Thread: Greaseless polishing compound?

Most of the Baldor’s,(top of the line), run at 1700, Harbor Freight sells a 6 inch buffer that many of us have that sell for around 30 bucks, and runs at 3400 rpm. I have both and a no name buffer, that also runs at 3400. All 3 perform exactly the same. Baldor’s are about 10 times the cost of a HF.

Use 4 inch wheels and you will be fine. HF sells a cast iron stand, on sale for about $30, that I have thought about picking up, but I always seem to need, to put something down near the buffer, so I use a workbench.

I cover it and the back stop in cardboard and just vacuum the mess, (polishing dust). I made a splatter guard from a cereal box that contains, the spin off, when loading the wheels, there is a post on it somewhere, there are tons of buffing post.

As said Castwell is the go to for supplies. I mostly use 600 and 400 greaseless, though I have all the grits, I do use various greased compounds. Do buy quality wheels.

Name brand quality compounds are not much more, so I buy the name brand, and they come in larger sticks so are really cheaper, in the long run.

As said there is a learning curve, so be careful. I remove the edge off any blade with a diamond file, that I work on, especially buffing.

For buffing, you are better off with 1700 rpm. The 3400 rpm buffers are too fast unless you use small wheels. Caswell also sells a 1200 rpm buffer.

Make sure that you read the buffing safety information page on the Caswell site. Please study and understand the concept of the safe and danger zones.

Caswells has all the info right there in their Faq sheets

RPM is only a small part of the Equation,, the important part is what is called SFPM the polishing compounds have a recommended SFPM also

We tend to use smaller wheels for razors to get into the hollows a 4" wheel is the largest I use personally, so you have to start figuring SFPM
Be cognizant that going too slow on polishing compounds does nothing good to the steel Greaseless is a different formula..



Surface Feet Per Minute

Great info here. Thanks guys. I was looking at the small one at HF but I was also thinking that the speed was kind of fast. Guess I was guessing correct. But with some care I bet it will work. Not too sure what way I'm going to go but something smaller and cheaper sounds like what I need sense it will get used very little. I'll wait to see what else is said and do some more homework.

I looked up SFPM and then checked out the greaseless compound at Caswell. Didn't see anything that said what is recommended as far as SFPM with there compounds. But I'm guessing you all have figured this out already. And 1700RPM with 4" wheel is what is needed. Unless some money drops in my lap in the next couple weeks I don't think I'll be buying a Caswell. Just too much of an investment for something that is not going to be used much at all. I'll have to look for other options, unfortunately. I'd love to have the best in tools but its just not feasible for my use.

I'll keep looking around to see if I can find something a bit cheaper and try for the 1700rpm's. Bummer. I hate to settle for something less! Thanks for the information and letting me know what is best for the job.

Check the second hand shops. It is amazing how cheap they sell used tools in those places.
Also I think 1700 is the best speed but most of us are buffing at 3450. The only time I am buffing slower is when I am buffing with a drill in a vice. It is effective for the polishing cakes but not really for the greaseless. Also 3" wheels are really nice, I have 3" wheels on an extension. It gives me a lot of room.