Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello folks, some of you thought i'd stop working in the shop and just play guitar huh? Been busy building myself this cute lil buffer with a motor scrounged(again!) from a drying or washing machine and purchased 2 pillow block bearings and one 1/2" steel rod for the shaft and a pulley, the wood was given to me by a fellow Janitor in block 10 here, total cost with the wheels maybe $60-$70 total! The buffing wheels were bought at Lee Valley, God i love that store!

Here it is in construction and assembly mode











a lamination of 2 planks for the base on which rests the motor and i will add a angled piece there for added support



I'm very happy with sawdust flying as you can see, my wife took this pic after i finished cutting the pieces on the table saw!



And the finished buffer!





Thanks for watching !!!

Serge

Looks great Serge! Now, get busy and buff Mama's guitar for her.   

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Right on coach!

Look great Serge. I do have a question for you though. How high is the center of the wheels off of ground level?. The reason I ask is the biggest accident that happens with power buffer is when the wheel grabs the upper edge of the guitar and slams it to the ground or bench. I fins it very dangerous to work a buffer that the wheels are much over waist high. The higher the wheels over waist high the harder it is to control the body in tight areas and the higher the risk of a throw down. but then a gain I am just 5'8" and shrinking

Now I am assuming that you plan to operate it as you have it clamped to your bench. MichaelP38924.6738773148

Thanks for this clarification Michael, it is way above the waist as you mention and i will take that into consideration before using it, the buffer will be clamped to a lower table and will have the wheels at proper height !

Thanks Michael!

That looks fantastic bud!   Can't wait to try it out!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Hey guys come on over, i have lots of toys in that shop!

Thanks Hesh and Al!

Man, you are unstopable!!!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Wow,You must be The fastest jig builder in all of the northland Serge! The buffer looks great.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Thanks Dave, it must be the cold weather that makes me go that quick!

Looks great, Serge. where's your dust mask?

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Oh Oh!! Not paying attention to safety!!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Had to take it off for the pic Ron!!!!!

Nice job and I'm glad you did not dust off for the picture.

You definitaly look like a working man proud of his sweat equity and proudly wearing the sweat and saw dust!

Looks Good!!
I do have one recommendation though. It looks like there is some kind of fan piece on the motor from whatever the motor came off of. I would do my best to remove it or build some type of cover or guard for it. I would hate to see that grab a shirt while buffing.

Serge -- you've turned into a shop monster!

Hesh
What Compounds are you using?? The dry menzerna bar compounds I use don't make any mess at all.

Thanks Scooter, Colby, Anthony and Hesh!

Hesh and Colby, Your advices are well received, i will comply with the safety requirements!
I will enclose that fan thingy and the other rotating components that could harm me and will try to cover the back of the buffing wheels, Thanks!

Scooter, you're right, i'm in heaven when covered with the sawdust!

Anthony, yes, i guess i love building some jigs better than others and really had fun with this little project, must be the kid building and playing with an electric toy!

Serge Poirier38924.9534027778

Hesh, i'm not sure of the speed i have with my motor but i think it's a 1/3 hp and it is pretty slow, do you think it's fast enough for buffing?

Thanks Hesh, i think you're right on the speed, i prefer to start buffing in a slow fashion, i'll have time to get accustumed to the compound quantity to use and all that jazz, and will do as told safety wise my big brother! Thanks again!