Shoe polishing machines

[MJ Hofbauer]

I've had this question running in my head for awhile. I often see several shoe polishers for sale at the fleamarket, and walk right past them. Has anyone ever messed with one? Just wondering if they can be converted to a small buffer/bench lathe. I have no clue the RPM's they typically run at or how the buffing 'wheels' are mounted, if there are mandrels or not.

-MJ

 

[indian george]

I've had this question running in my head for awhile. I often see several shoe polishers for sale at the fleamarket, and walk right past them. Has anyone ever messed with one? Just wondering if they can be converted to a small buffer/bench lathe. I have no clue the RPM's they typically run at or how the buffing 'wheels' are mounted, if there are mandrels or not.

-MJ

Dude!!! If they are cheap, why don't you give it a shot??? You may have something there????

 

[MJ Hofbauer]

I just might, but I wanted to check with everyone in case someone already had the idea, and it failed miserably. Worth checking before bothering or spending the money.

I had the idea after looking at the prices of small bench lathes, I picked up a new foredom for $65, about $140 off of the retail. Ironically a week later I got an older one in perfect shape for $3. But that's just pure luck, I wouldn't expect to find anymore.

-MJ

 

[raker]

The very first machine I had was a shoe polisher. It had the buffing wheel on one side and a jacobs chuck on the other with a flex shaft. I would grind the blade with a side grinder and then finish sanding with the flex shaft. I put a small rubber wheel for the sanding pads and then sprayed it with disc adhesive. It took a long time to get all the scratchs out but then, I didn't make big knives.
For polishing, it will work fine if your not trying to put a lot of pressure on it. Just not too much power for that.