Baldor Buffer converted to wire wheel question

[Tarnished]

Picked up this beauty a few days ago, and intend to use it with wire wheels.

I will be using it mainly for general crud removal and parts clean up. After looking around for new wheels, I realize that I could use some help.
I would like to use a 6" or 7" straight wire wheel, but I would like a quality one. Not one of the needle throwing POS that is so unbalanced that I can't keep the buffer on the stand. Can anyone recommend a good brand, and decent place to buy it.
I talked to a guy who recommended that I use a wheel that had what looked like 1" grit covered nylon wires coming out of it. Said it was the cats azz for cleaning and polishing, but I can't find anything like it. Anyone know what this type nylon wheel is called, and are they worth the hunt?
Appreciate you input.
Thanks.

 

[Todd.Brock]

So , you ****... I emailed the guy an hour after it went up and he said I will have my dad call you. I emailed later in the day and he said it was sold. Anyway, glad to see it went to another GJ'er.
If you really want a grinder for general clean up, I will buy that from you. Would really love to start buffing!

Nice find!

 

[WWIIjeep]

I would like to use a 6" or 7" straight wire wheel, but I would like a quality one. Not one of the needle throwing POS that is so unbalanced that I can't keep the buffer on the stand. Can anyone recommend a good brand, and decent place to buy it.
I talked to a guy who recommended that I use a wheel that had what looked like 1" grit covered nylon wires coming out of it. Said it was the cats azz for cleaning and polishing, but I can't find anything like it. Anyone know what this type nylon wheel is called, and are they worth the hunt?

I don't know about that particular style of wheel, but these people might:

http://www.aaabrasives.com/products/preparation-conditioning--polishing-products/convolute-wheels

Instead of that, I'd suggest convolute deburring wheels, which IMO are far better, safer, faster-cutting and longer-lasting than any wire wheel:

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/convolute-non-woven-wheels/abrasive-wheels/abrasives/ecatalog/N-i9l

The first link has them too, at perhaps better pricing than Grainger, and McMaster.com also carries them.

You'll still want at least one wire wheel or one of the nylon wheels you're looking for to do intricate pieces or for cleaning up screw threads, but for flat and lightly curved pieces, the convolute wheels are excellent.

 

[BD1]

Before you buy, here is info from the BALDOR manual.
''Use soft cloth wheels marked for safe operations at or over the maximum RPM rating
on this buffer. Using a wheel rated at a lower RPM than the machine is rated can cause a
hazardous condition and result in short wheel life.
Buffer is not designed to be used with hard wheels or wire wheels. Bench grinders and
grinder−buffers having wheel guards are available for such use and protect the operator from
wheel breakage. As wheel breakage is an extremely hazardous condition, under no
circumstances should a buffer be used with hard wheels or wire wheels.

This is the site I got it from.
http://www.baldor.com/downloads/manuals/_downloads/906-903.pdf

Ok, now how much do you want for it ??????????????

 

[Tarnished]

So , you ****... I emailed the guy an hour after it went up and he said I will have my dad call you.

Thanks Todd! That is exactly what they e-mailed me! I didn't think I had a chance, and just kinda waited for the rejection, but they called me back and said I was first call, and that if I wanted it "tonight" I had better come pick it up by 5! I was about 2hr away, but at that price I had to go...
Not often one this nice for that price around this area. Believe me, it will be well cared for.
Next day, this one jumped up on CL, and it had to came home with me also.


2 speed. Don't see them much. Perfect shape and came with water pot and 2 "GA-23 edge tool grinding attachment". I had been looking for a single speed for a while, and this 7" one was just too sweet to pass on. Price was fare, not a U ****, but I was happy. Funny how this works. Nothing, and then both in 2 days. Now I quit Todd, Sheep Shed is full up with grinders. The rest are yours...

WWIIjeep
Instead of that, I'd suggest convolute deburring wheels, which IMO are far better, safer, faster-cutting and longer-lasting than any wire wheel:

Thanks WWII, I picked up a small 1/3hp Baldor buffer that had 2 of the 4" convolute deburring wheels and you are correct they are great. Had never used them before, and made a believer out of me. I use them for polishing mostly. Wanted wire wheels to remove heavy grime before I use the convolute ones. What is your experience with them and heavy grease? Do they clog?
BD1: Thanks, I read that info also. I agree with the grinding stone issue, but for using wire wheels, I believe the "guards" are more dangerous than without. But that is JMHO! Yours may vary. But if I change my mind, I will remember your $$$$ offer!

 

[G_P]

I would fab up some basic guards if your goint to run wire wheels. I've used bare exposed wire wheels before and even quality wheels throw wires occasionally and it ***** getting hit in the face.

Even a curved piece of sheetmetal over the wheel will keep the wires off of you.

Sent from my C5120 using Tapatalk 2

 

[zkling]

So , you ****... I emailed the guy an hour after it went up and he said I will have my dad call you. I emailed later in the day and he said it was sold. Anyway, glad to see it went to another GJ'er.
If you really want a grinder for general clean up, I will buy that from you. Would really love to start buffing!

