Thread: Middle of the road buffer

There is a lot of talk in the workshop about Dremel tools and full size buffers. I like to use something that falls in the middle. I have do not feel comfortable using a Dremel on blades and a buffer well (lets just say I have become attached to my fingers and would like to keep them that way). I like to use tapered arbor on a motor or on my lathe with small buffs. The small diameter buffs and lowish rpms make for a low feet per minute on the surface of the buff. A tapered arbor on an old electric motor makes for a fine, safe abet a little slow buffer. It is the feet per minute that the surface of the wheel that matters not the rpm of the motor.

Charlie

That looks like the spindle & buff size that Wacker uses on his razors.

I use exactly the same setup, except that I invested in a double-ended buffer. (couldn't find a decent, second-hand motor on a short-term basis where I live)

By the way, big hats off to you for your methodology. Your buffing wheels are labeled for which compound they are to be used with and they are also kept segregated and clean in separate plastic bags (I use tupperware-style plastic tubs, but same idea).

Since getting my setup I only very, very seldom reach for a hand rotary tool (à la Dremel).

Cool! Very cool! Charlie, I love pretty much everything you do. There's something special in that noggin of yours.

Curious--What kind of RPMs are we talking here? And how big are you wheels? Could I use a big power drill for something similar? The Dremel stuff is so fast, it scares me...

Ignatz,

Thanks for the compliments it is one of the few things in my shop that is organized in a proper fashion.

Jim,

The buffs are about 1.5 and 3 inches. I have two motors a 1750 rpm and a 3450 rpm I have used the set up on both of them. Using the set up on a 1750 motor is slow and sedate. On the 3450 rpm motor the smaller buff is tame but I start holding on and pay very close attention with the 3 inch buff. The 1.5 buffs are hard felt and not grabby the 3 in buffs are sewn cloth and have more a a tendency to grab. Here is the surface feet per minute numbers.

1.5*3.14*1750/12=687 surface feet per minute
1.5*3.14*3450/12=1354 SFM

3*3.14*1750/12=1374 SFM
3*3.14*3450/12=2708 SFM

This would be a typical 8 inch buffer
8*3.14*3600/12=7536 SFM Yikes!

You could use a drill if you secured it well, the only draw back would be the whining/noise of a drill motor and figuring out how to secure the drill. If you can find a surplus motor somewhere it would make for a nicer set up, but then again I am a big believer in making what you have work.

Charlie

thanks spaz.

I am actuallly on the lookout for a few old motors. the arbor adapters are only $5 lowes.

1725 rpm w/ 6" buffs has worked pretty well for me before.

Originally Posted by spazola

Ignatz,

Thanks for the compliments it is one of the few things in my shop that is organized in a proper fashion.

Jim,

The buffs are about 1.5 and 3 inches. I have two motors a 1750 rpm and a 3450 rpm I have used the set up on both of them. Using the set up on a 1750 motor is slow and sedate. On the 3450 rpm motor the smaller buff is tame but I start holding on and pay very close attention with the 3 inch buff. The 1.5 buffs are hard felt and not grabby the 3 in buffs are sewn cloth and have more a a tendency to grab. Here is the surface feet per minute numbers.

1.5*3.14*1750/12=687 surface feet per minute
1.5*3.14*3450/12=1354 SFM

3*3.14*1750/12=1374 SFM
3*3.14*3450/12=2708 SFM

This would be a typical 8 inch buffer
8*3.14*3600/12=7536 SFM Yikes!

You could use a drill if you secured it well, the only draw back would be the whining/noise of a drill motor and figuring out how to secure the drill. If you can find a surplus motor somewhere it would make for a nicer set up, but then again I am a big believer in making what you have work.

Charlie

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

thanks spaz.

I am actuallly on the lookout for a few old motors. the arbor adapters are only $5 lowes.

1725 rpm w/ 6" buffs has worked pretty well for me before.

Do you know the proper name of this arbor part if I went to Lowe's to find it?

Just got back. spent $10 on a 1720 rpm motor. Only thing i didnt really pay attention to is the size of the motor.

do not have much room between the buff and the motor because the motor is wider than i realized.. This can be taken care of by making the spindle a bit longer, but i'm an idiot. Probably bolt the motor down too. wants to move aroound.

I do not hold the blade parallel to the to the shafts axis especially when the tang is toward the motor.


The tapered buffing spindles come in 1/2 an 5/8 in either left or right hand twist. They may come in other sizes also. I bought mine here


Charlie

Originally Posted by spazola

I do not hold the blade parallel to the to the shafts axis especially when the tang is toward the motor.


The tapered buffing spindles come in 1/2 an 5/8 in either left or right hand twist. They may come in other sizes also. I bought mine here


Charlie

ahh. thanks charlie.

I may order some of the spindles to try out then. right now i have a double adapter setup going on... not necessarily the best setup.

My next project is to build your belt grinder.

btw.. have any ideas for building a base to get the motor a little higher up and make it more stable?

I also need to wire in an "on/off" switch. i have to plug/unplug to use it now.