Thread: Variable Speed Buffer Build/Speed Kills/Part One

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Well I'll probably kick myself in the arse for this but how about as Rusty and Crusty as You are

You're right, start practicing kicking yourself in the butt.

Well here's a little to tell about my Homemade Variable speed Buffer. While as I've posted I've played with it a little with non razors and razor scales but today my son and I loaded the 'semi portable' buffer into the back of my Jeep Cherokee and took it to my friend 'Bill' for his evaluation.

Bill operates the oldest Radiator Repair Shop in the Valley his father started out with an Auto Body and Radiator repair business back in the 40's and then decided to specialize in radiators.

Bill has built so many 'hot rods' including his son's 1952 Chevy with Jaguar Suspension (and was featured in Car Craft Magazine) Please Note: Bill's son started out working on the car with his father when he was 10 or 12 years old and the project was done right before he turned 16 and his son still owns the car.

Anyway I'd backed up to the shop and walked in and being a Monday he was up to his ass in alligators but once off the phone etc he asked what was up; I told him that I'd brought 'Show and Tell' he asked if it was 'Sharp' hehehe He knows of me and straights. I told him no and we walked outside as I went to raise the hatch he saw the buffer through the back glass and said "Where did you find that buffer"? I waited until the hatch was fully opened and said "I made it", Bill wanted know more and I'd brought an extension cord went into the shop and plugged it in and then turned it on. It was at the lowest speed so I turned it off and rolled the belts to the next pulley turned it back on and did so for the other two speeds.

He Loved It!!! He complimented on the design how the step pulleys provided such versatility, the 4" spiral wound buffing pads and how much safer it was then the way he'd been polishing stainless for years!

To have Bill complement me on not only the engineering but how well finished it was and worked really made my day!

NOW!

MattB sent two heavy razors and some scales to use for testing my buffer!

I can't wait to play!!!

Matt! I thank you for your very generous gift! :

Stay Tuned

Wullie didn't mention it but he's poster man for Preparation H.

Here are some photos of making a Cereal Box compound splatter catcher I wrote about a few months ago. I was in the middle of a move and just got the shop back up and running.

Take a cereal box and put it over the wheel, mark height of the shaft, now flip the box and mark the shaft height on the other side. This is how you will use the box to load both sides of the buffer.

I have 3 different brands of buffers, so I made the cut just a bit higher so it will work on all my buffers.

Then mark the box just a little deeper than the shaft when the box is half way over the wheel.

Connect all your marks and cut a little larger with a scissor.

Slide the box over the wheel just past half way and apply the compound to the wheel, 95 percent of the compound splatter will go into the box.

I load 2 wheels of the same grit at time, so while I am using one the other is drying. I hand tighten the nuts so I can quick change the wheels, I also mark the grit size on the side of the wheel, make sure your label is higher than your retaining washer, so you can read the grit rating.

The last photo shows all the splatter in the box. Should the box catch the wheel it will just tear apart, though I have used this trick for a couple of years without an incident, works great.

That is a good solution! Thank you!
~Richard

Originally Posted by engine46

Wullie didn't mention it but he's poster man for Preparation H.

I think you are going to be getting through a tub-load of Prep H once Wullie sees this... (I hope he sells tickets...)

Regards,
Neil

That's a great build and set up Roy hat's off you sure know your stuff.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

I think you are going to be getting through a tub-load of Prep H once Wullie sees this... (I hope he sells tickets...)

Regards,
Neil

He should have seen it a long time ago when I wrote it! That was way back in August! I was joking around with hi at the time. He didn't reply to some of my pms after that so I thought he was paying me back then. Its been so long ago, I don't remember why I wrote it but I think it was one of the pics he had posted as an avatar. You know how he changes them!

Originally Posted by engine46

He should have seen it a long time ago when I wrote it! That was way back in August! I was joking around with hi at the time. He didn't reply to some of my pms after that so I thought he was paying me back then. Its been so long ago, I don't remember why I wrote it but I think it was one of the pics he had posted as an avatar. You know how he changes them!

Right enough!

His present avator reminds me of my own dear granma, but she smoked prper cigarettes, not sissie littl thin ones like in Wullies pic.

Regards,
Neil

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Right enough!

His present avator reminds me of my own dear granma, but she smoked prper cigarettes, not sissie littl thin ones like in Wullies pic.

Regards,
Neil

Wullie had to have seen that when I posted it. He knows I'm funning' with him! He's a great guy to know & don't let those crazy pics fool ya, he's pretty knowledgable!!! We're talking' about ya Wullie................