Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Beal Buffing Compund Comparisons?
Jennifer@Indy.USA
>Can anybody tell me what the Tripoli and White Diamond compunds that come with the Beal Buffing System compare to in relation to sandpaper grits? I would assume that one would not want to use one of these compounds on a piece that was sanded to a grit higher than the compound.
Thanks!
Jen
Re: Beal Buffing Compund Comparisons?
John Lucas
>Jennifer
I copied notes from a thread by Russ. I tried to find it in Russ's corner but couldn't.
He states Tripoli is between 800 and 1200. White diamond us the same as Rhotenstone usually 2000 but both can vary from 1500 to 2500.
He also stated that a brown grocery bag is about 2500. I wonder what grit the plastic sacks I get now are equivalent to.
Hope I quoted Russ accurately.
In my own experience I used to sand to 600 grit and then go to Pumice and Rhotenstone followed by a good paste wax. I get roughly the same finish by sanding to 400 grit and using the Beal system except that its faster.
Re: Beal Buffing Compund Comparisons?
Russ
>It depends on the manufacturer of the compounds, but.... Tripoli is in the equivalent range of 800-1100 sandpaper grit, and the White Diamond is in the 1400 to 1600 grit size when compared to sand paper.
However, we cannot make a straight across comparison between sandpaper and buffing compounds, because their cutting actions are different. Sandpaper makes a scratch pattern that is somewhere between a sharp "V" to a "U" shape with sharp peaks between the scratches. The effect is a scalloped shape. The gloss is limited to whatever available flat surfaces there are to reflect the light.
The lubricant in the buffing compound fills the scratches from the sandpaper, and the abrasive floats across the top of the scratch pattern, and rounding off the sharp peaks between the scratches. The resulting shape is a smoother wave form on the wood surface. The action of the soft buffing wheel assists in doing this. This rounding provides additional flatter reflective areas for light. And that is why a buffing will give a higher gloss appearance that a sandpaper, even though the grit particles are the same size.
Is that as clear as mud??
Re: Beal Buffing Compund Comparisons?
Jennifer@Indy.USA
>Russ,
That was perfectly cloudy....just kidding! A great explanation. Thanks so much.
Jen : )
Ok, I am now convinced. Thanks, Russ!
John Crissman
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smaller buffs
John Lucas
>OK now we've got you interested in the Beal system. The first day Ihad the buff I realized I needed smaller buffs. By checking Woodcraft, Craft Supplies, Packard and others I found the smaller wheels and goblet buffs but as you may know I sometimes turn much smaller items or have very narrow coves to buff.
To get really small buffs I started with Dremel accessories. The make several small buffs that screw onto a screw thread type mandrel. Be careful because the screw will poke through the backside. I ground the tip down. Then I found a jewelry supply catalog. www.riogrande.com They have almost everysize and shape buff you might need in the smaller sizes. They also carry all sorts of buffing compounds and micron grit papers and pads.
You all are reading my mind,Thx!
John Crissman
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