[Shop-talk] buffing wheels

[Steve Hammatt Mount Vernon WA USA]

Recently purchased a used Baldor 333B 3/4hp dual buffing machine.
Fitted with 3/4" dia shafts, takes 8" dia wheels at 3600RPM and it
runs great.  Found it on Craigslist for $50 in California.  Kept it at
a friend's house for 6 months until I could go down last month and
pick it up as I was passing through.

Anyway, the old buffing/polishing wheels were toast.  Just cleaned up
the shafts and am getting ready to go spend $ on wheels.  I'll be
using it on misc. restoration and small fabrication for parts on 100 year
old cars.  Probably steel, brass and aluminum.  I understand that I'll
need multiple wheels.  Would somebody with polishing experience care to
offer suggestions as to supplier and types of wheels that I should be
considering?

BTW, an old customer was going to throw out an old chunk of iron,
but asked me if I'd like it instead.  After sandblasting, replacing a
few fasteners and a paint job, the old-style buffer/grinder stand with
cast iron table and cast iron water container for quenching is now
mated with the Baldor buffer.  The base alone must weigh just short
of 100 lbs.!

Steve Hammatt
Mount Vernon WA USA