Where to buy a decent buffing wheel/machine and supplies??
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There are hand held random orbital buffing machines but these are mainly for larger applications. It really depends what you want to use it for I suppose as these will not work for polishing small precision pieces which I assume is your intended use? (For Reference Griots Garage makes a good random orbital).
I'm not sure about good quality bench grinders which might be what you are after?
I'm not sure about good quality bench grinders which might be what you are after?
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Yeah I've looked around a bit, good quality bench grinder, i've seen a few 3" mini bench grinders..I think used for jewerly and smaller stuff which will be fine..
I don't know what the advantage of an actual bench buffer over a bench grinder actually is. I have an el cheapo ryobi 6 inch bench grinder that I haven't been able to kill. For as much as I use it I don't think the thing will ever die. I know there are buffing sets for it.
I assume real buffers have variable speed and the way the arms are on the side you can polish stuff faster. But if you're not doing high volume a regular bench grinder + buffing combo for it might be more then enough. Plus you an always use it as a bench grinder.
I do all this small stuff by hand or with a dremel. I've had really good luck with stainless using some of the dremel polishing stuff including the 520 bit. It's already full of silica carbide and a cooling solution. On low speeds it does a very good job on stuff that's a little heavier then just surface scratches. I will admit it's slow but for the small amount of stuff I do it's sufficient. The fine stuff I tend to do by hand.
I assume real buffers have variable speed and the way the arms are on the side you can polish stuff faster. But if you're not doing high volume a regular bench grinder + buffing combo for it might be more then enough. Plus you an always use it as a bench grinder.
I do all this small stuff by hand or with a dremel. I've had really good luck with stainless using some of the dremel polishing stuff including the 520 bit. It's already full of silica carbide and a cooling solution. On low speeds it does a very good job on stuff that's a little heavier then just surface scratches. I will admit it's slow but for the small amount of stuff I do it's sufficient. The fine stuff I tend to do by hand.
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I bought a 1/4HP single phase Industrial motor and mounted a 1/2" arbor on the shaft 20 years ago and it still works great. Easy to do, all you need is a wooden base to mount the motor on.
All you need is a 6" bench grinder and buy the buffing wheel separate. It will polish anything you would like. Cotton wheels buff the best. You need a bench grinder to buff well, because you need the torque, you need to generate a certain amount of heat and friction for the process to work well. There are bench grinders with longer shafts made just for buffing but they cost a bot more. Harbor freight carries one and it should last just fine for a homeowners use. There is also different types of wheels and compounds. I use tripoli compound for brass and a soft wheel. For stainless I use a firm wheel and a white compound forgot the name. Check youtube for videos and I'm sure you can learn much more than what I can explain typing. Good luck.
Or you can buy a buffing wheel with center shaft and use a drill machine as bench grinder.
Here is pic of me polishing a folding knife I made:
(I do all polishing this way)
Here is pic of me polishing a folding knife I made:
(I do all polishing this way)
I just bought some buffing wheels for my dremel and a new dremel. All came to under $60. Tested it out on the bottom of my silver bullet and it works fantastically.
Used the red rouge the polishing wheels came with to get scratches out first. Then used some mothers mag polish and a clean polishing wheel on the dremel to polish it. Then hand buffed. Worked well. Gonna keep practicing before doing anything gg.
Any pointers out there??
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Used the red rouge the polishing wheels came with to get scratches out first. Then used some mothers mag polish and a clean polishing wheel on the dremel to polish it. Then hand buffed. Worked well. Gonna keep practicing before doing anything gg.
Any pointers out there??
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It doesn't really cover the equipment but para and ezkill have some good pointers here just in case you missed it.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/gg/316990-polishing-tips.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/gg/316990-polishing-tips.html
If you have a dremel or dremel like device try a 520 bit from dremel. It's a small polishing wheel with silica carbide and some lubrication built in. It's a good way to get started and you don't have to mess around with cutting compound as it already has all you need inside the bit.
That being said do not practice on your GG stuff...lol. Grab a stainless steel spoon or knife from your drawer or even an old stainless steel watch and try the bit out. It's pretty hard to mess up but you should get the feel of it on something else first.
That being said do not practice on your GG stuff...lol. Grab a stainless steel spoon or knife from your drawer or even an old stainless steel watch and try the bit out. It's pretty hard to mess up but you should get the feel of it on something else first.
Just buy a Baldor buffer... its a perfect match for a GG... You know you want one! 
Just so you guys know when buffing with Rouge (Tripoli) or white diamond you need to be wearing respiratory protection, that stuff is nasty and will destroy your lungs.
Everything fun is bad for you. Metal dust, wood dust.... yes wood dust. If your looking to polish a tube type mod a dremel would get you by it would just take a while. If your making something from raw materials and want to polish that a bench mounted type is the only way to go. I first wet sand my metal to remove bigger scratches and make it as smooth as possible. I start with 220 grit and work my way up ending with 1000 grit or 2000 depending on what Im polishing. Then tripoli for brass or aluminum or white for stainless. Wear leather gloves as heat is generated. This is taking dull smooth metal to a chrome or polished finish. If you already have a shiny finish all you need is liquid polishing compound and a cloth. Flitz is good semichrome polish is very good. Once polished try renaissance wax to keep the shine. Many of these polishes are available at woodcraft stores or woodcraft.com. Foredom,Baldor all excellent tools but they are not cheap.
MrGreen, I agree, all fun things are bad for you! Wood dust is no bueno! That's why I wear a 3M Adflo PAPR system when I do woodworking (and any polishing) I didn't quit smoking to ruin my lungs with other particles. The Baldor buffer was said somewhat tongue and cheek, but they do make the rolls royce of industrial grinders/buffers (fitting for the GG 
)
Safety is important and breathing Tripoli or white diamond is a good way to support your local respiratory therapist!
) Safety is important and breathing Tripoli or white diamond is a good way to support your local respiratory therapist!
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