Questions About Converting Motor To Bench Buffer/Sander

[RiseAbove]

Hey. Firstly Happy New Year

I'm wanting to get a motor to convert to a bench motor so i can use a buffer pad and wire wheel to clean up old vintage hand tools. What are some good brands, I've been looking at Baldor and Dayton so far. Am i right in thinking 1750rpm is good enough for what i need? I'm not too familiar with the different specs like phases etc, so what should i be looking for? Which is a good adapter to put on the motor shaft to fit the buffer and wire wheel? Also, who makes the best buffing pads and wire wheels?

 

[karoc]

For what a Baldor or Dayton motor cost,CL has always have lot of grinders that would hold a buffing wheel.And usually these grinders are pretty cheap due to the numbers.I have purchase couple grinders and took the shields off and put buffing wheels on for different compounds.But I still keep my eyes open for a real buffer on pedestal.

 

[tool_scrounge]

You have a few options.

1) Buy a motor with radial bearings, then add a shaft adapter or tapered spindle, such as:

https://covington-engineering.com/buffs-spindles/

Why a motor with radial bearings instead of sleeve bearings? I usually find ball bearing motors work better for axial loads, which you can get depending on the surface your are buffing. If the motor has oil holes or cups on either end, it is probably a sleeve bearing. But depending on the motor you might be fine with sleeve bearings.

2) Buy a used bench grinder and remove the grinding wheel guards and tool rest.

 

[Voi]

There is a thread here somewhere about putting a longer shaft in the pillow block type mandrels that can then be run with a motor.

I couldn't find the thread but here are a couple of links.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=32960&cat=1,43072,45939&ap=1

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Gri...026?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com

 

[finn]

I used the 240v motor from a scrapped Craftsman table saw. I got the motor for free, and it’s space profile was such that the wheel would mount fairly far from the motor windings.

Picked up a couple of extended length arbors from an online source.

It works, but I wouldn’t do it again.

A commercial buffer with all the bugs worked out is preferable. I’d rather be buffing than futzing around making a buffer at this stage in life.

 

[bubinga]

I used the 240v motor from a scrapped Craftsman table saw. I got the motor for free, and it’s space profile was such that the wheel would mount fairly far from the motor windings.

Picked up a couple of extended length arbors from an online source.

It works, but I wouldn’t do it again.

A commercial buffer with all the bugs worked out is preferable. I’d rather be buffing than futzing around making a buffer at this stage in life.

Good to know, didn't know they had them.
Here is a picture and a link to a set that sells them.
https://www.caswellplating.com/buffing-polishing/buffing-adapters/shaft-extenders.html

 

[Prichman38]

I’m using an old oil burner motor that someone added the arbor too. I payed $3 for it st a garage sale.


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[bubinga]

I’m using an old oil burner motor that someone added the arbor too. I payed $3 for it st a garage sale.


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Good Deal. Does it have plenty of power for your use?
I feel like the less I spend for something, or the less I spend restoring something the more "Fun" it is!!

 

[skruft]

I found a 1hp Craftsman ball bearing motor of a kind that was used in table saws but had two output shafts, and put shaft adapters on both.

 

[bubinga]

I found a 1hp Craftsman ball bearing motor of a kind that was used in table saws but had two output shafts, and put shaft adapters on both.

that's the way to go.

Most of those were true 1 hp too, according to the amps draw.
I liked how the old ones had the switch too, just like a grinder.

 

[RiseAbove]

Thanks for the replies and links.

I've found a couple of cheap Baldor and Dayton motors locally, so thinking of getting one of those. Is 1700rpm enough for wire wheel and buffing work on vintage tools? I see alot of 3500 rpm ones...is that too much?

 

[rsanter]

My advice for what you are wanting to do,is build one
Get a couple of pillow block bearings.
Put a shaft through them with a pully on it
Run the motor down low with a bent going up to the shaft

Why?
When wore wheeling and especially buffing, the motor,always gets in the way when trying to,position a piece you are trying to polish.
This is why commercial buffers have long shafts

 

[Tunajoe]

Here's mine I made.
The stand is from an old cheap table saw.
24x24" quarter inch plate mounted on top.
Found an old pillow block setup on CL and then used an old motor to connect with a HF belt.

I need to turn down the spindle on a lathe cause I'm limited with the 1.25" size

 

[Davefr]

Thanks for the replies and links.

