Tool buffing question

[maryjo]

Here goes another dum question,I've been thru most of the message board looking for an answer and haven't found one.I bought a buffing wheel at Grizzlys this week and some buffing compound.I took the grinding wheel off of my bench grinder and put the buffing wheel in it's place.I put the compound on the wheel and took one of my older less expensive tools to practice with.I was very careful because it runs real fast:what I don't understand is why my wheel and tool got black guck on it.What am I doing wrong?PLEASE HELP

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

black is the polishing compound picking up minute metal particles..won't hurt a thing....there are several ways to slow down that grinder, you don't particularly want a fast speed ...need to talk to an electrician about the ways to do it....or Al...Al knows about that stuffRed Face Smile

[FK]

Please be carefull with the buffing wheel on a grinder motor. The motors are almost always 3600 RPM and the buffing wheel could easily catch the tool and fling it across the room or bounce it off the wall become a hazard.

The black residue is wax from the buffing compound and can be easily removed with a dry cloth or paper towel, perfectly normal when buffing with certain compounds.

I much prefer a leather strop with fresh yellowstone. The yellowstone will cut very quickly when initially applied and you will have more control and safety when sharpening/stropping an edge. When the strop becomes black, scrape the build-up away and reapply new compound.

Regards,
FK

[maryjo]

I'ts a relief to know I'm not hurting anything.I don't know much about electrity but if Al reads this maybe he could e-mail how to do it.I'm at joanna45@hotmail.com-I would appreciate any advice.

[electricbill]

hi...
i just happen to be an electrician!! LOL!!...check with your power tool supplier, you are looking for a variable speed motor controller. they typically use them on routers(sp?) the unit plug into the outlet,then you plug your grinder into the unit...the unit has a knob/dial to regulate the speed..
bill

[AlArchie]

Bill, unless I miss my bet, those motor speed controls only work on brush type motors, and will burn out if used with induction motors like those ln grinders. (FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY)

I'd like to know how they manage the speeds with the 3600 vs 1800 rpm motors, if you happen to know. Maybe split phase??? Delta makes a two speed grinder (switchable) and both slow and high speed ones.

Al