Eastwood's Pedestal or benchtop buffer

[Kevin54]

I'm looking at maybe getting one of Eastwoods buffers. The one i am looking at is $199 and it's a one horse, dual speed, 120v buffer.

Does anyone have one of these buffers? I've read the reviews, but reviews can be altered to make things sound like it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. I've looked on CL for a used one but either you have to drive 500 miles, or your going to come back home with the proverbial arm and leg taken in payment.

Ideally I'd like to have a 220v Baldor, preferably single phase, but am not against three phase either as I have a rotary phase converter.

The one from Eastwood doesn't sound bad, but I've buffed parts at the shop before on their industrial buffers, so I know the difference between a good Baldor, and a cheaper buffer. I don't mind spending a few hundred, really don't want to go over $350, but I don't want to spend $200 and as soon as you put pressure to it, the motor stalls.

I have one small project coming that I need a buffer for (polishing valve cover) and then I also have the trim on the wife's Olds that i want to refurbish. And there will always be some sort of aluminum project to polish up here and there. And I'm not against making one although I'd prefer not to go that route, and if i did make one, i would prefer do have a double shafted motor instead of a single shaft so the buff wheels wouldn't have to be swapped out constantly.

http://www.eastwood.com/eastwood-1-hp-buff-motor-dual-speed.html

 

[bsaint]

It looks VERY similar to the HF one. When I was looking at buffers, I found a reasonably priced Dayton one on ebay

 

[Kevin54]

I did see in one of the reviews that it ISN'T made in the U.S., so that means either Taiwan or China, and most probably China. I did find one in Grafton but he wants more than i want to pay. He's asking $750 for it and a vacuum and is commercial grade, but I really don't want to drop that much coin on one for something that will set and not be used most of the time.

 

[rsanter]

Input from my experience
Those things have longer shafts so that you can get around objects that need polishing without the motor or pedestal getting into the way. But the motor and pedestal always get in the way. Especially when doing intake manifolds and things like that.

I have an idea for a buffer I want to build but haven't as I don't do much buffing. If I get another time I need to do a bunch of buffing I will build it.

Get a nice shaft of at least 1" and turn the ends down for the buffing wheels
Mount in pillow block bearings with the pillow block bearings mounted horizontal to the front of a mount plate. That means the shaft will be in front of the pedestal.
Mount the motor lower and to the back and run a belt
It is nice to have the options of a couple speeds so you can use different dia wheels and even a cone.
Swap the buffer wheels out for the expanding robber drums and you will have the drum sander too

Bob

 

[Kevin54]

Input from my experience
Those things have longer shafts so that you can get around objects that need polishing without the motor or pedestal getting into the way. But the motor and pedestal always get in the way. Especially when doing intake manifolds and things like that.

I have an idea for a buffer I want to build but haven't as I don't do much buffing. If I get another time I need to do a bunch of buffing I will build it.

Get a nice shaft of at least 1" and turn the ends down for the buffing wheels
Mount in pillow block bearings with the pillow block bearings mounted horizontal to the front of a mount plate. That means the shaft will be in front of the pedestal.
Mount the motor lower and to the back and run a belt
It is nice to have the options of a couple speeds so you can use different dia wheels and even a cone.
Swap the buffer wheels out for the expanding robber drums and you will have the drum sander too

Bob

Like I said above, I'm not against making one. but for the interim, I'd rather just buy one for now until I get some more time. I've got a fairly full plate for this year that I'd like to get done. I still have a surface grinder that I need to scrub down and repaint, then I need to get my Cub Cadet repainted. Plus smaller things in between to fill the gaps up.

If anyone in Ohio has one that is reasonably priced and you're looking to get rid of, hit me up. I'd like to stay below $350 for one though.

 

[dmeadow]

I've got that buffer and I've been very pleased with it. I have a friend with a 3/4 hp Baldor that I have used in the past. The major difference between the two is that the Baldor is only one speed. Other than that, I can't tell the difference when using them. Neither can my friend.

 

[liquidh8]

My father has the pedestal buffer from Eastwood, don't remember what model, but it has worked fine for the past 5 years, polishing untold amounts of Stainless trim for out 50's and 60's car. We are in PA, and the 3 year warranty was great if we needed it since Pottsown isn't super far.

 

[skruft]

I hae seen other Eastwood things and think of them as consumer quality, but Eastwood have been around forever and are very popular with old car people. I would expect this to be good at the price point.

 

[Kevin54]

I've got that buffer and I've been very pleased with it. I have a friend with a 3/4 hp Baldor that I have used in the past. The major difference between the two is that the Baldor is only one speed. Other than that, I can't tell the difference when using them. Neither can my friend.

My father has the pedestal buffer from Eastwood, don't remember what model, but it has worked fine for the past 5 years, polishing untold amounts of Stainless trim for out 50's and 60's car. We are in PA, and the 3 year warranty was great if we needed it since Pottsown isn't super far.

I'm going to bite the bullet and go ahead and order it here in a few minutes. I'm going need one, and for the money, this seemss to be about the best deal around. Once I get it, and get it set up, I'll give a report to how well I like it.

 

[MichaelP]

Kevin,

So what's your opinion after using the buffer for a few months?
Thank you.

Mike

 

[Kevin54]

Kevin,

So what's your opinion after using the buffer for a few months?
Thank you.

Mike

I'm totally satisfied with it. For as many time as I have used it, a couple of the buffing wheels can make a mess. The strings come out of tem and end up all over the floor. But it's nothing a shop-vac, or the leaf blower won't take care of. Other than that, it has done everything I have expected or it. Does it equal a Baldor buffer......maybe not. But for the home person doing occasional buffing, it has met all of my expectations.

Now I do have to say that when I first bought it, when I went to turn it on low, it would act odd and I would have to turn the wheel by hand to get it started.. I sent it back and they sent me another one promptly. It did the same thing for a little while, but after having discussion with Eastwood, they wanted me to send it back again. I told them that I would keep t and see if things loosen up after a while. We discussed them trying things out before they sent a new one, but I needed one and did not want to send one back again. After using it for awhile, things loosened up. so I don't have to help it start.

If I was going to buy another buffer would I buy another buffer from Eastwood......yes I would. They are very good people to deal with. The only complaint is like I said is the buffing wheel. Not all do it, but one particular one does. I haven't had a chance to use all of the wheels though. But I am very satisfied with it.

 

[MichaelP]

Kevin,

When you switch from the high to low speed, the torque should drop making your 1hp buffer more like a 1/2hp one.
Do you find it powerful enough so that you cannot stall it while running on the low speed?

Thanks you for your kind assistance.

Mike

 

[Kevin54]

I don't find that mine will stall, but if you switch it from high to low quickly, it will unscrew the bolts if not o super tight seeing that they are left hand and right hand bolts. The RPM's drop fast enough that it will loosen them.

 

[MichaelP]

Thank you Kevin.

 

[6PTsocket]

I don't find that mine will stall, but if you switch it from high to low quickly, it will unscrew the bolts if not o super tight seeing that they are left hand and right hand bolts. The RPM's drop fast enough that it will loosen them.

There is a Baldor with similar specs, same high and low speed current ratings, same dia. shafts and they call it an 8". If there is a concern about lack of torque, you can go to the 8" wheels. That lowers the effective buffing speed too. For plastic, on low speed, that can be a good thing.

Kevin,

When you switch from the high to low speed, the torque should drop making your 1hp buffer more like a 1/2hp one.
Do you find it powerful enough so that you cannot stall it while running on the low speed?

Thanks you for your kind assistance.

Mike

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk