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.