Buffing Tools Question

[bronco]

Hello,
I have a high speed grinder that I converted into a buffing wheel.
I have a paper buffer on one and cloth on the other. My question is how much
buffing do you do on the paper wheel and how much on the cloth wheel?
I have been told that buffing too much on the cloth wheel will roll the
edge of your tools?
Bill

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Can't say about paper cause I don't have one, but use the cloth wheel frequently and have no problem with rounding the edge. Think the key is use light pressure and don't overdue it. Pretend it's a grinding wheel and you don't want to overheat your tool. It probably does rount the edge somewhat, but that's not necessarily a bad thing, think micro-bevel.

[bronco]

Ed,
I tried using light pressure on the tools and it works fine. Its just
hard getting use to lightly touching the buffing wheel ,but the results
speak for themselves. My tools are a lot sharper and carving is much
more enjoyable. Thanks for the advice.
Bill

[Mitchell]

I have used the paper wheel and cloth buffer set-up that you describe. I used the paper for "heavier" work such as light scratch removale. The cloth wheel is/was used for touch up - and lightly as described above. The cloth wheel can round a edge - meaning the angle is removed and the edge becomes blunt (relatively speaking).

I now only use the buffing (cloth) wheel for gouges. I use a stone and leather for knives. I use a sandpaper belt for gouges and v-tools when I need to correct the angle or for scratches....followed by either buffing on contoured wood or leather.

The paper wheel works(ed) okay, but I feel more confident with maintaining consistent angles on the flat sandpaper or stone.

[barkerlakebob]

Hammer

What should be the minimum and maximum speed of the wheel/s when sharpening and buffing ?

Thank you.

blb.

[barkerlakebob]

Originally Posted by barkerlakebob

Hammer

What should be the minimum and maximum speed of the wheel/s when sharpening and buffing ?

Thank you.

blb.

Somehow my question got in a the start of the thread Angry

I would still like some information on sharpening and buffing wheel speeds if anyone can help me out....

Thanks.Ms Smile

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

That is one of those questions where you ask a dozen people and you get a dozen answers. I use whatever speed the benchgrinder turns at ,I have three, two of them say 3450 and one says 3600, what that surface speed of the wheels is, don't know off hand and don't really feel like doing the math. I just mount the buffing wheel on the grinder for buffing and use a fine wheel for shapeing and redoing bevels. I also use a medium grit belt on the floor sander. I think practice, being careful, taking your time and frequent (more frequent that you'd think) quenching are more important than some theoretical optimum speed (you'll get varying opinions on that also).

[AlArchie]

A lot involving speed of the wheel for grinding or honing depends on the type of wheel you are using. A standard shop grinder turns a 5 or 6 inch wheel (ok maybe 8") at around 3600 rpm, and will burn your edges in about half a second, unless you are really careful. Delta, and a few others make a grinder that turns at half that speed, around 1800 rpm, that is far safer to use. Tormek makes a top-of-the-line wet grider that turns at around 90 rpm. Great machine, no overheating your edges, and a power strop, to boot, for 400 bucks. Delta makes a somewhat smaller set-up for $165.00 or so. You can also buy special AlOx wheels for most grinders that won't heat up as much at the higher speeds.

Our club has the Tormek setup so I don't need to buy my own (lucky guy), but at home I have a simple Delta 3600 grinder to do touch-ups and a belted arbor turning around 3000 rpm, ( I have to do the math to get a firm rpm, and I just don't care to bother) with a wire wheel for rust removal and a cotton buff for power stropping. Mostly that's all I use, and have no problems.

Wet speeds, in my opinion, of 75-100 RPM, dry at 1800 with a good wheel, and 3000 for power strop with a cotton or felt wheel with compound would suit the purpose.

Al

[Kenny_S]

I use a leather 6 " wheel in a varible speed drill mounted to my work bench for stropping when at home. Works great with light pressure. Use it to buff other tools also. My grinder is used for what it was made for grinding as the speed is to high for buffing or stroping. Probably didn't answer your question. Me thinks
ALA has come close to your answer as a couple other have also.

[barkerlakebob]

Thumbs Up Well thank you all for taking the time to consider my question and give some thoughtful answers. I can see by the miriad of information, the answer lies somewhere within. I think I would be well served to take the advice to experiment a little and improve as I go.

As a new carver I don't want to ruin all these new tools.....I still beleive in Santa Claus but he only comes once a year !!Wink


Thanks ever so much.

blb