Buffing questions

[Aaron Craven]

Thanks for the pictures, Leo. I had thought about the cheap buffing pads, but wasn't sure and figured the price wasn't too bad to get a start with proven materials. When the time comes to get replacements, I'll probably give them a shot.

I do hope you took the key out of the chuck on that first pic before turning it on

Purely out of curiosity, does buffing without any compound (just bare fabric) do anything useful?

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Sorry Aaron, I never tried that, but I would not expect anything from that.

Oh and as the picture said, the buffer was parked there out of the way, so no chance turning it on with the chuck key in it, I just kept the key with the buffer that way.

[Aaron Craven]

...Oh and as the picture said, the buffer was parked there out of the way, so no chance turning it on with the chuck key in it, I just kept the key with the buffer that way.

I figured as much... just wanted to rib ya. ;-)

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I figured as much... just wanted to rib ya. ;-)

I figured that

[Dick Strauss]

I run three 8" buffing wheels on a 36" long piece of all-thread (with the area between the buffing wheels covered by loose fitting pvc pipe to prevent the all-thread from ever coming into contact with the bowl rims, etc). One end of the all-thread is turned down to fit in my chuck jaws and one end is turned down to fit my live center. I can pop it in and out very quickly.

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I run three 8" buffing wheels on a 36" long piece of all-thread (with the area between the buffing wheels covered by loose fitting pvc pipe to prevent the all-thread from ever coming into contact with the bowl rims, etc). One end of the all-thread is turned down to fit in my chuck jaws and one end is turned down to fit my live center. I can pop it in and out very quickly.

How do you buff the inside of a 4 or 5 inch deep bowl, as the OP was asking about doing that ??

[robert baccus]

Try buying compounds and waxes at auto paint supply stores. Best quality, variety and good advice--beats auto zone ect.

[robert baccus]

I always buy my compounds and waxes ect at Auto paint supply stores. Super quality(imagine screwing up a paint job on a Porshe) good variety and advice. Liquid compounds are almost burn proof unlike solid wax/compounds. Also they do not build up and gum up like the solids do. They do not carry oils or poly's however.

[Marvin Hasenak]

I take bolts and cut the heads off and hold the buffing wheel with 2 nuts and 2 washers. I use my collet chuck on the lathe told hold the bolt end of the wheel. I can also use a drill chuck with a drawbar or held in place with a live center. They easily store in ziplock bags along with the various compounds that I use.


Buffing Wheels.jpg

I buy 90% of my buffing supplies from Caswel Plating. I think they have the best selection of any place to get quality wheels and compounds.

[Rich Aldrich]

I use renaissance wax instead of carnauba. If you do wax, you might want to try it. I like the finish better than carnauba.

[Justin Stephen]

I use renaissance wax instead of carnauba. If you do wax, you might want to try it. I like the finish better than carnauba.

Same. I use Tripoli and RenWax only.

[Doug Rasmussen]

Reading most of the posts in this thread, it's not entirely clear to me if you folks are buffing raw wood. Or, is this a process to apply wax finishes only? Or, is this to "shine" up finishes like lacquers, etc.?

[Justin Stephen]

Reading most of the posts in this thread, it's not entirely clear to me if you folks are buffing raw wood. Or, is this a process to apply wax finishes only? Or, is this to "shine" up finishes like lacquers, etc.?

I never buff raw wood, personally.

[Aaron Craven]

Reading most of the posts in this thread, it's not entirely clear to me if you folks are buffing raw wood. Or, is this a process to apply wax finishes only? Or, is this to "shine" up finishes like lacquers, etc.?

I've never buffed any wood!

That said, my intention is to use this primarily on cured oil finishes and maybe some film finishes (such as poly). I am curious what the result might be on bare wood, though.

[Dane Riley]

Oily woods can be buffed to a glossy shine bare, even without wax. I have never tried it on dry open pored woods.