Nice find!

So now I am really curious. In what part of town and how much were they asking for it? I must have missed it on the list.

Tarnished, don't you have an entire shop full of baldor grinders by now?

As for the wire wheels... I have never had a problem with Norton brand wheels. It is what I use on my 6" grinder. At the speed that buffer runs at, it probably wouldn't spit any wires, compared to most 3600 rpm grinders.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Zach,it was in Independence and was listed at a hundred bucks. I can't speak to what was paid obviously.

Now you're just being mean about the grinder!

I have wanted both a Baldor buffer and grinder for who knows how long. I have no idea why. It's part of my quest for the garage of made in USA. I have it in my head that is what I want for the shop and I don't stop until I find it! Nice finds!!

 

[BD1]

Zach,it was in Independence and was listed at a hundred bucks. I can't speak to what was paid obviously.

Now you're just being mean about the grinder!

I have wanted both a Baldor buffer and grinder for who knows how long. I have no idea why. It's part of my quest for the garage of made in USA. I have it in my head that is what I want for the shop and I don't stop until I find it! Nice finds!!

WOW !!!!!!! That was FREE !!!!! I think he has to be ''BANNED"

AWESOME STEAL! The cheapest I found has been $300.00. Nowhere near as clean. How do you sleep at night ?

 

[helterskelter]

For nylon wheels look here:

http://www.osborn.com/XTab.aspx?cat=Abrasive+Nylon+(ATB)+Wheel&grp=241TT02&OverStock=

Last long and very high quality.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Thanks WWII, I picked up a small 1/3hp Baldor buffer that had 2 of the 4" convolute deburring wheels and you are correct they are great. Had never used them before, and made a believer out of me. I use them for polishing mostly. Wanted wire wheels to remove heavy grime before I use the convolute ones. What is your experience with them and heavy grease? Do they clog?

I clean greasy stuff with solvent or pressure washer before using wire wheels or convolute wheels. Both types load up and throw grease or soft greasy dirt.

 

[zkling]

Zach,it was in Independence and was listed at a hundred bucks. I can't speak to what was paid obviously.

Now you're just being mean about the grinder!

I have wanted both a Baldor buffer and grinder for who knows how long. I have no idea why. It's part of my quest for the garage of made in USA. I have it in my head that is what I want for the shop and I don't stop until I find it! Nice finds!!

$100 Then again Independence is like the other side of the world for me.

Do us cincy guys need to start dividing up our craigslist territory?

Anyone see that air free compressor posted today?

I clean greasy stuff with solvent or pressure washer before using wire wheels or convolute wheels. Both types load up and throw grease or soft greasy dirt.

X2. I can't imagine using a wire wheel for grease, sounds super messy.

I try to keep the wire wheels reserved for rust and other corrosion that needs to be gently removed.

 

[Tarnished]

.... Ok guys, I give... Not meant to brag, just looking for wheel info, but Yea, I couldn't believe my luck either. Guy said that posting it for $100 was a mistake, and if I didn't want it for $100, by 5pm, he was going to re-post it for $250. Needless to say, I beat feet to Ky. to pick it up as fast as I could get thru Cincy... Even with the 2hr drive, I knew it was a steal. If my info is correct, it's DOB is 1987, and it looked like it had hardly been used. Had to drive 150mi to pick up the 7", and it cost me 3 times as much, but it also looked like new, came with 2 extra stones, and both blade grinding attachments. I was pretty stoked.... Not often you can find 2 of your top quest items in one week.
Zkling: Yea, I'm pretty full up with grinders right now. In Baldor alone, I have the pictured 1/2hp 7" and a 1hp 10" grinders. Also have a 1/3hp 4" buffer and the new 3/4hp 8", so won't be looking for any more! But I could use a few more Baldor pedestals .....
(P.S. Did one of you pick up the 6" Baldor grinder that was on Dayton CL for $125 this weekend??)

Don't get me wrong guys, I also clean off all the gooey grease and grime that I can with solvents or HP water first. Otherwise just a BIG mess. The wire wheel is more for the leftover grime or paint and rust that solvents don't remove. I'm aware that all WW do seem to shed wires at high speed, and that is why I always wear face shield or glasses, but there are times when a WW is the only thing that will work.
HSkelter: Thanks. That nylon wheel seems to be what I am looking for, although 6" would be about as large as I would want to use. Would solve the flying wire problem. So your saying there defiantly worth finding then? What's your experience with them?

I'm aware that Baldor does not recommend using WW on their buffer, but does that mean that no one else is doing this? This unit is replacing a HF grinder/buffer that I used 2 WW on, and it worked well. Can't imagine that this machine would perform differently. Anyone have experience with similar set up? Was thinking of using 1 med wire wheel and 1 of the nylon brushes if possible. Will keep the convolute on the small buffer for polishing only.