The buffing wheel grabbed the knife and threw it..

I was buffing one of my wharncliffe knives, almost finished, only sharpening was left. I was using the 5 o'clock position on the buffing wheel, my buffer is on a pedestal and I never wrap my fingers around what I am buffing (good way to lose a finger). I didn't get injured but the knife didn't come out so good.

The buffer threw the knife at the bottom of the wall behind the buffer and broke about 3/8" off the tip of the blade.

I reshaped the tip, nick-named the knife "Shorty" and gave it to my brother. He uses Shorty at the nuclear plant in the instrumentation shop. He tells me Shorty is doing just fine.

I hope you heal up well and quickly.
 
Gad to see that you are still alive. I was buffing a couple of handles the other day and hung on to them like I was trying to squeeze the life out of them. I'm pretty leery around that thing.
 
My schools metalshop has a little artifact to demonstrate the danger of the buffer. Behind the shops buffer is a metal spike someone was polishing for an art project, buried a solid inch into the stud behind them.
 
Mr. Apelt, Can you tell me please where to buy Kevlar gloves. I wear a leather apron and eye protection and put my feet way back from under my buffer but I like the idea of wearing gloves like yours. Thank you, Larry
 
Buffers, belt grinders, bench grinders, angle grinders, forges, torches, all shop machinery is dangerous.
My bet is more people have been injured on drill presses than on buffers.
 
Bill DeShivs said:
Buffers, belt grinders, bench grinders, angle grinders, forges, torches, all shop machinery is dangerous.
My bet is more people have been injured on drill presses than on buffers.
Click to expand...

I'll testify to that. I've helicoptered a part into my knuckles more times than I'd care to admit. Not that I've never thrown anything with a buffer, but it's usually a small part that I get a little careless with.

There may be a part or two that I still haven't found, laying around the shop somewhere....
 
lobo9er said:
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!
Click to expand...

Guess who forgot to put his gloves on this morning making kindling with a BK2... This guy. Wish I took a pic before I wrapped my thumb up it is stitches worthy. But stopped the bleeding and since my BK2 is a razor is made a nice clean cut and has closed up with just some oozing through out the day. I will post a pic later but now that its "closed" and no bleeding it won't do my dumby wound justice. .. Figures though with my petistal wear gloves comment... I did admit some times I regret it not wearing them and this was one of those times.
 
Buffers are possessed by the devil and are just waiting to maim you:D..They really are the most dangerous tool in a knifemaking shop. Drill press can hurt you too, mostly your hands & arms but its not as aipt to sling a blade through your melon as a buffer is..
 
This is only my opinion, but if you consider yourself a knifemaker, polishing a knife should be part of your tool set..
All the talk about how dangerous a tool is is fine, but I think it gets taken overboard with buffers. A lathe or milling machine can tear your arm off, but if you use reasonable care they can be safely used.
Accidents happen. Being smart and realizing what can happen, and modifying your work habits to preclude or minimize injury is what smart people do.
I guess I'm going to have to get Ms. Debbie to video me at the buffer and put it in the buffing thread I started.
 
raw-4_zpsx3dimokh.jpg


Like I said closed up nice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top