Devonshire

John, Thanks for the detailed response! When asking about guard removal, I should have been clearer that I meant in the context of a fabric buffing wheel, not a grinding wheel. Lots of buffers appear to operate in the open and different wheel sizes would give you different inches per minute for that operation, just wondered if there would be any benefit to moving off 6" as the machine has the swing for it. I do have a very clear idea of the risks inherent in stones that give way while travelling at ~3500 rpm, so no, it was not ever my intention to run a stone wheel unguarded. No worries on that score. :-) - Bob

Steve, Thanks! That would have been my thought coming in to this, but after searching older posts, I think I was seeing some debate about that. Concerns seemed to center more on keeping the wheel from catching the workpiece and flinging it at you (while simultaneously entangling gloves...), than the usual concern about not getting yourself caught up in rotating equipment. Just trying to figure out what gets the job done safely... - Bob

I usually research things into the ground before acting, but there's a "possibility" that I may have gone a bit light on this one. :-) So.. I now have what I have (a 3.5A, 3500rpm 6" grinder), and if you have advice on how best to make-use-of while minimizing risk, I'd appreciate that. Yes, I wish I'd bought something different... My intention is to try my hand at making blades for spokeshaves and wooden planes out of 1084. Maybe knives in the future, but the aforementioned woodworking blades are the focus right now. I have a Worksharp and am setting up both a Taig Mill and Lathe for general use, so I think that with the addition of files, those can cover me for primary shaping of the blades, as well as finish sharpening. Which (I think...) leaves me with both cleaning scale off (w/wire wheel?), and buffing (w/cotton/sisal wheels). Agree/Disagree? This is a 6" grinder (pic attached), and from other posts here, I think I should remove the guards. Agree/Disagree? (Fyi: I intend to wear gloves). I do understand that the workpiece needs to be held between 3 o'clock and 5 o'clock on the wheel. Standard advice seems to be to mount grinders on a post rather than a bench. Agree/Disagree? The default is of course to use 6" wheels. But...the grinder has enough height to use 8" wheels if the guards are off. Or, I suppose I could use 4" wheels. Work area vs. inches per minute. What diameter do you think might be best? From other posts I see here, I think I should be mounting the blades on a board for buffer/grinder operations. It's not like plane and spokeshave blades have much of a handle... Agree/Disagree? I do understand that flying buffing compound is not great for the lungs or the general basement shop area, so I need a face shield (during Covid? sourcing might take a while...), respirator mask, etc. Maybe even just do the work outside? Thoughts? Anything else? Thanks in advance for any help with this! - Bob