Quick Question - 1/4 HP Buffer enough?

[DustinY]

A good knife friend has mentioned that 1800 rpm is the best for buffing. I've found a second hand baldor with a stand, but it's 1/4 hp? Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[john april]

i have the 1/4 hp 1800 rpm blue baldor, it works fine for knives.

 

[Scaniaman]

Rpm has to be in relation to wheel diameter. I use 10" wheels, on a 2 HP (a little overkill, but it's what I had) motor hooked up to my VFD. I run it at appr 1500 rpm, and that works great both on steel and handle material. On handles I use loosefold mops to keep things cool.

 

[allenkey]

I prefer weaker buffers myself. Mine is 1/3hp and it works just fine for buffing. I was originally using 1/4hp but that motor died and I had the 1/3hp laying around

The thing with buffing is you're never really hogging down on anything (and really shouldn't be)... So I personally see no need for 1hp or anything like that.

 

[Stromberg Knives]

Yeah, shouldn’t need much power. Mine is pretty overpowered with a 2880 rpm 3 HP motor. But it’s what I had laying around. No risk of bogging it down, at least.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

They work fine. I do most of my buffing on the same buffer with a 6" wheel (usually worn down to about 4").

 

[DustinY]

With everyone's input here, i picked up the pawn find. It ran well, and came with a very stable metal base. Couldn't beat the deal.

 

[Don Hanson III]

I've been using 1/4 hp 1800 rpm Baldor buffers for 30 years, they work fine.