Thread: Crocus finish or Satin?

Concerning the wood wheels encased by leather, there are generally 2 types.



The more easy type is that a leather strap is glued along the circumference of the wood wheel.

The leather should be soft and elastic. Thickness of the leathers straps normally is between 2 and 5 mm, but I have also seen wheels with leather up to 1 cm thickness.



Of course at wheels with a small diameter, such as used for razor polishing, the leather is thinner.



The more complex wheels consist of an inner wood wheel and leather stripes are glued edgewise on the circumference.



The leather stripes are (partly) wedge-shape to give a better stability.



The speed of the polishing wheels depends on the wheel sizes. Generally lower diameter requires higher speed. In old procedure instructions, the recommendations for small wheels under 3’’ diameter is in a range between 3000 and 3500 rpm. For larger wheels of over 10’’ the speed should be below 2000 rpm.

I personally use a bit lower speed values. The motor that drives the transmission has 1425 rpm and considering the different speed regulations from different transmission belt wheels I will end up somehow between 1200 and 2000 rpm most of the time.