Bench grinder/polisher ??'s

[mikeys]

I make wood carving knives, the carving community likes polished blades. I was planning on buying a small polisher using 3-4 inch wheels. The majority of economical polisher s have wheels that thread on the shaft without a nut like their larger polishers. Do these thread on wheels ever come loose ? I could make a threaded adapter and the use a nut to secure the wheels. Thx mikeys

 

[fitzo]

I have a 1/4HP Foredom variable speed "Bench Lathe" that uses tapered spindles. On my unit, the spindles will unscrew (set screws to the shaft) and can be replaced. On the other hand, I use mine with two buffs on the tapered shafts for sharpening and polishing my carving knives. The wheels stay put on the shaft. Look it up. Nice machines and variable speed is always nice in polishing. Warning, though - it's pricey. But they last.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

If the spindle adapters are properly locked on with the set screws they will stay there forever.
I have run jewelry buffers for nearly 50 years and never had one come loose. The tapered spindles are left and right thread so the wheels stay tight on them. Use treated muslin buffs and red or white rouge.
You can build your own from a single or double shaft 1/4-1/3HP motor from eBay and the tapered spindles.