Buffing Damaging Stem

[d.huber]

Why would a buffing wheel cause knicks to occur at the tip of the button and on the edge of the flare? I've not had this issue with these wheels before and am pretty befuddled and frustrated by it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Note: I was able to buff an entire pipe and stem before noticing the issue. There aren't any knicks anywhere else. I sanded the knicks on the stem out, thinking I had missed something earlier and when I took the stem back to the buffer, those hard edges got torn up again, but nothing else seems to be receiving damage. Is this operator error?

[Ocelot55]

Is there something caught in the wheel?

[caskwith]

I would start by checking the wheel, it is all too easy for a piece of swarf to get embedded in the wheel and cause just the kind of problem you are mentioning.

[d.huber]

Checked both wheels that seemed to be causing an issue. After exploring the wheels one sheet at a time, I found one granule per buff of material that was near the inside of the wheel, so I doubt that would be problematic.

However, separating each sheet, I think I know the problem. Please tell me if this sounds wrong.

A few pipes ago, I was buffing in a tough to reach spot and accidentally held part of the stem to the outside of the spinning buffing wheel and the same effect was created. I wonder if I'm pushing too hard into the wheel to buff around these tall points on the stem and am inadvertently rubbing them against the sides of the buffing sheets.

Would that cause the issue I've described?

[LAH]

I've had the same problem in the same areas that your describing before with my tripoli wheel. I think my problem was being a little too aggressive and buffing against the edges. Now when I'm buffing the button or any other hard line, I buff following edge or I'll buff with the wheel coming off of the edge at a slight angle, versus having the buffing wheel going into the edge. If that makes sense. My buffing speed for the tripoli wheel is around 1800rpm.


Abe

[Sasquatch]

Slow 'er down on those fine edges.

One possibility is that you are fracturing something as you file or drill or whatever - this happens with acrylic quite easily. So maybe it's close to broken and then you finish it by hitting it with the wheel at high speed.

[The Smoking Yeti]

All possibilities. I've scratched/ gashed my pipe on the edges before too, and a while back my white diamond wheel was leaving itty bitty scratches on the finish. To fix that, I just re-broke in my wheel- with sand paper etc. then re-applied the compound.

[Sasquatch]

Sandpaper?

I wouldn't put sandpaper anywhere near my wheels for fear of the grit getting lodged.

[d.huber]

I've had the same problem in the same areas that your describing before with my tripoli wheel. I think my problem was being a little too aggressive and buffing against the edges. Now when I'm buffing the button or any other hard line, I buff following edge or I'll buff with the wheel coming off of the edge at a slight angle, versus having the buffing wheel going into the edge. If that makes sense. My buffing speed for the tripoli wheel is around 1800rpm.


Abe

I think so. How do you approach the bit behind the button without rubbing the button against the edges? Same question for a stem flare.

Thanks for all the responses!

[andrew]

The side of the wheel can cause the damage you are seeing. It can vary from looking burned to nicked depending on how you do it.

[caskwith]

Sandpaper?

I wouldn't put sandpaper anywhere near my wheels for fear of the grit getting lodged.

Same here!

[d.huber]

It looks like rubbing against the side of the wheel is most likely the culprit. Thanks a lot for all the responses!

[LAH]

I've had the same problem in the same areas that your describing before with my tripoli wheel. I think my problem was being a little too aggressive and buffing against the edges. Now when I'm buffing the button or any other hard line, I buff following edge or I'll buff with the wheel coming off of the edge at a slight angle, versus having the buffing wheel going into the edge. If that makes sense. My buffing speed for the tripoli wheel is around 1800rpm.


Abe

I think so. How do you approach the bit behind the button without rubbing the button against the edges? Same question for a stem flare.

Thanks for all the responses!

I'll have the button and behind the button sanded to 800 grit, then I just buff that in the middle of the wheel. That seems to clean up the scratches quickly and just slightly softens the edge of the button. With the flare I'll use the edge of the wheel and just angling it enough so the stem isn't hitting the side of the wheel. It's rather hard to explain in words (well at least for me it is).

Abe

[BigCasino]

Could you use a tighter buff so your button doesn't sink so far in to it?

[d.huber]

I'll have the button and behind the button sanded to 800 grit, then I just buff that in the middle of the wheel. That seems to clean up the scratches quickly and just slightly softens the edge of the button. With the flare I'll use the edge of the wheel and just angling it enough so the stem isn't hitting the side of the wheel. It's rather hard to explain in words (well at least for me it is).

Abe

Thanks for the tip! I think I understand what you're getting at. The distressing thing about the whole thing was that it's never happened before and I haven't perceived any change in the way I buff or in the buffs themselves. I'll report back if the issue continues, which it hopefully won't.

[d.huber]

Could you use a tighter buff so your button doesn't sink so far in to it?

The buffs I'm using are the Beall System buffs, which, as I understand it, are fairly standard for pipe makers. I really think it's a matter of getting used to the new buffs and making sure I'm not doing anything that could damage the material that I'm buffing. Your suggestion isn't out of the question, though. Any other thoughts about this idea?

[caskwith]

Hmmm maybe buffing for my next video.

[Sasquatch]

Wear those chaps in this one big guy.

[caskwith]

Wear those chaps in this one big guy.

And get banned from youtube........again.

[d.huber]

So... I went to buff my PITH pipe last night... Everything is going great with the browl tripoli wheel. The stem is shining up nicely, things are looking good. Buff the stummel and I'm getting a nice shine. Buffing the saddle and the transition between shank and saddle... a single deep scratch suddenly appears on the saddle. Just one.

In addition, the transition which was perfectly smooth before I began buffing now has a ridge. Imagine if the briar shrunk and the saddle expanded just a little.

What is going on?

I buffed the Snub Nosed Dog Fish without issue. No scratches, no fit or finish issues. Huh?