Topic: Building a buffing wheel

[Tim.]

So - aside from buying a grinding wheel and hacking off the guards / mounting buffing wheels, has anyone got a better idea for a buffing wheel?

[Sam Green Racing]

Nitnit

How about useing an electric drilling machine.

Sam.

[Sam Green Racing]

Sorry TINTIN.

[neckyzips]

tim,
i mounted one to my 4.5" angle grinder... works pertty well, if your polishing tid bits.. just need a vice...

[Tim.]

I prefer a bench mounted motor with the wheels on it.  More control, and putting my nice aluminum engine covers in a vice isn't appealing.

I'm going to head out in search of a 3400RPM motor.  As it turns out these things are simply referred to as buffing motors.  Good ones can get pretty pricey, but really, the only difference I can envision between a 'good' one and a 'basic' one would be the life of the motor.

So, off to find an electric motor.

[Gordon]

Tintin,

I've been eye-ballin' one of these for a while now, but for me it's always a trade-off between buying a new tool, or buying a new part for the bikes.  So far, the bike always wins.  But hey, I've got a birthday coming up! 

[Tim.]

unfortunately Sears in Canada doesn't seem to carry buffers.  Closest thing online is a grinding wheel, which I though I might simply rip the shields off of.

http://www6.sears.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&categoryId=10102&langId=-1&rrc=1&productId=158060658

[dusterdude]

ok,everybody chip in for gordons birthday

[Einyodeler]

unfortunately Sears in Canada doesn't seem to carry buffers.  Closest thing online is a grinding wheel, which I though I might simply rip the shields off of.

http://www6.sears.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&categoryId=10102&langId=-1&rrc=1&productId=158060658

That`s what I have and I took the guard off of one side and mounted a buffing wheel.Best of both worlds

[Tim.]

Yeah, I think I'm going to end up going that route, at least for now.  They spin fast enough, and should do the trick for my purposes.  I can pick up that little 6" unit for $40 right now on sale.  I figure if I mount it on a block, I can put 8" wheels on it.  Can't go wrong buying at Sears - they'll take it back when I burn out the motor buffing every ounce of aluminum I can see.

[cb750_chris]

Sears and some other hardware stores have a chuck that you can addapt a buffer wheel to your drill.  I do very much preffer the use of a buffer and spindles to hold the wheels but in a pinch the drill works.

The drill is very use full for working on the bike.

Weather using a grinder or a drill put the tool in the vice not the work. 

[frostypuck]

Speaking of building things out of other things, has everyone seen the old "welder from a lawnmower" trick? I may do this one just on principle. A little bigger file than allowed here, so I'll redirect you to: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/crismary/my_photos
Just click on junkyard welder folder.
Chris in Boston

[frostypuck]

Tintin,
I was polishing a sprocket cover today, and took a quick before and after picture. I degreased the cover, then used black buffing compound on one of the pads that have a small adapter to use on a power drill. Then used the brown buffing compound, and I'm done. Power drill, buffing compound, and it took exactly 10 minutes, including removing and reinstalling the cover.
I've used the bench mounted ones before, but find they don't really save a ton of time, and it's more difficult to move the piece around, even with the guards cut off.
Chris in Boston

[migopod]

i've used the right angle grinder for the hand-held buffer, but my favorite table-mounted buffer
so far was a monster that we used to use for mirror-polishing stainless steel boat props.  It had
a 14" wheel and some huge 230v motor directly attached to the wheel.  Otherwise, you can get
buffing mandrils for a pneumatic die grinder for delicate work.

[Tim.]

I've buffed a lot in my day - using a bench mounted buffer mostly.  My father owns an antique store - I grew up shining silver and buffing things.

I'll likely adapt a buffing wheel to my powerdrill for some work, but I'm still going to set myself up with a proper buffing motor for more serious work.  Probably will wait till winter.  Once I finally get my bike out of the shop, I'm just going to ride 

[Einyodeler]

Speaking of building things out of other things, has everyone seen the old "welder from a lawnmower" trick? I may do this one just on principle. A little bigger file than allowed here, so I'll redirect you to: http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/crismary/my_photos
Just click on junkyard welder folder.
Chris in Boston

Now there`s one Red Green hasn`t thought of yet