Thread: What do you think of this bench grinder as a buffer?

Take the guards off and put some 8" cotton wheels on it and it should work just fine I would think.
I am not going to be polishing hundreds of razors so I am not going to invest in a Baldor.

http://m.sears.com/wen-8-inch-slow-s...p-00947634000P

Slow is good, but by mounting 8" wheels you'd be increasing the effective speed at the edge of the wheel. Probably a good idea to do some match to figure out if staying with smaller wheels would be the way to go.

EDIT: Just realized I'm an idiot and that it's already 8" Sheesh. However, on the same theme, you could slow it down too with 6" wheels.

I have not seen a grinder built for that low of speeds before. So the fact that it is a 1750 is a good thing. You will need to extend the shafts out so it is not so tight of a work space. Otherwise it looks alright.

Many of us have used the Harbor Freight 6 in buffer for years, used to be 30 buck now they are 40, but go on sale all the time. A true buffer is safer, smaller housing and longer spindles.

The speed is not an issue with 4 in wheels.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Many of us have used the Harbor Freight 6 in buffer for years, used to be 30 buck now they are 40, but go on sale all the time. A true buffer is safer, smaller housing and longer spindles.

The speed is not an issue with 4 in wheels.

Thats the one I originally had my eyes on but wasn't sure. After reading the thread with Glen talking about using brass tumbler for polishing the blades I am thinking that may be the safest route and just hand sand from 180-320 grit or so.

Yea, Glen has a 7 day set of HP buffers, photos are somewhere, try the Workshop…

All methods have pluses and minuses. Tumblers are rough on detail. As can a buffer.
In the end, most of us, use all methods, I hand sand, and buff and hand polish.

Like with most things in this hobby, you do what the blade needs. There is no one, or best way…

If you do go with the grinder as a buffer, I'd advise using smaller diameter buffing pads - 3" is about right, if you want to get into the hollow ground area. This is especially the case if you use greaseless compounds.

I've been using one of these with very satisfactory results:

Foredom M.BL Bench Lathe

Originally Posted by sqzbxr

I've been using one of these with very satisfactory results:

Foredom M.BL Bench Lathe

That's a nice little buffer but it's more money than I want to spend right now.