Buffing alternatives

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Looks really great.
I use a high speed buffer for my knife making. I don't have burn through issues, but I can tell you how quickly the wheel can grab what you are buffing right out of your hands. Caution and complete attention is a must.
For guitar buffing it must be run much slower, but the hazard still exists. I will one day set up a buffer for my guitar making, however for now, hand rubbing has worked satisfactorily.
I also agree though, that a power buffed finish might turn out better, but that probably depends much on the person, the compounds, the speed, the time spent, etc, etc, etc.
Just a couple of cents I had in my pocket :>)

Kevin

[Ken Hundley]

Scary....having a buffing wheel grab a knife and throw it. Still have all your toes?

[Kevin Sjostrand]

I've had them hit the cement...but luckly missed! Actually I have not lost a knife in many many years, but now I just hold on tighter.

Kevin

[penndan]

I just tried the Surbuf foam pads for random orbit sanders. Thick foam with velcro on the back and short hairy stuff on the buffing surface.


I french polished the box, then buffed with some StewMac medium polishing compound and here's the result.


Not quite the mirror finish of factory done lacquer, but better than I expected for a very easy finish. The neck is Tru Oiled.

[tippie53]

I use a shop fox buffing arbor with a 1/4 hp 1725 motor this way I have all the speed and power but not enough to pull it out of my hands

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Where did you buy the Surbuf? I was thinking a foam pad surface something like Stewmac.
One of my woodworking catalogs sells something too like this for the Orbital.

Kevin

[penndan]

I got them right from Surbuf:
http://www.surbuf.com/Surbuf-Buffing-An ... g-Pads.asp

[darren]

were you able to get the waist area with this?

[penndan]

were you able to get the waist area with this?

Yes, the pad is thick enough and bigger than the sander disk so that you can bend the edge into the waist.

[darren]

cool, thanks.