[Jewelry making - Article 00238] - Re: [Orchid] Bench grinder for polishing tips

[Ian W. Wright]

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>      When polishing a chain or a bracelet always use a piece of
>     leather (about 4" long should be good) from an old belt to hold the
>     chain against.  Also never clasp it closed or wrap your fingers
>     with it to hold it better.... Again,  IF IT GETS AWAY FROM YOU LET
>     IT GO!

    Having seen plenty of people in the cutlery trade missing fingers
    and worse as a result of polishing accidents I would like to
    emphasise the above and say NEVER use cloth, string long belts or
    whatever near a polishing wheel or a lathe and, if you have long
    hair or a long beard, tie it up on top of your head so that it can't
    possibly fall or otherwise protect it so it can't get near the
    wheel. Any of these things can, and probably will at some time, get
    caught by the wheel and will drag you into the wheel and injure you.
    Where you absolutely need to use some form of protection such as for
    heat from the part or if you are polishing something on a lathe, use
    paper - preferably newsprint - as this will tear away and not drag
    you in. Even then you are better to find alternative ways of doing
    your job and should avoid anything loose and floppy. For instance,
    rather than the bit of leather belt recommended above, I use a flat
    wooden stick such as an old emery buff stick to hold the chain and I
    either wrap the chain around it several times or, if I want to buff
    along the length of the chain, I pin the free end securely to the
    wood and stretch the rest of the chain tight along the stick. Its
    not hard to imagine what will happen if the free end of chain gets
    caught and wrapped round the buff spindle while you have the other
    end looped around your hand! Better to spend another 5 minutes
    preparing to work safely than 6 months recovering from an accident
    and another couple of years learning to live with less fingers.
    Think safety. 

Best Wishes
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield  UK

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