Loading Greasless Compound on a buffer wheel

Anyone have and tips on loading greaseless compound on a buffer wheel ? I cant use the push the compound on and shut off the motor directions as I have a new buffer that stops spinning right away when you shut it off so I have to leave it running at 3450 RPM and cant seem to get much of the lower grit compounds on. If I push harder threads start coming of the thistle wheels. Dont have this problem with grits above 320, just the lower ones.

I noticed that Eastwood uses different colors for the different grits but Caswell has all the same color. I have Caswell Compounds so I guess you just have to trust them that they got it right as it appears they make their own !

I switch the motor on and off repeatedly while loading the wheels. Helps keep things slow, but still running. It seems to me that is the key; too fast and the compound shoots off the wheel, but too slow and it'll stop.

I keep the buffer inside a big cardboard box when I load the wheels then pull it forward a bit to get enough light from above to use. The box has more grit in it then the wheels ! Then Apron, pull over nylon cargo pants, and I have to remember to change my glasses or I will wind up wiping the good ones with a gritty cloth which would be BAD ! Ill try shutting it on and off but that cant be good for the motor. My old bench grinder spins for a minute when you shut it off, the buffer is like my new Dremel which stops right away when you shut it off. Now I know why the guys say slower. 3450 is not bad for buffing but for loading the wheel with the coarser grits it is terrible.

I keep it running and it works fine for me, pressure is the key to the success, or you can turn off the motor as holly does.
Make sure to have goggles on or you may end up with that stuff in your eyes, it is sand paper and I'd imagine it will not feel good at all.

I stand to the side of the buffer when I load the grit and not in front of it :-)

What size wheels are you using? A good wheel I've run across lately has been the Dico 4" 1/4"width. These dico wheels for some reason load very well and I'm partly sure its because of the width. The only problem with the dico wheels is they can be tough to find. Typically you will find in mom and pop hardwares or ace hardware. Learning to load wheels is all trial an error...eventually you'll figure out.

Wasn't there a thread like this not long ago, maybe merge them together?

Im using 4 inch sissal on the lower grits and 4 inch spiral sewn on 320 and above both from Casewell. My wheels are still new albeit I am chewing up the sissal ones trying to load the lower grits. Amazon has the ones you are talking about. Do you use sewn cotton on the lower grits ?

Hey Dave..I use spiral sewn on all grits. About the only thing I will use sisal on is emry. With the higher rpm buffers this is what works for me. I am new to the restoration side of things too and believe me when I tried to load 80 on sisal I got pretty frustrated real quick.

You mean it loads easier on Spiral Sewn ? About the opposite of what I though ! I bet this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321109049777...84.m1555.l2649

would have come out a lot better if I knew that ! I go up to 600 grit with greaseless and Black Emory is about equal to that. then I have the other three polishing compounds. White, Green, Red Rouge, and Blue for plastics. can I use sissal on those ? Just the opposite of what I am doing.

This place has the best price http://www.hardwareandtools.com/

Fluffing new cotton wheels with the rake makes them easier to load more evenly. I don’t use sisal.

I use Sprial Cotton on everything except for final buff with a loose cotton wheel. Make sure your greasless stays moist, Store in a good strong Zip Lock plastic bag with a wet paper towel. I load from the edge of the bar not the middle.

I cut off a hunk 4-3 inches wrap end with Duct Tape and write the grit on the tape. Store the rest in Zip lock and tupperware. Working piece in Zip Lock with towel.

Yes sir for me it loads way better especially with the 1/4" wheels. I don't use sisal on anything else but emry. Good find on the wheels...that's a good price on those. The other thing I like about the 1/4" is it easier to get in tight spaces especially on hollow grounds. As far as your pic from ebay it looks pretty good. Polishing is all about experience...the more you do the better you'll get.

+1 to Euclid440. I keep mine ziplocked in the fridge. Get permission from the misses first. I would hate for her to mistake it for TennPride sausage lol. :rofl2:

Yeah well I had a senior person tell me sissal on the lower grits. So I wasted $50 or so. I will cut off all the loose strings and use them for a pre shave :-)
I have the compound in two big tupperware bins sitting on the bottom of the basement steps for now on the concrete floor. Steps are in my garage ! I like Euclids taping off chunks idea. I just missed a dorm frig on Freecycle today. One person beat me to it ! Im kind of low on the electricity in the basement anyway so I dont know how plugging a frig in down there will Work and dont think momma is going to like all that in the frig upstairs. My shop is in the basement. It doesnt make sense to me using the sissal wheels on the polishing bars but can I ? At least on the black emory and the next one up is brown tripoloi I think and then green for stainless steel.

It does not have to be cold, just moist and airtight. I picked up a large 6x6x10 in Tupperware container at the thrift store for a buck. A wet paper towel is enough moisture to keep it the right consistency. Your greaseless should be soft, if it hardens you can add moisture and it will get soft again, may take a few days.

I have heard of people using sisal only on the low grit greaseless. I think it is too aggressive for greased polishing compounds. With rouges and polishes you want to buff, not cut. I use Black emery, Chrome Oxide and White rouge to finish, all on spiral cotton, less is more, use greased compounds sparingly. I buff in between, with plain spiral cotton and final finish on loose cotton.

If you see a black grease line on the razor you have too much and will have to clean/rake the wheel and reapply. I clean the razor with WD-40 sprayed on a paper towel, to keep the clean buffing wheel clean.

I recently bought Caswell’s” plastic” polishing compounds and tried it in place of the White rouge and Whiting for final finish. Boy does that bring out some color, really pops out a shine, post Chrome Ox. (Caswell’s P22 & P112)