In this photo, I am holding a crocheted chain against the buffing wheel. Notice the dangerous things I'm doing. First, I am holding it across the motion of the wheel. The wheel's rotational force can easily pull it from my grasp, possibly wrapping it around the spindle. Also, note that I have the chain's other end wrapped around several of my fingers. At best, if the chain gets caught, It will pull my hand into the buffing wheel. At worst, the hard yank caused by the chain being rapidly pulled tight will amputate my fingers.

Here I am using a smarter method. I have wrapped the chain around a stick. I usually use a wooden dowel I bought for this purpose, but since I couldn't put my hands on it, I used the handle of a hammer. Please note in this picture, I am still doing something wrong though. I have wrapped the chain around the stick with the loose end pointing up. If I were to start buffing this, it would still be yanked down by the power of the wheel.

Here I have reversed the direction of the wrap, so the chain will not get grabbed.

Never wrap the chain around any part of your body because of just this scenario.

Ahh! The pain! So much for my occupation as a silversmith. (It's ketchup--really.)