DIY Wool Felt Polishing machine

[JBK]

I'm tinkering with a 254mm disk sander (low speed-1440 RPM) to use as a polishing wheel (wool felt + cerium oxide). Curious if anyone made their own.





   

[MakkyBrown]

That look nice. Better than the flatlap based one I build with an old washing machine motor.

[JBK]

Right, washing machine motor - why didn’t I think of that? Can you also select the speed ? Or did you pull the electric guts out?

[JBK]

Often see a free washing machine😊. This sander was an eBay special- and since it’s got the legs I’m thinking that’s probably the position it should stay in.  I could use a smaller container and make it more portable, the air intake to cool the motor is cut out from the back. Still deciding… the best enclosure.

[Rusted]

1440 is probably a bit fast for polishing, it flings the water off too quickly and leaves a dry buff which will build up heat on your stone, my club had a polishing wheel that ran at motor speed or thereabout and it flung polish all up the walls and across the ceiling, a better guard would have helped but they liked to be able to polish odd shaped girdles which would be blocked by decent guards.

[MakkyBrown]

Right, washing machine motor - why didn’t I think of that? Can you also select the speed ? Or did you pull the electric guts out?

Pulled it out and used a couple of pillow blocks, a pulley, 19mm shaft(cheap steel) and a cast flat lap attachment I got from richontools. Will take a couple of photos later. I cut up a 20l bucket for the spay guard

[JBK]

Thanks, Rusted re:speed advice noted and parked that project for now.

I will follow Marks idea is a washing machine motor 😊

[MakkyBrown]

Here you go JBK,
One is made using of these.
https://www.richontools.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=45&products_id=798
CheersMB

[JBK]

Awesome MB, what is the belt wheel ratio 1:4? So you are aiming at 600 - 800 rpm. Would that be also suitable for cerium oxide