Official Luthiers Forum!

What suggestions do y'all have for a cheap buffer setup? I was actually planning on chucking a buffer in my drill press to get me through this one and building a better one for the future. Any experience good or bad with this?

I also came across these at HF. Any thoughts? Are they useable? Could the speed just be dialed down with a rheostat? This route just seems too inexpensive not to check out vs. the cost of building. Especially with my extra 20% off coupon.

HF Buffer

HF Buffer #2

And which ever route I go, what do you suggest for the buffer pad? Stew-Mac, homemade...?

Thanks again!

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

NO NO NO neither have a long enough shaft to keep the body clear of the arbor or enough hp to spin a 12 or 14" wheel. As usall cheap will cost you. If I was to suggest the cheapest rig that was worth the money it would be the SM #5386 arbor, wheels and compound package. You will need a motor but that is only around $50 for a good evapertive air conditioner motor.MichaelP38740.7153356482

plus to boot, small wheels generate more heat in a small area. Big problems can happen fast

I used "Beal system" buffs(from Lee Valley) chucked in my drill press for my first 20-30 guitars, and still, to this day, do my final, finest buffing using one of them in the drill press. I keep coming back to this one buff because none that I have ever found for my big buffer is as soft.

Anyway, it works. It's cheap, and it works well.

Just lower the table ALL the way down and swing it to the back. Trust me on that one <sigh>

Hmmm...OK, you've got my attention. And the shaft length was the one thing that concerned me most. However, I felt that with a pedestal mount and 12" or 14" wheel, as you say, you would wind up with enough clearance.

The one thing I really question is the statement about power. Both of these are rated 3/4 HP (in those questionable HF numbers, of course). Just how much power does it take? I mean, as long as it will spin the wheel and hold up to light loading, that's enough, right? If anything, I figured it would be overkill in the power department.

Now, I like cheap, but only when effective. Even if it takes a little more tweaking or a little more patience. I definitely like the SM setup, but would likely build one before I went that route.

Who knows, though, half the stuff I buy online is because I get a wild hair and itchy trigger finger on the "Enter" button. The I cuss myself the next few days till the stuff comes in and praise myself from there on out for "the best money I ever spent".

Next, a question arises about small vs. large wheels. I thought I had read a large wheel would be more likely to generate more heat? It was really the speed that had me concerned most.

Looking forward to more responses. This is a great learning experience for me!westex9338740.7427083333

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Bruce Dickey has one he built in the Jigs, tools, and techniques section of the Forum. (Above)

Wes, in addition to what Michael said, the HF machines spin at 3450 RPM which is way to fast. You can make one fairly inexpensively with a 1/3 hp or greater 1725 rpm motor, pillow blocks, shaft and 12-inch buffers. You'll want to get a 12-inch buffer down to about 800 to 850 rpm. The larger the diameter of buffer the greater SFPM you'll have.

Anthony Z38740.7479050926

Right, the speed was what had me wondering if it could be dialed down with a rheostat. All in all, if this won't work, no loss. Just had me curious. I was already looking at the drill press method for this one and building one in the future.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

The problem with the harbour freight buffer is the speed. When buffing lacquer a 3600 rpm shaft speed will generate excessive heat in a hurry, which will damage the finish. These buffers use induction motors, so the rpm is a function of the number of poles and the frequency of it's electrical power. The only way to slow it down would be with an electronic variable frequency drive which unfortunatly is expensive. A belt drive system will allow a shaft speed of 600-1000 rpm allowing the use of larger wheels and generating less heat.

Regards   Al

my buffer was built using a gokart axle from northern tool and inexpensive pillow blocks from ebay.

the cheapest wheels around that i know of are from caswell industries.

use a 1735 rpm motor(1/4 or 1/3 hp is sufficient and they can be had for free or almost so at flea markets, etc.) reduced to 875 rpm shaft speed with 12" buffs or lower with 14" buffs.

aside from the risk of dinging the wood the high speed of the buffers you mention will melt or burn through finish in a flash.

Key word Inexpensive. Hoffmann said he used a buffer on a drill early on, but it got to his shoulders. Might do for a while. I never tried my drill press, maybe Mario will pop up a pic for you. I love my big old buffer, it's a hoss, but it turns the right speed and all.

I have one of those $99 buffers from Caswell. It is ok. Certainly nice for the money. As I recall the RPMs are 1150 but you don't have to worry about burn through. If you apply too much pressure it just bogs the system down and it stops.

Not bad though if you are patient and have a light touch.

The canton flannel buffs are great though.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock, did you buy your canton flannel buffs from Caswell?

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I built this buffing station using the $95 arbor setup available from
Klingspor (#CL34000). It has a 1" shaft and is 32" long. I use 14" canton
flannel buffs from Caswell. You can use a 1/2 hp, 1725 rpm motor. The
beauty is you end up with a no-compromise buffing station for not a lot
of money. I put 2 buffs on each end. You can add more, if you like.
Several people commented on the speed of the 3450 and 3600 rpm units.
Waaaay toooo fast.
Craig[IMG]useruploads/csullivan/2006-01-24_094509_Buffer-1.jpg[/
IMG]

Don't know why the image didn't upload. I'll try again.

[QUOTE=Dave Rector] Brock, did you buy your canton flannel buffs from Caswell?[/QUOTE]

Yes, they are the 14" wheels.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Yep, once again I knew the speed was the main issue and only wondered if it could be slowed down.

Love your setup, Craig. That's pretty well along the line of what I've got in mind.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com