recommended bench buffers

[rjeffie]

my first post!
I used to smoke pipes along with cigarettes and cigars until i had a rather eye opening heart attack in 2005. so all my pipes have been sitting in a shed out back and show the need for complete refurbishing. Now that i haven't inhaled any smoke in 10 years i find that i can enjoy a cigar and a pipe without inhaling.

I have about 40 pipes and plan on getting into restoring estate pipes as my knowledge and experience increase. It seems that a good buffing set up would be a good idea.

Your recommendations will be appreciated.

thanks

rjeffie

 

[Chasing Embers]

I would recommend a variable speed, 1 HP, 10 inch setup. For your buffing wheels, Pimo has a great selection along with all the abrasives and waxes you will need.

 

[ejames]

If you can find one-or two-- 110Volt,1725 rpm motors and a couple of arbors will make a good cheap buffer. Jestco buffing supply has nice arbors plus wheels and compounds. I use two, a 1/6th HP and a 1/4 HP.Both have plenty of power for buffing,drilling and sanding. I have several different arbors so that I can attach either a sanding disk,small Jacobs drill chuck or my buffing wheels.

 

[mcitinner1]

I bought this but haven't even opened it yet. It's a bit of over kill but the 1/2 horse model is only one speed at 3450 rpm and now I don't need a VFD.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eastwood-1-HP-Buffing-Motor-and-10-Buff-Wheels-and-Compound-Kit-/231507521399?hash=item35e6ec6f77&item=231507521399&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

 

[tobyducote]

I love the shop fox..

 

[phil67]

As ejames pointed out, try to get a motor with a lower RPM (1725 - 1800). Most motors for buffing are in the 3000+ RPM range which is too fast for buffing briar, and especially so when applying carnauba wax.

 

[pepesdad1]

Mine runs at 1750RPM and I have no problems with the wheel "catching" the pipes...slower speed you have better control.

 

[rcstan]

Two-speed (1800/3600 ) Baldor. Low speed for most jobs, high speed for fine tune up work AFTER you get the "hang of it". DO NOT buy a $50 bench grinder and convert it to a buffer, you'll do more damage than it's worth.

 

[phil67]

Amen to that! Take it SLOW until you get the hang of it and until you know full well how to apply the pipe/stem to the buffing wheel (as in PROPER angles). I used to make custom handmade knives and the most dangerous job was buffing! I once had a knife catch on the wheel and the point slammed through the outer tip of my shoe and left a 1/4" chunk in the cement floor! Even to this day when working with pipes I still use a face guard. Old habits and past experiences are hard to die and well learned. :wink:

 

[rjeffie]

Thanks for the great advice

 

[ssjones]

Go over to your local electric motor repair shop and see if they have a rebuilt furnace motor (usually 1/2-3/4 hp @ 1725 RPM). Wire in a switch and get the Jestco arbor ejames mentioned. Out the door for around $75. But, that $300 dual arbor unit from Eastwood is sweet!

 

[mcitinner1]

I got it set up today and it is sweet, especially the 10" wheels. The price was $270 and free shipping for both a 70 pound box for the motor, and a second 9 pound box for the buff kit. I know it is overkill but it's a done deal and I'm happy.

 

[ssjones]

Nice @mcitinner1, show us your set up when you get it in place!

 

[literaryworkshop]

When it comes to RPMs, remember that the actual speed of the surface of the buffing wheel changes with the diameter of the wheel, so a 10" wheel running at 1725 RPMs is running a LOT faster than a 6" wheel running at 1725 RPMs. Something to consider if you end up building your own.
Eye protection is a good idea while buffing. It will also help to mount the buffer on a proper stand rather than on a bench top, so you can get the pipe around the lower part of the wheel.

 

[captpat]

I bought a Foredom Bench Lathe, it's pretty small--easy to store, and the RPM's are continuously variable, slower for Tripoli, a bit faster for carnuba. Plus my wife can use it for her jewelry hobby. Finally Foredom has a large assortment of other attachments.

 

[rjeffie]

Got a motor out of a HVAC system. Turns 1075 rpms. Thinking of getting the 8" Beall system for it and the Beall 4" kit for the 3475 rpm unit I bought. Comments?

 

[lonestar]

1075 is slow for it, but I've never buffed at that speed so I can't say what your results will be. I know some guys will use the speed for a final buff to smooth the Carnauba, but they're not applying compound or wax at the speed.

I HAVE buffed at 3450, and it is a fantastic way to shoot a pipe through your wall in 2 or 3 different pieces.

Once my 1700 rpm motor stopped working when all I needed to do was finish buffing a pipe I'd just made.. I've had a couple catches over the years, and picked a pipe up off the floor with a ding in it. But at 3475, one tiny mistake and the pipe was done for... I still have both pieces of that pipe to prove it !

 

[kola]

I own a Shopsmith and use it for many uses but for buffing pipes it's very nice as I can adjust the rpm's to any speed I want.
A good Shopsmith is a great machine with lots of bells and whistles and they are quality machines. A few pipe carvers use them to make pipes, ( Brian Rutherberg and him using his Shopsmith) http://www.briarart.com/aboutme.htm

 

[torque]

When it comes to RPMs, remember that the actual speed of the surface of the buffing wheel changes with the diameter of the wheel, so a 10" wheel running at 1725 RPMs is running a LOT faster than a 6" wheel running at 1725 RPMs. Something to consider if you end up building your own.

This is expressed as Surface Feet per Minute (SFM). The formula is actually a pretty simple equation.
SFM = Diameter (in.) x 0.2618 x RPM
So, if your motor has a constant RPM of 1725 (as is most often recommended) and you are using, for example, a 8 in. wheel then you will have a lineal SFM of 3613. A 6 in. wheel will yield 2710 SFM and a 10 in. is 4516 SFM. So, if you don't have a variable RPM buffer you might consider keeping a few different diameter wheels around to match your needs.

 

[crusader]

[/url][/img]I built this guy yesterday. A 1750 motor out of a defective RV air cond. (I work at a dealership), built a mount out of 2x6 material and wired it up to a old extension cord. Bought a 1/2 " arbor at ACE and mounted a 6" wheel to it. Works like a champ for under 25 bucks.