point where I need or want to buff anything but if and when I am, I believe that it will be better to mount the blade and use a wheel on a drill or some other such device. Mounting the blade and moving the wheel seems much safer. I could see where it might be a bit less convenient but would it be any less effective?
Click to expand...

You won't find a drill that will polish effectively.
 
I generally don't like talking about accidents around equipment because it almost feels like it wills something to happen to me . Talking about disc grinders and speed controllers bam my disc grinder shits the bed . Buffers are important tools in my shop .. Remember don't think your to seasoned or smarter than the equipment ... Like the old saying goes . Tools are very patient and they wait to the best possible time to hurt you .. Its only a matter of time . Good luck and happy grinding OP and great job on your knife now step up to some nice wood on the next one and it will be even nicer.
 
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