Good Buffing wheels

[Timberjack logger]

Im about to run out of buffing wheels for my bench type buffer , i had a good supply of some that were stiff and worked good for me , but cant remember where they came from , they were a good 1 inch thick between finger squeezing now i am running out and went to harbor freight and picked up some but they are flimsier and strings come off alot more . got any good suggestions . need 6 or 8 inch thanks. update i may have found what i needed on the search thing. but reply if you want to.

 

[Horsewright]

I’ve had very good luck over the years getting my buffing wheels from Jantz. They’ve alwyas seemed to have what I needed.

 

[Taz]

Are you talking about the same type of wheels being lower quality or different wheels themselves? Knifemaking supply houses often have a variety of buffing wheels available and will usually indicate what they are best for, too. Sisals are pretty aggressive, sewn buffs less so and loose buffs even less! Looking at HF's website, I don't really see any I would want to use for knifemaking purposes? I have some of their tapered bobs I use when doing acrylic handles (they mount into a drill press chuck) and they are OK.

 

[Linus Knives]

The Airway Buffing wheel set from Red Label Abrasives is great. By starting with the red wheel, then green, and last white, you can get a perfect mirror polish with only hand sanding up to about 600 grit. I would absolutely recommend those.

 

[REK Knives]

I haven't found any that are super concentric... The best I've found so far are by tarheelparts (the spiral seen buff is pretty stiff with some give right at the outer rim) if you want super firm get some felt wheels, they are expensive but quite nice!

 

[fitzo]

One should own a buff rake if one doesn't. And use it.

Another tip: if what you find is too "thin," stack them, especially sewn muslin. I stack 3/8 or 1/2 inch to get close to 1". They don't care.

 

[LCoop]

I agree with Horsewright, as I've always had good luck with Jantz buffer wheels. I've always used the spiral sewn wheels with great results using Brownells Polish-O-Ray greaseless buffing compound 240 grit on one wheel with 500 grit on the second wheel. I've tried a bunch of different buffing compounds through the years but nothing beats Brownells. The local knife maker who taught me how to make knives turned me onto Brownells. I've tried different compounds since then but HANDS DOWN Brownell is the best. I can get a awesome statin finish saving grind lines with no hand sanding. Since it is grease less you have to store in refrigerator and ordering in the summer months can be iffy.
If I want a mirror finish on blades, which I don't, I use Brownells Polish-O-Ray 555 white. I use same spiral sewn wheels but remove the threads on the last inch or so so it's a loose buffer wheel. I use this to polish my handle scales, bolsters etc. Of course I have to say how dangerous buffers are or I'll get total heck. But any power tool can mane or kill you IF you get to the point your not scared of the power tool.

fitzo brings up a good point. I do stack them to 1 1/2".

 

[Timberjack logger]

Thanks all to the replys . i manly use my buffers in polishing parts for my machine shop work ,but do make a few knives , one of the reasons i came to blade forums is alot of the things i started using in the last 20 years in my machine work such as buffers and belt grinders , i can find more information here than i can on other forums . and i love learning . again thanks,