My New Buffing Station

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11-01-2010, 12:49 PM
Alembic

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My New Buffing Station

Well Gentlemen, after reading many posts and thinking about it a lot, I have finally designed and built a new buffing station.

What I wanted was something that could be broken down so I could use my whole shop when necessary, but be very sturdy. I also wanted a tray for razors being worked on so they don't accidental fall and get damaged ( I was paying close attention to this one on the forums).

I wanted dust collection and ease of turning the collection on and off, and at least 6 wheels, which would give me 600 grit Formax greaseless and all of the Matchless compounds SRD sells. And if I have to, all the grades of greaseless compounds and switch over to the Matchless compounds when done.

So here it is. I have to get my rubber mat for the floor and make the final connection to my cyclone dust collector - which I also built from scratch. I am also adding a holder for each compound while I am buffing.

I have a 4" x 4" chase behind the buffers and individual blast gates right behind the wheels, only one will be open at a time, but I can run all the wheels simultaneously. The apron in the front that has the tray built in is hinged so I can lift it to get into my drawers under the bench top. I will put several cups of cooling water in the tray.

For storage, I remove the buffers, fold up the apron and stand it in the corner.

So there you have it - I can't wait to restore my first razor on it. By the way - the total cost for everything, including the buffers was about $200. Yeah, I know the buffers run 3600 RPM and are not the best the world has to offer, but they will get the job done for now.

The last pic is an open pic of my workshop.

David
11-01-2010, 01:03 PM
Del1r1um

nice setup... just watch out for those sparks getting into your dust collection, wouldn't want to spark off a pile of fine sawdust :D

Cool station!
11-01-2010, 01:07 PM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del1r1um

nice setup... just watch out for those sparks getting into your dust collection, wouldn't want to spark off a pile of fine sawdust :D

Cool station!

That's what the fire extinguisher is for :D

Thanks.
11-01-2010, 01:21 PM
sigmasix

nice work shop man! :)

I was thinking of getting some 0000 grade steel wool and doing some light polishing, but now I feel in adequate heheh
11-01-2010, 01:24 PM
nipper

That's a fantastic setup! I would faint dead away if I opened my "workshop" door and it looked that great. Thanks for the pic.
11-01-2010, 01:25 PM
Stubear

Looks good David, great job! :tu
11-01-2010, 01:56 PM
ScottGoodman

Very, very nice! I just wish my shop looked as in order as yours does!
11-01-2010, 02:29 PM
gssixgun

Wow !!! really nice set up... :tu

Only one suggestion but you will figure it out anyway fast enough,,,You need to invest in the 4 inch wheels when using the HF buffers...
The 6 inch just get ya too hot, too fast...

Also for your first razor, try a HEAVY blade, not a full hollow, they are much more forgiving...

Buff On !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
11-01-2010, 02:34 PM
TeMpTiN

Looks very cool!

How loud is the dust collector?

The reason I ask is when I helped my father build his we built an enclosure for it outside and ported the vent through the wall. With just the woosh of air running through the pipes you can hear the person standing next to you or even the radio if we had the machine inside we probably would have to wear hearing protection when its on. We also do not have quite the floors space you do so having it out side saved us much needed room.

As to the comment about fire triple check your ground wire is connected in all the runs and secured. The spark from the static the big collectors make is a much bigger worry that one from the buffer.
If the wire isn't connected properly and you happen to touch it while testing the system you will curse repeatedly and possibly in languages you do not even speak.

Great looking shop! Have Fun!
11-01-2010, 02:43 PM
Lynn

Deluxe set up David!!

Very nice.......:)
11-01-2010, 02:54 PM
Maximilian

That looks really great.
You'll still have some schmutz, dust and crap flying everywhere but the dust collection will help some. My only concern is the rebound of the razor if it ever slips from your hand or gets grabbed in the wheels. Be safe is all I can say.
11-01-2010, 02:58 PM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Very, very nice! I just wish my shop looked as in order as yours does!

Thanks, I try and keep it clean - it gets dangerous to work in a messy shop.
11-01-2010, 03:01 PM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Wow !!! really nice set up... :tu

Only one suggestion but you will figure it out anyway fast enough,,,You need to invest in the 4 inch wheels when using the HF buffers...
The 6 inch just get ya too hot, too fast...

Also for your first razor, try a HEAVY blade, not a full hollow, they are much more forgiving...

