All About Pocket Knives

Just got around to trying out my new buffing machine.
Put the wheels on by screwing them on by hand, this works OK.
Is this the right way or have I done it wrong.
How do you do yours
Mine has the tapered spindles.


Gary.

My buffer takes wheels with 1" or 5/8" holes.
I don't have the tapered spindles.

most guys i see that use tapered spindles just push it on then turn the buffer on a slow speed while lightly holding the wheel to "power thread" it onto the spindle so it's good and tight.

MM. Thanks for your comment.
I tried that way first, thinking it was the easiest, but my buffer starts
at 2000RPM goes to 7000RPM. It tended to burn the leather center.
Ended up just holding the spindle and winding the pad on by hand.
But thanks for posting.
Is there any hard and fast rules on speed of buffer for different applications.
As in different metals/compounds ---different RPM.

Orvet, I shied away from that type because you can't get them in 3 inch.
That's the size I wanted to stay in the hobby size.
I can't ever see myself as a pro knifemaker.
Just like messing around with fixing,rehandling / collecting. You were right when you said fixing was
more addictive than collecting.



Gary.

There are advantages to the smaller size wheels, they are slower (fewer feet/min) and are less likely to burn things than an 8 or 10 inch wheel.

What is the HP of your buffer?

Dale, It's stamped 200 W, that should be 1/5 HP shouldn't it.
I downloaded all the compound/speeds etc. off the web.
It doesn't have any trouble power wise.
The biggest wheel I've got for it is 4" X 5/8".


Gary.

The 4 inch wheel is probably as big as you would want to go on a 1/5th HP motor, I would think.
I have some 8 inch wheels, but usually prefer the 6 inch wheels on the majority of the things I work on, with a few exceptions. My buffer is 1 HP, but even at 1740 RPMs the FPM (feet/minute) of a 10 inch wheel is high enough I am afraid I will burn things like bone & wood.