Thread: Walking a W&B though the Buffers - Illustrated

I decided to take pics of this W&B "American" Razor as I tried out my new buffer bench...

These are the before pics...

A nice 7/8 + blade with almost null for hone wear and a tiny small bevel that isn't honed into 27 different levels

I built this around one of the support beams in the shop, it is 6'x8' 3/4" particle board framed on a 2"x6" and supported by 4"x4" posts..I can walk across it so it is pretty solid... I still haven't had time to start the shelves that are going in underneath it

There are 6 Harbor Freight Buffers that turn at 3450 rpm I run them most of the time with 4" wheels for polishing metal,,, I normally polish from spine to edge but that is a personal preference some people go from toe to heel also some go both directions...

On the far end is the last HF Buffer set up for polishing scales, and a single wheel buffer that turns at 1725 rpm and that I use for the final polish on the blades..



BTW in the pic above, that doorway leads to the old entry way to the small 2nd house that I call my shop, it is fully enclosed out there and that is where I keep all the "dust makers" like the saws and sander... Only my Scroll Saw and Drill Press are in this end of the shop

very curious, glen (always about your mystical little vulcan-forge out there in Ideeho)- but the images, "Attachments" dont seem to work?

Originally Posted by Mijbil

very curious, glen (always about your mystical little vulcan-forge out there in Ideeho)- but the images, "Attachments" dont seem to work?

Yep........

Nice set up!!

I use the Fomax compounds and I start at 80 grit, how long you stay at 80 works pretty much the same as handsanding with wet-r-dry does.. You stay at the lower grit until you have clean steel, or as clean as you decide you can get...

I just progress on up through the grits until the 600, at that time I use the brake cleaner and make sure the blade is clean and dry.. Make sure if you are wiping the blade off that your rag is clean because Murphy's Razor law says that it will have a piece of something that will leave a scratch on your nice finish

These normally have different names depending on the brand you are using but pretty much start at some type of Emory and progress up in grit to some type of very fine Rouge..

I change my wheels during this stage when I get to the Rouges, I switch to a Soft buff from the Sewn Buffs that I used from the 80 grit all the way through... I first started using Sisal buffs in the lower grits (80 & 120) but switched to the Sewn buffs and liked the results better, but again that is just a personal preference...

My final polish is usually a mood thing I have lately started using the Turtle Wax compounds but honestly I have tried just about every polishing compound you can think of, again whatever you think looks best...

This stage is where the Brake Cleaner is indispensable, you want to make sure the steel is totally clean from the last compound, before moving to the next one... The spray Brake Cleaner cuts it right off there, no muss, no fuss, try it out..

Emory Compound



Stainless Steel Compound



White Rouge



Chrome Compound

Hi,

Which are the two grits before you get to emery? I am not really sure what grit my emery is but I need something a bit more aggressive to remove some scratches from a blade I am working on. Thanks

This looks like a playground!!

Love your setup and I'm just starting to get into mine, I have just recently found some helpful threads on restoration... those buffers you have seem like they are 1 speed 4 inch buffers... Or are they universal and can have any sized buffing wheel installed on them... Also with buffing and polishing is it okay just to have one speed or are u better off having one with variable speeds? In afraid I don't have the room nor the money to buy individual buffers for its own purpose so I have a 6 inch variable speed buffer that goes from anywhere between 2,000 to 3,400 rpm is that going to be sufficient for my greaseless compounds and my buffing and polishing? I know you can probably write a ten page answer so if u wanna make it in short that would be suffice... Thanks glen