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Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998

Mini buffer

Posts

Mini buffer

#1

Mini buffer

Fred in NC

>I must credit Russ Fairfield with the idea of using a wool painting roller for buffing. This one is 9" with 3/4" nap.

The adapters are my own design. I turned 2 wood plugs. The headstock plug has a Morse taper in one end (turned as part of the plug), and the other end was turned down to fit into the roller. The tailstock end was turned down to fit into the roller, with a 60 deg taper to fit the live center. A ridge or collar keeps the plugs from going too far into the roller.

For small items, such as pens, one roller can be used with more than one buffing compound. The paint roller I got from Lowe's cost about $8.

Thanks, Russ !


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Re: Mini buffer

#2

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RonZ

>Cool idea and adaptation. Russ is one of the most under-rated turners to date.

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#3

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Alan Tolchinsky

>Very nice Fred. What compounds are you using on your pens? Alan

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#4

Compounds

Fred in NC

>I use the roller in 4 sections: Tripoli, white diamond, TSW, and bare.

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#5

Re: Compounds

sam nelson

>excellant idea, very nice.

Sam

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#6

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Darrell Feltmate

>I have been doing the same for some time except that I use a poyesther roller for its limited abrasive quality and i have it mounted on the drill press. It works well.

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#7

Re: Compounds

Ken

>TSW? What is that?

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#8

Re: Compounds *LINK*

Fred in NC

>TSW - Trade Secret for Wood is a wax that I use for pens and other small turnings.


TSW

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#9

Thanks Fred Thanks for reminding me of this.

Alan Tolchinsky

>

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#10

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RevDoug

>How do you apply the TSW to the roller?

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#11

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Fred in NC

>I apply the TSW to the wood, and let it dry for a minute or two. Then buff. Some stays on the wheel. Bee's wax and carnauba can be applied directly to the roller.

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#12

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Edward

>Fred, thanks for sharing your development. What is the little grey box with the black knob in the lower left corner???

Edward

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#13

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Fred in NC

>Speed control. The motor that runs the lathe is inside the cabinet. It is a DC motor with feedback controller. Over 1 HP with lots of torque even at the slowest speed of 60 RPM. The original motor is still mounted in the original position, and all I have to do is change the belt to run either one.


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#14

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Alan Tolchinsky

>Fred, That's a lot of power for a mini. Does it pop a wheelie when you turn it on? :) What things do you turn that you find you need that much h.p.? Or is it mostly the variable speed aspect? I could see that you might need it for bowls and the like. Anyways, it looks like a great setup with the new motor hidden away. Alan in Md.

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#15

Re: Mini buffer

Fred in NC

>Alan, no!

This motor ramps up the speed when it is turned on. It also has feedback to the controller, much like a servo motor, with a Hall Effect sensor right in the motor. It is not the same kind that comes with the Mini VS lathe.

Say you set it to 2000 RMP, it takes a couple of seconds to get there. If the load is heavy, it takes longer to get to speed. It will maintain full torque at any speed, even at about 60 RPM. This is because it uses PWM to feed the motor and maintain the speed. It does not vary the voltage, just the current.

Again, this is not like most VS motors! I am very happy with it, and wish I could get a couple more like it.

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#16

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Edward

>What a super set - up, Fred! I am speechless. Never mind envious.

Thanks for the update, Edward

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#17

Thanks !

Fred in NC

>

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#18

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Alan Tolchinsky

>Fred, That sounds great; what a set up! I wish I could put one on my Delta lathe. With the split pulley system on that I always wear hearing protection when I use it. The noise drives me crazy. I love how smooth and quiet my new Jet mini runs.

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#19

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Fred in NC

>Alan, I know what you are talking about! I had to get used to the silence after I did the conversion, since the motor is so quiet, and is enclosed in the cabinet!

I have another surplus DC motor that I plan to set up. I am getting a controller for it. It is a different kind of controller, so I don't know how well this one works. I will let you know.

The motor, controller, and pulley cost about $100. Belts locally.

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#20

What's the make and model #?

John Crissman

>Fred,

Is the motor under your cabinet AND controller only about $100? Wow. Please let us know what where and how.

Sounds much better than the VS motors that were touted here about 6 months back.

Thanks,

John

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#21

Re: What's the make and model #?

Fred in NC

>Sorry to disappoint you, and others.

The motor and controller that I am using cost only $57 with shipping, from Vega Woodworking. It was surplus to them, and they ran out about a year ago.

The motor that I mentioned is about $30, and the controller about $50, from Surplus Center. You should buy a pulley to fit your belt. I don't think it is a good idea to take the one that comes with a Jet Mini, which is something I explained above.