8" shaft bench grinder/buffer ?

[upncoming]

hey im just shopping around and im at the stage where im able to get a buffing machine. im looking around on ebay and came across one of these and i just wanted to know if anybody used one or know if its worth getting

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...4881&rd=1&rd=1

[jrow]

upncoming,

Either that one or one from HF. Caswells also has good buffing machines.

John

[y2kgtp]

"Please note: this item is not for professional industrial use, it is intended for hobbyists"

In the listing....makes me wonder how durable it is.

Personally I'm looking at a couple sears units, 1HP & 1.5HP models, for 99$ & 149$ respectively...prob will get the 1.5HP

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...cemldffidfni.0

[grommit]

hello there,
the advice i got and what i would say to you is buy what you can afford,i had the same buffer but lets face it this was really for beginning practice.some of the experienced guys say to go for the more expensive buffer,i agree coz you will only need another one if the cheap or under powered one goes wrong. when you are working on your metal you don't want your buffer to be struggling and producing poor results on your metal.
good luck
grommit

[chromo]

Just curious why more people don't use the jackshaft type with a seperate motor. Is there a reason? I am thinking of building this type myself.

You know what I mean I'm sure, the 2 wheels on a shaft with the bearing on each end and the pulley in the center. Add any motor you want, like a 2hp from a junk air compressor. I think an advantage would be variable speed with multie grove pullies also. Like my drill press has.
There's the little pillow blocks holding the bearings and that pulley, but no big motor housing to get in the way. If the motor ever burns up just swap in another used motor cheap, not replace the whole thing. I just did that on the lathe, fast easy swap when the motor burned up.
Most people find 1/2hp-3hp motors cheap everywhere if you look around. I have a bunch going up to 5hp just sitting here. Lots of 120Vac motors and 240Vac in smaller sizes.

It seems all my big power tools use a motor and belt drive, lathe, mill, Drill press, band saw, etc.. so any reason not to use a belt drive buffer?

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by chromo

Just curious why more people don't use the jackshaft type with a seperate motor. Is there a reason? I am thinking of building this type myself.

The best stand-alone buffers have long shafts for access, and direct-drive means you aren't losing any power to the belt/pulley arrangement.

But, the power loss is not large and there's no reason not to use the other setup. My homemade belt sander uses a motor with a shaft at each end. Eventually I'm going to use the other end for an extra buffer - just need to make idler pulley arrangement for each side so I can run one or the other without running both at the same time.

You can buy a bench-mounted base with shaft and bearings already made up, just add motor.

[chromo]

I'll be making up the pulley and motor type then. I have lot's of motors of various types laying around.

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by chromo

I'll be making up the pulley and motor type then. I have lot's of motors of various types laying around.

If are able, and haven't thought of it already, you might want to make it "upside down" so it's suspended instead of on a pedestal or bench. Then you have unlimited space under the wheel where all the work gets done.

[chromo]

I had not thought of upside down, but that sounds like a good idea. I'll have to see what I can build that way.

[mpierich]

Originally Posted by chromo

I had not thought of upside down, but that sounds like a good idea. I'll have to see what I can build that way.

I saw a fella made one from 4x4's - used a triangular piece of plywood (x2) for a stiff brace between upright and arm.