Thread: Dimmer switch for buffer for variable speed ?

Yes and that end in the water is hard as a rock. I couldn't cut it off with a knife. Will get a hack saw from the garage !

Well, sometimes you win & sometimes not. Hmmm, this reminds me to check on 4 bars of the greaseless that I have out in my workshop. Been sitting there for 3 years plus now................

Wont believe this but I could not even cut the end off with a hack saw. One tube is soft in the middle so I have that but the other two are hard as a rock so I am pitching them. Have enough time into this savings of 20 bucks :-0 Always seems to work out that way and of coarse (heh heh) these were the lowest grits that I now have to order.
So can I use a Variac with a 120V AC 60 Hz 2.35 Amps Neiko Buffer Grinder ? The only other thing on the label is UL Listed E210227 and then a number by it self which is 10205A It also says it is 1/3 HP but I think that is a marketing thing !

Seriously...Use pullies.

It's a single phase fixed speed induction motor. It's not meant to run at variable speeds. Any attempt at regulating the speed electrically is a fire hazard, and sure way to shorten the life of your shiny new buffer/grinder.

Certified CEI(college educated idiot) Electromechanical Technician...oops..not til May.

A variac, which from what I'm gathering is another name for a VFD. Variable frequency drive. VFD's are way more expensive than ten pullies, six belts, and a monkey to do the labor.

I dunno about VFD's sounds bad, you taking anything for it ? I'm glad I'm married :-)

I can buy a variac for a 3 amp motor for $30 - $50 which I should have bought the better motor that already had one !
Any way according to Caswells instructions I should be fine with 3450 RPM's with 4 inch wheels. Although from what I have read here the guys want slower then that I think !

The fastest I use is 1750 on a 3 inch wheel. Buffing only, no sanding/grinding and it is still a bit to fast. YMMV

BTW, the only reason I still use it is because I have not moved my better setup inside yet. When I do then the 1750 rpm arbor will be retired or for use on knives only.

So if you put 1 pully on the motor spindle and it goes to the same size pulley on your wheel, you accomplish nothing ? Is there a web site that has all the items one would need and with tech support ?

I don't know of any such place. This is one of those things called a " DIY project". The link I posted to Charlie Lewis video & his buffer is the best I can do for you.

Good luck

Originally Posted by DaveN

So if you put 1 pully on the motor spindle and it goes to the same size pulley on your wheel, you accomplish nothing ? Is there a web site that has all the items one would need and with tech support ?

Pulley size needed is easy to figure.

Divide the speed you want by the speed of your motor.

You want 1000 rpm and your motor is 1750.

1000/1750= 0.57

If you have a 6 inch diameter drive pulley multiply 6 X 0.57 = 3.42

Good luck finding a 3.42" pulley but a 3.5 would get you close

If you don't mind, can we see a link to the 30-50 dollar variacs? The only one I found for a single phase induction motor was $300.00. My very limited knowledge of VFD's comes from what I've read on this, and other knifemaking forums, as it applied to setting up a belt grinder for variables speeds. There's at least one guy on here I know of that has some pretty in depth knowledge of VFD's, but I can't remember his name.

A good place to look for information on setting up a pulley drive system is USA Knifemaker. I'm pretty sure they carry the belts, pullies, pillow blocks, self aligning bearings, and provide some information on sizing.

And yes, I think you'll be satisfied with running 4 inch wheels, and being done with it. That way you don't need to worry about any of this right now, and can do what you want to do. Which is clean and polish razors. Instead of machine assembly and troubleshooting.