Thread: 2000 grit sandpaper scratches

Originally Posted by Genco_Glider

Thanks! I see that I have to turn on the buffing wheel and hold the stick to it, thus letting the compound transfer that way

Yes that's the way to do it.

There are different styles of wheel, too. The most common ones I see are stitched tightly together and almost like felt, they're so dense. I would stay away from these with a delicate razor. They're more for car bumpers (heh) or something heavier than a razor anyway.

Look for the 'loosest' wheel you can find. My favorite for the delicate work looks like fifty round sheets of cloth that are only stitched near the center. It should deform easily and even at full speed you should be able to poke the wheel with a knuckle and it doesn't burn or hurt.

As you know, they're just like strops - once you put compound on a wheel you have to stick with that compound or coarser, you can't go finer. So get a couple different wheels.

A fast way to clean a packed-up wheel is to use one of the thick disposable contractor blades (the kind that go in a utility knife). Swipe it over the running wheel and you should get loads of cotton fluff and rouge flying off the wheel, but it freshens it right up.

Originally Posted by johnny_angel

My favorite for the delicate work looks like fifty round sheets of cloth that are only stitched near the center.

If the wheels you describe are properly dressed, they surface transforms into an amazingly fluffy cotton cloud turning it into a true buffing wonder. I have a wheel dresser that's a two handled wood tool with a jagged metal plate fixed to it (like a multi-row jagged comb). You touch that to the new wheel and it turns the wheel into what it's supposed to be. Really cool.

Sisal wheels are recommended for the coarser compounds like Emery (Black). Instead of fabric, Sisal for those not yet in the know is like that beige colored rough twine you used to find on bales of hay. Sisal wheels are what I use for initial cleaning and with black compound, really helps with the more significant scratches.

Chris L