A method of manufacturing blunt tip surgical needles. Taper point needles
having conventional piercing tips are placed into a vessel containing a
grinding media. The needles are maintained in the vessel for a sufficient
amount of time to convert the piercing point into a blunt. Additionally,
the needles may be separated from the grinding media using a rotating
magnetic drum such that the needles remain engaged with the magnetic drum
while the grinding media is directed away to a collection tray. Needles
are later removed from the magnetic drum.