Thread: Buffing wheel question

Some advice needed on buffing wheels.
I have the cloth wheels, and several different compounds.
I was messing with an emery compound last night on a vintage golf club, followed by some Mothers billet polish. It really raised alot of black oxidation off the club head, turned the buffer dark black. Is this now unusable for blades? Is there any way to 'clean' the wheel?

Yes, there is a tool called a buffing rake.

I use small wheels on a dremel and I don't have a rake, but I use the back of a scrap granite tile. It cleans it right up. The compounds do glaze so periodic cleaning or raking is necessary.

Originally Posted by bill3152

I use small wheels on a dremel and I don't have a rake, but I use the back of a scrap granite tile. It cleans it right up. The compounds do glaze so periodic cleaning or raking is necessary.

For those size wheels, the edge of a file is what I've used, but I like the idea of recycled tiles. The wheel rakes can be pretty aggressive. All that's needed is something a little toothy to cut through the compound glaze and break it up. Eventually the wheels will wear down but the cleaning process keeps them in action longer than tossing them in the trash.

I think there are two types of wheel rake, one with strips of steel like crocs teeth and one like a stiff wire brush. The brush is much less aggressive.

I sometimes use an old glaziers tool for getting old putty off window frames. It looks like a knife with a thick, stout blade with a bit of leather rvetted both sides for a handle - works really well, kind of like a tiles edge a file, but no chance of shattering.

All of the above have a pretty explosive effect on wheels treated with redhead glue and rolled in abrasive grit - the first time I tried this it was like pebble dashing myself.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I think there are two types of wheel rake, one with strips of steel like crocs teeth and one like a stiff wire brush. The brush is much less aggressive.

I sometimes use an old glaziers tool for getting old putty off window frames. It looks like a knife with a thick, stout blade with a bit of leather rvetted both sides for a handle - works really well, kind of like a tiles edge but no chance of shattering.

Regards,
Neil

Wow bringing back memories....
I still have my glazing knife and some glazing, I wonder if you can still buy glazing.

As above the edge of a basterd file works great.

Originally Posted by pfries

Wow bringing back memories....
I still have my glazing knife and some glazing, I wonder if you can still buy glazing.

You certainly can - I had to replace a pane only the other week (a 'locked the keys indoors' moment). Fresh putty is still the same as it used to be, too runny. The linseed oil in it smells great, though.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

You certainly can - I had to replace a pane only the other week (a 'locked the keys indoors' moment). Fresh putty is still the same as it used to be, too runny. The linseed oil in it smells great, though.

Regards,
Neil

Back in the day we had a beautifull English Tudor Home,550 individual panes of glass,I became very adept at glass cutting and window pane replacement.Had to source old glass as new Glass sticks out like a sore thumb in a 100 yr old house.
At any rate I used latex based glazing compound,far more user friendly.

I'm sure you already know this, but one compound per wheel for best results.