KMG Buffer Attachment thanks to Salem

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Aug 13, 2002
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Salem posted a pic of a buffing attachment he made. Got me thinking about something I tried a little while ago for a small wheel attachment that didn't work quite right but that could be modified to hook up a buffing wheel. After a little tweaking, works perfectly. It lest me use the VS to buff at slower speeds (buffing scares the heck out of me) and, with the space I saved, I cleared about just enough for a surface grinder. Not that I have the money for it right now but finding the space was the first step.

I thought I'd post a few pics in case it could help somebody else.
Thanks Salem!


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PS: No engineers where hurt in the making of this attachment. :D
 
Very cool, Patrice! I think I have it figured out and I'm guessing a lathe was involved at some point? Just a guess, I'm no machinist.

EA
 
Man I have been thinking of something very similiar to that, just had no time to build anything. Looks good!!
 
Pat, I love it and have got to make one to get rid of my 3600rpm Fling-O-Master!!!

How did you make it? Where are the bearings? So confused, yet so interested...

Jason
 
Pat,

You totally beat me to the punch !

I was hoping to be the first to swipe Salem's VS buffer attachment idea, LOL

Knee deep in a building a horizontal at the moment but all the parts for my buffer attachment are sitting in the shop waiting ;)

GREAT attachment :thumbup:

-Josh
 
wow, that's a great idea and very nice execution. I'll definitely be stealing that idea. Right now I use a buffer attachment on a freakin drill. Luckily I'm not big on mirror finishes. lol.
 
NICE BUILD, Patrice! It does save space, I cleared out two single speed belt drive buffers after I built this.

I like how you bored the bearing pockets into that square aluminum. Very tidy.

Here's a pic of mine once again in case anyone missed it on the other thread, to illustrate another way of putting one together. My version is a square tube tooling arm, bored through with a 1" hole for shaft clearance. A 3/4" shaft runs through a flange bearing bolted to each side. I turned a 4" iron/urethane caster true and fairly balanced, tapped it for a set screw, and put that on the shaft for a drive wheel. It's a simple idea that could be done with whatever you have lying around.

To me the best part, in Patrice's and in mine, is the tapered buffing mandrel. You can very quickly change buffs this way, no need for another machine.

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I went and mirror polished a blade to test mine after the build. It was a lot nicer with this, although still not that fun.
 
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Pat & Salem,

Did you get your tapered spindles from K&G ? True-grit ? Just curious.

Do they slip over the shaft and lock with set screws or are they made to screw onto a threaded shaft ?

There are two styles "regular" or Burr King. I'm guessing the Burr King ones are for threaded shafts ???

Just curious because I got a keyed driveshaft, pillow blocks, and a 4" drive wheel from Beaumont so my driveshaft does not have threaded ends.

Thanks fellas !

Josh
 
How did you make it? Where are the bearings? So confused, yet so interested.

Glad you like it guys.
Like Salem said, I bored pockets in the square aluminum for the bearings (in-line skates wheel bearings, 0.3215" ID). The turned a shaft with one side to fit in the bearings with a little press fit and threaded the end to put a couple of nuts just to make sure it doesn't come out. On the other end, just turned it to 0.5" to fit the tapered mandrel. I will probably also turn one of those myself cause the taper is a little small. I also have to slow down the breaking a little on the VFD cause when I stop it, the wheel almost unscrews itself.
 
Got it locally Josh. Fit is smooth, not threaded, with set screw like you said. I will turn a better one though.
 
Thanks Pat !

I figure the tapered spindles are problably all made by the same mfg.

I went 3/4" for the shaft and pillow blocks. Glad I did now !!

-Josh
 
My tapered spindle actually came from TruGrit, K&G appears to have the same one but is more expensive. It's the Baldor, not Burr King. Mine is a 1" and screws onto a 3/4" coarse threaded shaft. A sleeve fit would be easier to deal with, but like Pat says it's good to have a bigger taper. It fits a wider range of buffing wheels.
 
That is sweet! I love seeing the pics of this. You guys sure got an ingenious idea here! No more buffers!
 
That just scares the crap outta me. I took my buffer and mounter it backwards. Thats just incase I mess up. It goes to the wall, not in my leg/foot. Cool idea. Just not for me.
 
OK, I like the attachment!:thumbup:

I got to ask a stupid question here!:o :eek:

How does the pointed spindle work with the buffing wheel? :confused:

I have seen them in catalogs before and I must profess I don't get it! With a conventional buffing wheel the jamb nut holds it on the shaft!

What holds them on the spindle and are these a special buffing wheel made for the pointed spindle or will any buffing wheel work?

The ones I got are for a 5/8" shaft I think. Will the work with a spindle like that?
 
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