Buff On !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glen,

Thanks for the tip on the 4" wheels. Hmmm, I wonder if I will have to put extensions on the blast gates or if the wheel diameter change will matter on the dust collector draw? I guess I will know soon enough.

Also, thanks for the heavy blade tip. I have a nice one picked out.:)
11-01-2010, 03:04 PM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeMpTiN

Looks very cool!

How loud is the dust collector?

The reason I ask is when I helped my father build his we built an enclosure for it outside and ported the vent through the wall. With just the woosh of air running through the pipes you can hear the person standing next to you or even the radio if we had the machine inside we probably would have to wear hearing protection when its on. We also do not have quite the floors space you do so having it out side saved us much needed room.

As to the comment about fire triple check your ground wire is connected in all the runs and secured. The spark from the static the big collectors make is a much bigger worry that one from the buffer.
If the wire isn't connected properly and you happen to touch it while testing the system you will curse repeatedly and possibly in languages you do not even speak.

Great looking shop! Have Fun!

The dust collector noise is very tollerable. It isn't much louder than all three bufffers turned on at the same time.

Yep - good point on the grounding.
11-01-2010, 03:08 PM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maximilian

That looks really great.
You'll still have some schmutz, dust and crap flying everywhere but the dust collection will help some. My only concern is the rebound of the razor if it ever slips from your hand or gets grabbed in the wheels. Be safe is all I can say.

My plan is if the dust still goes over the top of the 18" backsplash. I will by a piece of 1/4 underlayment and clamp it to the backsplash.

Dust mask, safety glasses and watching ones fingers is always a must. But that is another reason to put the padded matt on the floor. I don't intend to fight a falling razor with my flesh, and I don't want it ruined when it hits the ground. Thanks for the reminder.
11-01-2010, 03:37 PM
Geezer

Glen +1.
I found that little 2" diameter felt wheels from the same source as the buffers can be great for cleaning a blade with greaseless compound. Go Slow and really have a finger on the back of the blade to check for heat. They require a tapered spindle on the buffer.
Buff rake is #97111 in the H.F. stores.
Tapered buffing spindles are really worth their cost, they allow use of many different buffs on the same machine.
Here
Respectfully
~Richard
11-01-2010, 05:16 PM
HNSB

That dust collector setup is awesome!

I wonder how you get anything done in a workshop that clean? ;)
11-01-2010, 05:27 PM
Utopian

I'm glad to see someone else is using a dust collector. You have a very nice setup and I hope to have something like it some day when I grow up.
11-01-2010, 08:52 PM
Maxi

Wow...that is a great looking set up. I'm completely envious. Every time I see workshop pics on this forum I keep telling myself "All in good time....one day....one day.."
11-01-2010, 10:13 PM
deighaingeal

Very nice setup. Man, you are making miss my shop. Oh well I'll set it up again one day.
One small suggestion is to move the fire extinguisher away from the potential fire hazard. By the time you get to the fire you may not want to get that close.
I am thinking of using a slip-clutch system with a common shaft when I reset my shop. your way may be cheaper though.
Most importantly have fun with it.

-G
11-01-2010, 10:22 PM
metalfab

Nice workshop. Great now I have to clean mine after looking at how spotless yours is.
11-01-2010, 10:31 PM
Alembic

Quote:

Originally Posted by metalfab

Nice workshop. Great now I have to clean mine after looking at how spotless yours is.

Trust me - it gets pretty messy when the sawdust is flying. But I try to clean up at the end of every day. It is so easy to get hurt in a messy shop.
11-02-2010, 05:32 PM
LarryAndro

If I didn't want to start all those grinders running simultaneously, crank the radio full blast with a little Led Zepellin or Beatles, grab a bunch of razors and have the time of my life in Alembic's workshop I would probably say something about how I am so jealous and he's ruined my whole day. :(
11-02-2010, 06:19 PM
Troggie

Nice Shop.. just one more reason to try and make any meet ups over on the other side of the state. Or maybe I can con some of my clients into setting up some extra training days to bring me over that way. :D
11-03-2010, 09:04 AM
BuddyRockefella

thats tuff. looks like a show room or something
11-03-2010, 09:29 AM
onimaru55

Awesome setup but I don't know if I could work in such a clean workshop :)
11-11-2010, 08:49 PM
Deckard

Way cool.
Boy am I green.