can you convert bench grinder to buffer

TiSurvival

TiSurvival

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Jul 7, 2006
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I have a bench grinder with dual grinding wheels on the sides, I was wondering if there is any way to rig it so that i have one grinding wheel on one side and a buffer on the other. If this is possible and you know how can you give me a quick briefing on it? Thanks in advance.

-Esteban
 
You could probably put buffing wheels on it, but it may not be strong enough and may bog down easily. I usually apply a lot of pressure when I buff.
-John
 
so the best bet would be to probably just get a separate buffer for this then? I have limited space in my garage and would prefer to just use the grinder I have if possible to avoid cluttering the room too much.
 
I did this with a bench grinder, and it worked o.k. All you need to do is take off one wheel. If there are covers on the wheels take them off also. One side of the grinder is most likely reverse threaded so keep that in mind. you will need a fairly thick buffing wheel and will most likely have to stack two. Also you may have trouble with the buffing wheel being to close to the moter to get in at all angles. Save the parts in case you decide to buy a buffer.
Good luck
 
I use a variable speed delta 6" bench grinder as my buffer right now and it seems to work fine. It rarely ever bogs down unless I press really hard. The only problem is that with the 6" buffing wheels sometimes the grinder gets in the way of buffing so I would use 8" wheels instead.
 
As an addition I did take the wheel covers off and bought a couple of spacers that I use when the buffing wheel is not thick enough to be tightened enough.
 
Sheffield supply does have some arbor extenders. I bought some and put them on my bench grinder. I use a scotchbrite deburring wheel on one side and a buffing wheel with a metal polishing compound to "power strop" my secondary bevel.
 
i use my 6" for my white rouge , it only turns 1750 and thats fast enough for me.
i did take the cover off
vern
 
I purchased a DeWalt 8" grinder and replaced both wheels with buffing wheels from Lee Valley. It works gerat as a buffer...
 
so yes, to make a long story short, you can do whatever you like! Back in the days i bought a cheapo 6" inch Ryobi grinder for like 40 bucks i think, took off all the hardware and grinding disks and put on some black and decker 6" inch buffing wheels with either a 1/2" arbor hole or 5/8"...can't remember. Only probably with that dealy setup was when I went to buff longer straight blades, it would want to run into the other wheel....so the solution would be to take off one of the wheels.

when you buff, in my opinion, especially for the actual blade finish, you want something slower which gives you more control. You can do it with a 3600 rpm.

Remember! The buffer is the single most dangerous piece of equipment in the shop!

Jantz supply has great buffing wheels, otherwise if it's a 6" inch wheel you're looking for, you can probably get away with some at home depot :)
 
I bought a Baldor buffer. I believe 1800 RPMs. It is very powerful and works great, but as stated above buffers are dangerous and I really hate using it. Be careful with whatever you use.
-John
 
Will a buffer take out fine scratches using grey compound? if so how course can the scratches be before you have to go with a sisal wheel?
 
I take my knives to 600 grit, then use green rouge and the then the white compound. Not sure what the gray compund is. I get me buffing wheels form Pop. I use the yellow with the green and the white ones with the white. Hope that helps.
-John
 
there was a thread either here or another forum about after HT using a new 120grit belt to clean up then go straight to a 400 cork belt loaded with green paste then straight to the buffer with that. I don't buff my blades but it worked well for me as a starting point for a hand rubbed finish. I usually started at 800 after the green cork belt treatment.

Will
formerly known as badbamaump
 
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