Foredom Bench Lathe, Mirror polishing?

You need at least 1/3 hp. but 1/2 will work much better. You do not need ca variable speed machine both 1725 rpm and 3450 will work. Frank
 
That will not work for several reasons:
It is to underpowered, for knives ( and any serious buffing of any sort) 1/2HP is minimum, 1HP is best.
1800 RPM is the max I would recommend.
A knife buffer needs to be solidly mounted on a stand, without dust guards or nearby walls/counters.
A knife buffer needs 6" minimum wheels, 10-12" are best.

There have been many threads about buffers being the most dangerous tool in the shop, but it bears restating - The buffer is the most dangerous tool in the shop.
How can that be so? Of course you would be careful with your hands and fingers using a big band saw, but a soft cloth wheel???? Come on now?????
If a blade is placed against a buffer running at 3600 RPM in the wrong way, the blade will return around the wheel in .0003 second and strike the top of your hand. If the edge is sharp, it will remove a piece of you. If it is duller, or the spine hits, you may just get cut. If you are lucky, the blade will get ripped from your hand and be thrown across the room to the floor or wall and be ruined. If you are unlucky, and foolishly mounted the buffer on a bench, the blade will strike the bench or wall, bounce back to the wheel, and be propelled directly at your chest or abdomen. Good and knowledgeable knife makers have had all these things happen to them. They are not urban legends.
It is impossible to stress how much buffer safety and use knowledge is required before you try using one. They are not the place to learn by your mistakes. The letters LOL are never used when describing buffer mishaps.

Your profile doesn't tell me anything except that you are a knifemaker, which makes me wonder why you asked about that machine?????

I operate several buffers in the goldsmith shop, the smallest is 1/2HP. The knife buffer is a 1HP Baldor long shaft with 10-12" wheels. Those little hobby units are for buffing rings at best.

Be safe and use a buffer with much care.
Stacy
 
bladsmth said:
That will not work for several reasons:
It is to underpowered, for knives ( and any serious buffing of any sort) 1/2HP is minimum, 1HP is best.
1800 RPM is the max I would recommend.
A knife buffer needs to be solidly mounted on a stand, without dust guards or nearby walls/counters.
A knife buffer needs 6" minimum wheels, 10-12" are best.

There have been many threads about buffers being the most dangerous tool in the shop, but it bears restating - The buffer is the most dangerous tool in the shop.
How can that be so? Of course you would be careful with your hands and fingers using a big band saw, but a soft cloth wheel???? Come on now?????
If a blade is placed against a buffer running at 3600 RPM in the wrong way, the blade will return around the wheel in .0003 second and strike the top of your hand. If the edge is sharp, it will remove a piece of you. If it is duller, or the spine hits, you may just get cut. If you are lucky, the blade will get ripped from your hand and be thrown across the room to the floor or wall and be ruined. If you are unlucky, and foolishly mounted the buffer on a bench, the blade will strike the bench or wall, bounce back to the wheel, and be propelled directly at your chest or abdomen. Good and knowledgeable knife makers have had all these things happen to them. They are not urban legends.
It is impossible to stress how much buffer safety and use knowledge is required before you try using one. They are not the place to learn by your mistakes. The letters LOL are never used when describing buffer mishaps.

Your profile doesn't tell me anything except that you are a knifemaker, which makes me wonder why you asked about that machine?????

I operate several buffers in the goldsmith shop, the smallest is 1/2HP. The knife buffer is a 1HP Baldor long shaft with 10-12" wheels. Those little hobby units are for buffing rings at best.

Be safe and use a buffer with much care.


Stacy
Click to expand...

This is why I hand sand everything to 4000 grit. I do use my buffer on ivory and stag but it only takes a couple seconds if the proper prep sanding is done. I have the same wheels on it now for 10 years. I learned the hard way way back then.
 
be careful with buffers- whatever one you get. I had a knife flung round my buffing wheel and hit me in the chest after bouncing off of the bench- just as Bladsmth said. Luckily it hit me handle first it left a very nasty bruise but had it been the other way round- maybe i wouldn't be writing this now.

be careful!
 
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