Thread: 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.