My life flashed before my eyes!

calharkins

calharkins

Well-Known Member
I was finishing up a utility knife for my wife on Thursday. It was hollow ground hidden tang blade with a black walnut handle. Everything was going great. The guard was the best one I have ever made. The handle was sanded to 2500 grit. The blade had a mirror finish that I was actually proud of. I wanted to sharpen the blade and then fix any problems on the blade finish before I stained the handle and put on the polyurethane.

I did an initial sharpening grind on my grinder with 220 belt. I then went to the paper wheel with the grit on it. Everything is fine. I then put the the blade on the slotted paper wheel with rouge. The knife would shave my arm better than a razor. I was really proud. Pride goeth before a fall. I had one little area next to the guard that was not quite sharp enough. I put the knife back on the paper wheel and then the wheel grabbed the blade. It snapped the blade off at the handle and flung the spine of the blade into my second finger on my left hand. The blade ricocheted off my finger and flew to parts unknown. My life flashed before my eyes!

I was very very lucky. I was not bleeding anywhere. Like I said, the blade was as sharp as any razor I have ever had my hands on. I could have been killed. I just want everyone to be aware of what can happen with paper wheels.

I am going to get me a thick leather apron. Anyone know of a good source for such an apron?
 
It's not just paper wheels, all of them evil machines in the shop are possessed by demons waiting to get us all!

Seriously though, glad your okay. Seems like it's always that one last little "thing" that gets us. Be careful around all of the spinning/turning machines in the shop.

SDS

PS: I use a welding apron when I'm in the shop. Might not stop a flying projectile, but it ought to slow it down a bit anyway.
 
Cal, glad you're OK. Those paper wheels need to be turn away from you over the top. Does that make sense? If it turns the same direction as a buffer there will be trouble. If you're using a buffer or grinder to run the wheels on, turn it around so it runs the other way and lay the blade on top of it and it can't catch.

Be safe,
Carey
 
Were you running the edge into the oncoming wheel? Yeah, on a sharpening system, run the wheels where the top is spinning away from yourself and the edge pointing in the same direction of the spin.

Glad you're ok. That's scary stuff. I've had a blade tip bite through a belt before, and I've had a knife thrown from my hands with the buffer. It's scary stuff to be sure. I don't use the buffer except on handles and when sharpening now, and I always buff on the lower 1/2 of the wheel.

--nathan
 
I had the blade running with the wheel, not opposing it. The wheel turned down in front of me and I had the edge of the blade turned down. I think it must have caught the tip of the blade some how.

I appreciate everyone's concern. I promise to be more careful. All of you be careful too. It only takes 1/10 of a second for things to turn crazy. Now anyone know of a good source for a THICK leather apron??
 
Another option is a a chainmail apron. They provide better resistance to high speed metal objects than leather does. Weight is not much more ether and fun to make as well
 
Cal, I'm sure glad you are ok, shame about the knife. The knife can be replaced, but you can't.

I made an apron out of a cow hide from a cow we butchered. It's pretty heavy, but very tough.

Larry
 
I'm a relative novice still, but it didn't take too long to learn that there are plenty of dangers in the shop. Any time I use a buffer or paper wheel sharpener, I hold on like my life depends on it (and, arguably, it does). I've torqued my wrist a few times, but never let anything get away from me. It was probably the tip going into the side of the wheel that almost got you this time. I also try to take a step back from the machines when I'm checking the progress... it's real easy to get caught up looking at the knife and overlook your proximity to the machine.
 
Glad your Ok. I lost a blade on a buffer one time, not sure what grabbed what but in a blink of an eye the blade made it around the shop about 14 times taking out everything in its path. I'm fortunate enough it didn't get me.

When using a wheel turning towards you like a normal buffer or grinder stay on the bottom part of the wheel so if something catches it will throw it down and away from you. In my case it pounced off the wall and went flying around the room. Since then I have styrofoam sheets on the wall behind my buffers in hopes if that ever happens again it will not pounce back.
 
Cal, I got my thick leather apron at centaurforge.com. It weighs about 2 lbs covers most of my chest all the way to my knees. IIRC it ran about $45. Glad you are ok! -Matt-
 
Cal, I'd say that rates a Sphincter Factor of about 9.7. :eek: I use a hard felt wheel and I get leery every time I approach that thing.
 
I ordered a extra large apron from Moonshine Leather. The wife says I am a big old boy for my age and that a regular apron is not going to cover me enough:D.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top