Buffer deal

Dan Pierson

Dan Pierson

Joined
Nov 24, 2003
Messages
2,357
I was going to announce this in a different post, but I just ran into this deal, so: I'm finally going to have a shop built so I can start making knives at home instead of very slowly at class :D Work should start mid-March and be finished around early to mid-May.

This has led me into thinking seriously about what to put in the shop and how I'm ever going to pay for it :confused:

While trolling around the list of web sources of built up over the last year plus of taking classes, lurking here and attending the occasional hammer-in and show, I wandered over to Caswell to check their buffers. Much to my surprise , I'd guess that they're phasing out their rather odd speed 1100 RPM 3/4 horse model -- it's down to $99:

http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/34hpbuffkit.html

It seems a bit slow, but I assume that I can make up for that with bigger wheels and slower is better than faster for a buffer, right?

Anyway, I ordered it this weekend and it just came today. Now I've got to patiently stick it in a corner of the house until I have a shop to put it in.

So, did I make a mistake? I haven't ordered any wheels or compound yet. Would one of their kits be a good place to start?

Dan Pierson
 
Dan,

I just looked at the link. $99 Wow. Cheap. Seems it was designed mostly for plastics. The one thing on the link that stood out was this line "Also available in 1100 RPM Model for buffing plastics and acrylics. 4" plates to hold 12" - 16" wheels".

With the larger wheels you would probably start to get enough surface speed to do some good buffing but I don't know how aggresive you could get without starting to stall the motor.

Slower is good for plastics and heat sensitive materials but there is an optimum surface speed range for buffing metals and if I remember right it is somewhere in the 4500 to 4800 feet per minute range. I had to make a similar decision on whether to get an 1800 or 3600 RMP Baldor buffer and did go with the 1800.

Good luck with it and let us know how it works out.

Allen
 
ralenr said:
Dan,
With the larger wheels you would probably start to get enough surface speed to do some good buffing but I don't know how aggresive you could get without starting to stall the motor.
Allen
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's the risk. So far I mainly use a buffer to get the final shine on handles (mostly wood), burn in Carnuba wax and *lightly* polish the top of damascus. I'm not trying to do mirror finishes on steel. Maybe this improves my odds -- we'll see.

Dan Pierson
 
Looks to me like you scored. I like the buffing kits too, seems less expensive than buying everything as you need it, which is what I've done all along. Is this deal still available? Prices on the site don't reflect it. I'm seriously tempted...
 
ddavelarsen said:
Looks to me like you scored. I like the buffing kits too, seems less expensive than buying everything as you need it, which is what I've done all along. Is this deal still available? Prices on the site don't reflect it. I'm seriously tempted...
Click to expand...

It was when I posted the link last night. Scroll way down to
the price list at the bottom of the page.
 
Dan: That looks good to me. Are you just sticking with doing folders????
Good luck with your home shop. :D
 
indian george said:
Dan: That looks good to me. Are you just sticking with doing folders????
Good luck with your home shop. :D
Click to expand...

No, mostly fixed blades though I am thinking about doing a second folder before I lay off of classes for a while.

You're definitely invited up once I have a shop with something in it. ;)
 
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