I was going to go with a 6" from Harbor Freight but the RPMs are a bit too high. Can anybody recommend a low speed buffer?
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I was going to go with a 6" from Harbor Freight but the RPMs are a bit too high. Can anybody recommend a low speed buffer?
Have you considered using 4" wheels on it?
Would the 4" wheels be safer to use with it at such a high rpm?Quote:
Originally Posted by Utopian
Check out one of the 1750 RPM models. Remember that the buffer is likely the most dangerous machine in your shop and the fast ones more so. A couple of months back , a knife maker in Alaska had one snatch a blue out of his had and it stuck it right in his heart. He was dead before he hit the floor, as they say.
Anyplace you would recommend looking for one of those models?
And yes the thought of a blade flying at me at high speeds has crossed my mind. I'll be wearing my welding apron lol.
I have a Baldor which is not the cheap way to go by any stretch of the imagination.Think $450-500 on a good day. Even Grizzlys start in the mid $300 range!!!! The 6 inch models that Harbor Freight has for $40 are all 3500 rpm. I have heard of some people converting a standard bench grinder. The variable speed ones go down to below 2000 runm from what i have been told. the only problem is covering them and the fact that they probably don't have the horsepower of a comparable dedicated buffer.
And yes the thought of a blade flying at me at high speeds has crossed my mind. I'll be wearing my welding apron lol.[/QUOTE]
If you work with 4 or 3 inch wheels, you can basically buy cheap and not worry. small wheels -> low speed of the buffing surface.
A 3" wheel on a 3000 rpm axle goes just as fast as a 6" wheel on a 1500 rpm axle.
I bought the cheapest I could find at 80 euros or something like that.
The fact that they are underpowered is actually a good feature because if they snag, nothing bad will happen.
There is a two speed available at big box stores, for around $80. Delta, I think. Comes with a light on a flex shaft.
The Foredom is small, infinitely variable and ideal for small parts (like razors). Not $39. :)
Foredom Buffer - Donna Kato PolyClay - Claying Tools and Accessories
Just to explain this further: a cheap and low powered buffer can still grip your hand or workpiece. But instead of ripping out your thumb (someone in Traveller's workshop) or slicing off a flap of finger (was this Alex or Joe?) or throwing a knife right at the sausage and beans (I forgot his name but he was a member here) or apparently stabbing you through the heart, they will go 'clunk' and while they can still scratch you bad, they will not maim, dismember or kill you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno
Read it again !!!
Razor work is all about a gentle slow approach, Pressure =Heat way more then speed,, a 1/4 hp unit that you can actually stop the wheel with too much pressure is not a bad thing at all...
To be perfectly honest, a number of simple buffing tasks like polishing up wood or Micarta scales/handles after you have sanded them to an appropriate grit can actually be done with a higher speed variable speed drill and a 4 inch wheel clamped into a vice......and it will still try to grab small parts!!!!! With that said, i would look at some of Charlie's videos. He built himself a pretty neat belt driven buffing setup. A guy that I know in Belgium uses a similar two ended one with buff wheels on one spindle and a fine Scotch guard flap wheel ion the other. For blades, he goes straight from the 400 or maybe 600 grit belt with a graphite cloth backing on the platen to the flap wheel and then the buff with white compound.
Equivalent at HF is about USD $39 or less with coupon. Mine has run for three years doing some things with the shaft and some with the scratch pad at the other end/ Tapered spindles are found cheaply on line to fit it. and some two and three inch wheels are great for our use.Quote:
Originally Posted by MisterMoo
Bench Grinder with Flex Shaft
~Richard
Many of us have used the HF 6 in buffers for years, with 4 in wheels, mine is several years old. I do also have a 1800 rpm Baldor as well and they deliver the same performance as the HF and can be just as dangerous.
Pressure is key and thinking about what you are about to do, before you do it.
Castwell’s is where I buy quality wheels and greasless compounds for all 3 buffers. They also have a good buffing tutorial.
This is the one I use and it works super
Baldor 1/4HP 1800 RPM Buffer 115 VAC/60Hz - Buffing Machines - Buffing/Polishing - Caswell Inc
You may need all the wheel sizes 3",4",6", rarely 8" for the greaseless compounds.
Incident free operation one can achieve by paying attention to pressure applied with the blade to the wheel, too much and the razor will fly.
Another factor in reducing the risk of a buffer related accident is where you buff on the wheel (lower half) and what is behind and under the machine. I recall that Ed Fowler covers the floor under his buffer with his old grinding belts to reduce the chance of a blade that gets loose bouncing up. I have also seen guys built guards from plywood, etc.
The Baldors are top of the heap, but as you can see, there is a pretty significant sticker shock involved even with the smallest ones. I have the 1 HP version of that 1750 RPM machine and it cost more than that 7 years ago!!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
Edit. Someone posted a question asking about a Caswell buffing kit which comes with a 3/4 hp low speed 1100 RPM buffer, wheels, compounds bars and accessories for $299. that might be worth a look.
One of the Old Timers uses a quilted moving blanket behind and below his buffer! Good idea and would be a real benefit at clean up! Remove it and fold all the crud inside.
~Richard
I use painter's tarp, all the junk folds nicely in and is easy to dispose of.Quote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
I do the same thing with a large thick piece of cardboard, creased and folded to fit the corners, below and behind the buffer about 30 inches highQuote:
Originally Posted by Geezer
When not in use fold it up and slides behind the tool boxes.
When I was building my variable speed buffer the man who was of so much help provided me with this information. I hope it helps you; I've put the important part in bold;Quote:
Originally Posted by scag315
Roy, take this little formula to figure your speed:
rpm of motor divided by the diameter of the pulley.
Use this as an example.
1750 rpm divided by 6" pulley=291
291rpm divided by 3" pulley = 97 rpm
A 10 inch wheel will run 97 rpm. So will a 6 inch wheel.
The surface speed is a different matter though. You might want to drop down to a smaller wheel:
A 10" wheel at 97 rpm is running 3,048 inches per minute.
A 6" wheel at 97 rpm is running 1,828 inches per minute
Formula to figure surface speeds of wheels:
10" x 3.1416 x 97 = surface inches per minute.
6" x 3.1416 x 97 = surface inches per minute.
I ended up using 4" wheels and love them! :y
I usually use 4", but I have some 2" wheels that are really nice for using greaseless on hollow grounds.
The smallest wheels I have found that fit on my Baldor are 3", very handy for very hollow blades. Even they can be too big sometimes, then I use my Dremel.Quote:
Originally Posted by BeJay