I've found a couple of cheap Baldor and Dayton motors locally, so thinking of getting one of those. Is 1700rpm enough for wire wheel and buffing work on vintage tools? I see alot of 3500 rpm ones...is that too much?

For 6-8" buffs, you generally want 3600 RPM but it depends on the compound and material you're buffing. You need to be in the sweet spot as measured by SFPM.

Download the buffing handbook here:
https://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/images/Buffbook.pdf

1700 Is generally enough for wire brushing.

Both buffing a brushing require lots of amps. (it take way more power then normal grinding).

You should target 5 amps for 6" wheels and 8 amps for 8" wheels. (ie approx. 1 amp per inch)

 

[Jim Stabe]

There was an old 1 1/2 hp 3450 rpm motor in the back of the garage when I bought my house. I hooked it up and found out it ran so I built a buffer. Works great.

 

[6PTsocket]

Thanks for the replies and links.

I've found a couple of cheap Baldor and Dayton motors locally, so thinking of getting one of those. Is 1700rpm enough for wire wheel and buffing work on vintage tools? I see alot of 3500 rpm ones...is that too much?

If you check buffing charts, steel and aluminum are usually buffed at the higher speed of around 3400 and softer stuff like brass, gold and silver, plated objects and plastic are buffed at the lower 1700 speed. If you don't have a 2 speed buffer and plan to do materials in both categories, it makes sense to have a belt driven 2 step pulley system so you can step motor speed up or down. Buffing wheel size also affects speed as it is surface ft /minute that is what really matters. I don't see them much any more but they used to sell a stand with an arbor shaft and a central pulley to be belt driven by a motor. It simplifies construction.

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[Jim Stabe]

If you check buffing charts, steel and aluminum are usually buffed at the higher speed of around 3400 and softer stuff like brass, gold and silver, plated objects and plastic are buffed at the lower 1700 speed. If you don't have a 2 speed buffer and plan to do materials in both categories, it makes sense to have a belt driven 2 step pulley system so you can step motor speed up or down. Buffing wheel size also affects speed as it is surface ft /minute that is what really matters. I don't see them much any more but they used to sell a stand with an arbor shaft and a central pulley to be belt driven by a motor. It simplifies construction.

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I agree with the high/low buffing speeds. If you look on my machine in the post above, the motor has a small pulley mounted on the other side of the motor that drives the wheels at half speed. Just need to switch the belt to the other side. I have the extra belt hanging on the hook that holds the cord.

 

[bubinga]

There was an old 1 1/2 hp 3450 rpm motor in the back of the garage when I bought my house. I hooked it up and found out it ran so I built a buffer. Works great.

That is very nice Jim!

 

[larry4406]

I agree with the high/low buffing speeds. If you look on my machine in the post above, the motor has a small pulley mounted on the other side of the motor that drives the wheels at half speed. Just need to switch the belt to the other side. I have the extra belt hanging on the hook that holds the cord.

Neat solution! I saw your picture and said to myself why the hell is he driving it with two belts and then read your post!

 

[Jim Stabe]

Neat solution! I saw your picture and said to myself why the hell is he driving it with two belts and then read your post!

Thanks

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use an old 3450 rpm household water pump motor to use for various purposes involving wire brush and buffing wheels. The motor shaft is threaded 1/2”-20, so a drill chuck screws right on. I made a stub shaft for each wheel, and just chuck up whatever I want in a matter of seconds. A plus is that a countersink can be used as a hole deburring tool in it.

 

[6PTsocket]

I mentioned an arbor stand. There seems to still be one around. The Shop Fox. It has a 3 step pulley. I also saw a basic setup on ebay with an arbor, a pulley and two pillow block bearings. It might save you a little time.

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[BDT/NWMN]

There was an old 1 1/2 hp 3450 rpm motor in the back of the garage when I bought my house. I hooked it up and found out it ran so I built a buffer. Works great.

I admire The thought and craftsmanship that You invested in that buffer.

 

[bubinga]

I mentioned an arbor stand. There seems to still be one around. The Shop Fox. It has a 3 step pulley. I also saw a basic setup on ebay with an arbor, a pulley and two pillow block bearings. It might save you a little time.

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Nice, about $110.00 at Grizzly though.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Shop-Fox-Buffing-Assembly/W1681

 

[Movin/on]

Here is one I put together after getting the shaft and pillow block bearings. 2" shaft that necks down to 1" for the buffing wheels.


Movin/on