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Post by radio on Dec 23, 2016 17:24:51 GMT -5
I escaped with just a sore finger, but thought I would post a reminder to be extra cautious when buffing necklaces and such! For chains, I always wrap them around a piece of wooden dowel rod, but didn't have many options on this twisted barbed wire necklace. I have polished these before with no accidents, but was in a hurry to get this one done for Christmas and pushed the envelope a tad too much. The brush grabbed it and pulled my finger in with it, but I managed to pull free in that split second or it would have been a very bad outcome! This was an expensive mistake! an ounce and a half of sterling, plus about 8 inches of 14 karat gold wire for the 3 barbs
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 23, 2016 17:40:55 GMT -5
Oh damn!! That could have been bad! Great reminder. Sorry about the necklace.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 23, 2016 17:45:17 GMT -5
You got off lucky and its a shame about the piece you were working on . Not going to start in with the safety lessons , we have all had hurry up do something not so smart moments .
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Post by radio on Dec 23, 2016 18:00:19 GMT -5
You got off lucky and its a shame about the piece you were working on . Not going to start in with the safety lessons , we have all had hurry up do something not so smart moments . I've done this for over 20 years and I'm far from careless or over confident, but things can happen to anyone faster than you can react to at 1,800 RPM! I was hand holding the piece and the brush bristles were getting worn down making them stiffer and with more "grab". It is especially important that folks with less time using a buffer see what can happen no matter your experience level. With my experience level, am I embarrassed to post a screwup like this? Absolutely, but it's a teachable moment that if it makes even one person exercise more caution on the buffer and prevent an injury, it is worth every blush and mental ass kicking I gave myself!
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 23, 2016 18:04:57 GMT -5
Agreed 100%
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Post by toiv0 on Dec 23, 2016 18:13:04 GMT -5
Other than wounded pride a damaged piece is small price to pay to have all your digits intact. I am glad your not hurt. I have a very powerful commercial buffer which I picked up on a jewelry mill closing. I never where long sleeves and keep my beard away from spinning parts there would be no give with my 1 hp motor. I wish I would have bought the commercial tumblers also.
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Post by wigglinrocks on Dec 23, 2016 19:03:51 GMT -5
I saw your picture toivO , you must have long arms to keep that beard away from spinning parts
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Post by orrum on Dec 23, 2016 19:51:02 GMT -5
U r blessed wire good luck!
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Post by radio on Dec 23, 2016 20:06:16 GMT -5
Other than wounded pride a damaged piece is small price to pay to have all your digits intact. I am glad your not hurt. I have a very powerful commercial buffer which I picked up on a jewelry mill closing. I never where long sleeves and keep my beard away from spinning parts there would be no give with my 1 hp motor. I wish I would have bought the commercial tumblers also. I have a unit almost identical to that in my main shop at home. The less powerful one I was working on is in my shop at the craft mall, but at 1/4 hp, still powerful enough it would break a wrist and hardly slow down. try using leather fingertip covers sometime instead of gloves
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Post by Pat on Dec 23, 2016 20:20:13 GMT -5
I polish chains in a little vibrating tumbler. Works. Stainless steel shot, with a drop of Dawn and some water.
I've heard that if polished on a buffer, to wind the chain around a water bottle. They gave grooves to hold chain sections in place.
Glad you were quick.
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Post by spiceman on Dec 23, 2016 20:33:26 GMT -5
Having all your fingers is a plus. So...what did you learn from that?
Glad everything still attached.
Try a dremel it might be safer, maybe.
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Post by radio on Dec 23, 2016 20:34:26 GMT -5
I polish chains in a little vibrating tumbler. Works. Stainless steel shot, with a drop of Dawn and some water. I've heard that if polished on a buffer, to wind the chain around a water bottle. They gave grooves to hold chain sections in place. Glad you were quick. I sometimes use a tumbler and steel shot, but many times just wind the chain around a 1 inch wooden dowel and polish them with Zam. still have to be very cautious about the ends though.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,687
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Post by Fossilman on Dec 23, 2016 20:38:40 GMT -5
OUCH!!!!!!!! Glad the outcome was just bent material!!
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Post by radio on Dec 23, 2016 20:46:38 GMT -5
OUCH!!!!!!!! Glad the outcome was just bent material!! Yep! after flipping the switch, i had to look at my fingers a couple of times in disbelief they were all still attached and relatively unscathed! the worst part was having to explain to the lady that her necklace was not going to be ready by Christmas
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Dec 24, 2016 4:38:52 GMT -5
Don't be embarrassed. If this can stop another person from doing similar or worse then this post has been useful. I almost lost half of my left index finger to a table saw doing something I knew I should have set up properly but it was the last cut. Kicked myself for months over that, still do now 3 years later. Even with plastic surgery I still don't have much feeling down one side or the tip, but otherwise still have full use of it.
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Post by toiv0 on Dec 24, 2016 5:34:37 GMT -5
Don't be embarrassed. If this can stop another person from doing similar or worse then this post has been useful. I almost lost half of my left index finger to a table saw doing something I knew I should have set up properly but it was the last cut. Kicked myself for months over that, still do now 3 years later. Even with plastic surgery I still don't have much feeling down one side or the tip, but otherwise still have full use of it. Friend of mine used to keep the tip of his finger in the freezer, lost it this time of year making rustic picture frames.
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metalsmith
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 1,537
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Post by metalsmith on Dec 24, 2016 11:44:19 GMT -5
Congrats on the close shave and lucky escape. For polishing chains, not far different to winding round dowel is to use a card - even in a tumbler, to prevent knots, or on a buffer using a similar sized wafer of wood for the added rigidity.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 24, 2016 12:22:48 GMT -5
Yes, I think we all have tempted fate a few more times than we should have. It's always good to see a reminder. Having said that.... I did a dumb thing this morning. I was using a muslin polish wheel on the foredom and polishing a flat piece while it laid on some cardboard. I was in a huge hurry and didn't want my hands to be black. Sure enough, even though I was super careful, the wheel caught the edge and it started to go airborne. Only quick thinking and a foot pedal kept it from hurting someone or something. I was stupid.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2016 16:25:34 GMT -5
radioArlen,safety lessons are always good to share. We can learn from your experiences. Thank you. Super glad you are still entire. Embarrassment not required.
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icatz
spending too much on rocks
Member since October 2015
Posts: 453
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Post by icatz on Dec 27, 2016 6:56:32 GMT -5
I've had some close calls with just the dremel. Got it too close to my pants and it grabbed them up. Running around screaming is not effective. I've also mashed up some ring bands when cleaning the inside of the shank -- I'm not holding tight enough and suddenly it's turning into modern art on the spin shaft as it gets eaten up. Luckily, none of the events ever resulted in injury.
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