Getting polishing compound onto the wheel

t1mpani

t1mpani

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I've been using an old and very stiff cotton wheel that was with the whole mess of tools I inherited from my Grandfather for blade polishing, and it does very well. I've wanted to work on a bit of horn, and so went to get a new wheel so as not to mix my compounds. However, the wheels I've found are much much softer than the old one, and I sit there with them running over the top of the compound bricks and making not a dent in them--I mean, I realize the compound is supposed to last a long time, but these wheels don't seem to be pulling any off at all. It's a white cotton wheel and a red compound, so you'd think something would show. I've tried running the wheel slow, fast, pushing down and just barely having it touch, and still nothing seems to be happening. Do I need to heat this stuff or what?
 
That's a new one on me. I always just hold the block of compound to the wheel and it eats right into it. Sure you've got compound and not an actual brick? ;) The friction alone should melt the wax based compound.

Steve
 
Same here, that's the first I've heard of that. Where did you get the wheel and rouge from, and how are you running wheel?
 
Timpani, Dan was good enough to organize some for me and am having the same problem as you. Rod
 
Wheel and compound were both from Sears. I went there just to get the wheel, and figured I'd sign on later and see what kind of compound to get, but found a pack of cotton wheels and four different compounds, and one of them was "for polishing wood, bone..." so I figured it'd do me. I just put the compound on the bench and then run the wheel on top of it with a variable speed drill--like I said I've tried fast and slow. Maybe I should pull out the industrial drill and try REALLY fast... :)
 
That is a wee bit odd....considering I just got into using compound myself but on a bench grinder instead of a drill.......I had no problem picking up the compound PLUS getting a little extra on me, the bench and the surrounding area!!

Maybe a little more speed is what you need as you suggested with the industrial drill......the polishing wheel is pretty good quality, yes?

I'm sure is something simple.....especially if I could do it!! ;)

Steve
 
Didja take the plastic off the compound brick? ;)

It's probably not running fast enough, but I've ran an 18 volt one before I got a buffer with no problem.
 
Must be the speed. I run 8" wheels @ 3600 rpm which equals 7539 feet per minute. That's really fast. Surface feet per minute is diameter * 3.142/12 * rpm of wheel. What diameter, and how fast is your drill?

Steve
 
ferguson said:
Must be the speed. I run 8" wheels @ 3600 rpm which equals 7539 feet per minute. That's really fast. Surface feet per minute is diameter * 3.142/12 * rpm of wheel. What diameter, and how fast is your drill?

Steve
Click to expand...

It's a 4" wheel, and the little variable drill is 0-1200 rpm. I'll have to pull out the big one when I get home to see how fast it runs. In a way, I'd almost think that slower would be better, as the surfaces would be less likely to skate off of each other--like a dragster spinning its wheels and not going anywhere. Hmmm...

I'm 90% sure I removed it from the packaging Michael, but I'll double check. ;)

Warren
 
I am using a battery operated job , but its pretty powerfull, took the wrapper of! I had a bit more success when I wet it! but still does not do much!
 
Speed could be the issue. Where I'm running 7539 feet per minute, you are running 1256. Maybe you could heat the compound up first. Hair dryer or heat gun maybe? Most are wax based. Actually running slow with horn is a great idea. Less heat generated. You just have to get some of the compound on the buff.

Steve
 
Hmmm...the hair dryer is an interesting idea. I will ask the female for one and give it a shot tomorrow. Will advise on progress. :cool:
 
Watch out for the "curling iron" they smart if you aren't fast and careful.
 
ferguson said:
That's a new one on me. I always just hold the block of compound to the wheel and it eats right into it. Sure you've got compound and not an actual brick? ;) The friction alone should melt the wax based compound.

Steve
Click to expand...

that's what I was wondering. I've only used the green stuff, but putting that on a leather strop is like drawing with a green crayon -- it's easy to apply to anything. Is the red stuff that much harder? :confused:
 
Well, good advice has been given: the hair dryer did (after about 1 minute) soften this stuff up enough that a nice red hue was given to the cottong wheel. Polishing is proceeding! :cool:

Thanks all for your input and especially thanks Steve for the winning solution. :D

Warren
 
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