[TheForge] TheForge Digest, Vol 130, Issue 8

[Steve Rollert via TheForge]

  OK as a blade smith of 35 years and one who constantly tells my students that the buffer is the most dangerous machine in the shop.  I will tell you that I strongly suspect that the buffer caught a sharp corner or possible the edge or point of the blade.  When a soft buff catches a blade it will often hold onto the blade and as this happens so very fast ,  we as the operator seldom can let go of the blade quick enough.  The blade when captured by the buff can and often does travel around the arc of the wheel being released by the wheel as it travels back at us. It is entirely conceivable the the blade could have traveled up into his heart.  I have had one of my knife maker friends ( name withheld because I don't have his permission) who had one of his large fantasy Bowies grabbed by the buffer, carried around the wheel, and thrust into his groin brushing against the femoral artery, but not cutting it.  He had taken the precaution of placing his address on a sign right over his wall phone, yes he actually has a wall phone , with a sign stating  " call 911" .  A passerby heard his screams and came to help, saw him laying on the floor and freaked out.  But because he had the sign over his phone the good Samaritan was able to follow the instructions and summon help having the address posted in front of him.  Most folks lose upper brain function during an adrenalin dump.  So printed out instructions can be a life saver.  I was a medic for 22 years, had one patient mad at us when he could not get 119 to pick up.  In his anxious moment he had reversed the numbers and dialed if half a dozen times, frustrated he called a friend who told him to cal 911 instead.
  I always tell my students to purchase less than 1 hp lower speed ( 1720 RPM or less) buffers.  I am as guilty as the next tool hound of thinking that bigger is better, but the bigger the motor and the larger the wheel the greater the force that it can exercise in taking blades or for that matter anything from us and throwing it back at us with extreme force.
  When buffing NEVER present the wheel with a corner, point or edge that it can grab.  ALWAYS buff the trailing edge and side , then flip the work over and do the half that was up .  Sorry if that is not clear.
  Now, may I ask if anyone has done anything to help his family?  Is it possible that we as a group could do something ?  I am willing to pitch in.  


Trusting HIM,
Steve Rollert

Training Knives - keenedgeknives.com
Custom Knives - doveknives.com



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