I have a couple of items i want to buff to shiny. Not enough to invest in a dedicated buffer. Is there a way to use a drill press? Or does it turn too slow?
Is there a buffing wheel for a drill press?
- Thread starter spasm3
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I'd say it depends on the drill press. Some of the older ones were able to change belt positions and make the chuck spin very fast. If yours does not have adjustable speed, you may be out of luck.
I can change it, its a belt driven floor drill press. What would be the appropriate attachment to do this ?
Even if it's slow with a bit more pressure and a lower grit abrasive or just more time it will work. How shiny do you want it. If it's a mostly shiny with a slight haze being acceptable from the nano scratches a coarse abrasive will work fast. If you want a pure mirror finish that will scratch again just by handling a fine abrasive. If you need to go from very scratched to mirror the fine abrasive will take forever but will eventually get there. Be careful to not overheat it if whatever you're polishing is sensitive to heat. No need to buy special ones. i've bought the special compounds and used cheap home grade ones like automotive and kitchen polish and they work fine.
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I may just get the harbor freight bauer 8 inch polisher.
I don't want to over side load the drill press
It's for buffing wilton bullet vise parts.
I don't want to over side load the drill press
It's for buffing wilton bullet vise parts.
It may work fine. The issue that may arize is with how the chuck is secured in the press. I think a lot of them are taper fit and are not really designed for side loads and may loosen and fly off with side loads. Kind of the difference between a mill and drill press.
That was my worry, and wearing it so that the shaft wobbles afterward.
I'm just going to buy a buffer, i'm sure I will find uses for it once i have it.
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For those of you with a buffer, do you use a dedicated wheel for each compound?
Absolutely the best answer by a long shot. Any old hand knows to use tools well within their scope.
After getting and using the buffer, Its exactly the right call. With the pressure it takes to buff, its not even safe imho to attempt this on a drill press.
And would not be good for the press at all.
Great results, I'll probably post in the new tool thread as well
Well played. How much was it?
$120 for the buffer, $5 each for compound. I used the gray, then the green compound.
My friend ruined an old Jet drill press by using it as a vertical lathe and polisher. The side load eventually ruined the quill.
The results from a buffer will also be much better.
I'm glad I bought the buffer.
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