Felt,Paper,Cloth buffing wheels

xsailer · #1 07-24-2007, 05:54 PM

Several questions concerning subject:
1. My wood leather covered and Hard cloth wheels are partly glazed over with patchs of no glazing. When buffing it is not a smooth feel I have when applying pressure. I've been told the wheel should be covered with this glazing and to not clean the wheel by removing the glaze. Is this correct?
a. My Glazing definition=buffing compound build up
b. Leather wheel is 9.5" dia and hard cloth 8"
2. What are the benifits, if any, of a felt wheel. They are more expensive so they must be better? Logical?? I've been looking at the contoured felt wheel to sharpen gouge and V tools.
3. RPM is stepped to about 1200.
4. Opinions requested of contoured felt verses paper wheels.

I've used the searched menu but still would like more info per above questions. I thank you for your input.

Kenny_S · #2 07-24-2007, 07:15 PM

Seen those wheels but haven't bought one yet, That is the flet or paper. Have a loosely woven cloth wheel that works great on the buffing out the edge. I us ethe white every time and no build up. Now on the hard leather wheel. I use a s piece of sandpaper on a sanding block and take the build up off back down to the leather. Of course I do this anly if the build up is uneven.
I know several woodworkers who swear by the flet and paper wheels but I haven't used them,,,,,,,,,,yet.

xsailer · #3 07-25-2007, 08:27 AM

Kenny,
The felt wheel I've been looking at is contoured so you could sharpen curved gouges, both sides and also use wheel edge for the inside of a V tool($50). I would think felt might generate more heat. Don't know if you would use rouge or not although I guess you would. The paper wheels you can buy flat and add the contour wanted to match your tools. I really don't how to use the paper. An acquaintance uses paper to sharpen others tools and they are happy with the results. I like to capability of shaping the wheel to match my situations.
It's been a while since I've bought something and got the bug I guess. I've been thinking of redoing my current wheel configuration to something more managable. Now it lays down with assorted wheel sizes and I'm thinking I'd like to update, now that I know a little bit more, to a more portable easy to carry system.

Kenny_S · #4 07-31-2007, 11:07 AM

I am surprised no one else has answeredor gave an opinion. Come on carvers, jump in here or does anyone use felt or paper wheels?

xsailer · #5 07-31-2007, 12:34 PM

I'm surprised also. I'm sure there are others that have or are using a felt wheel. They sure expensive.

JIM QUILICI · #6 07-31-2007, 06:35 PM

I use a 6inch x1 1/2 felt wheel and a 8 inch paper wheel, mounted on my grinder. also mounted on my drill press I have a leather wheel that I can control the speed of the wheel..
I use compound on all three, the felt wheel you have to be careful because it does heat up the blade (could take the temper out of the knife edge) when I
use it I go very lite touch . it does a very good job. now the paper wheel does not seem to get the edge hot as fast. also i use a lite touch. Now the leather wheel I use yellowstone from little shavers. that really put a edge on my knives...... I can sit here and tell you that my knives are very very very sharp. I strop my knives in between sharping with the wheels.
hope this helps you
ps....... I found my felt wheel on line ...get the hard one as it does not wrap around the edge and dull it instead of sharping it.
Jim

xsailer · #7 07-31-2007, 07:14 PM

Jim,
Thanks for your response. Sounds like you are happy with all the different wheels you use. I'm especially interested in the felt wheel and you confirm my concern about overheating. I'm interested in the, contoured to fit felt wheel for gouges. I'm assuming the felt wheel would be very similar to a leather wheel strop? I would think also that the paper wheel would be similar to a cloth wheel that has been sewn to stiff the layers of cloth.

R-OLDS · #8 07-31-2007, 10:44 PM

I make tools so I use lots of polishing compound on my cardboard wheels 8" mounted on 6" 3600 rpm grinders. I have several bench grinders with cardboard wheels mounted on one side and cotton on the other. I don't have a problem with too much heat as I just don't over do it.
I simply use an 8" wet grinder to get the tools to a wire edge and then polish them on the cardboard and cotton. Gouges, Knives, Vee tools, ETC.
I also have one machine that runs abt 1700 rpm I don't use it often as it is just much slower.

xsailer · #9 07-31-2007, 11:40 PM

R-Olds,
Cardboard. That's a new one. 3600 RPM verses 1700 RPM. You've been at it longer than I and totally different from what I read and expierenced. Shows to go ya that there a lot of ways to do the same thing. It's all in how you do it. When you say you use "lots of polishing compound", is it the typical Yellow Gold, the White stuff or have you found something better that fits your technique? Uhmm...Interesting.

R-OLDS · #10 08-01-2007, 08:24 AM

I use the red rouge from Sears and or the green from Lowes both are less than 4bux for a stick. Seeing I make the tools I have to remove a fair amount of grinding marks from them. I find the red and green work fast for me...
I also make my own cardboard wheels, just using single ply cardboard glued up. I find I can sharpen any tool QUICKLY using this method, Vee tools and gouges I get the inside using two different cotton wheels one sewn to the outside and one not sewn to the outside (floppy)...