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Is anyone using the buffing kit from Caswell that says it`s perfect for buffing guitars?I`m thinking about getting a buffing outfit,and this seems like a reasonable price if it will do the job.
Comments appreciated.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I've got a Caswell buffer and it seems to work fine. 1100rpm, 3/4 HP.
I haven't used it that much - perhaps an hour or two of running time total in the 2-3 yrs I've had it, but no complaints.
It came in a 'kit' with buffs and a rake, and some compound - I use the Menzerna compounds instead.

Cheers
John

I've got one. It works great, and I've used it alot.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Has anybody found the 1100 rpms too high?

I don't know what I'm doing with the buffer, really.....so don't know what to say.
I'm pretty cautious and haven't had any problems with burning through and the like.

John

I've heard that 1100 might be a tad high. That's all. My rig does about 800-900 rpm ( 1/2 of 1750). Tangential wheel speed and torque are the biggest issues (in that speed range). I think you should be able to stall it without issue. I still think the Caswell buffer is a good deal.

It depends on the diameter of the wheels. You have to use the correct size buffs to get the correct surface speed for the finish you're using.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Did anyone buy the stand also,or maybe just bolt it to a bench?
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Mine's bolted to a grinder stand I bought at a pawn shop. You can see a little bit of the stand here. It's solid enough to use, but portable enough to move out of the way when not in use.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Woody, can you share the diameter of wheel that you found works for you?

Thanks!

I use 12" wheels with Lacquer or Varnish and 14" wheels with Polyester or catalyzed urethane. It's pretty easy to burn lacquer or varnish with the 14's. I believe I could use 16's with polyester but don't have any. I don't have any polyester either since Mcfadden's closing. The center on the 14" wheels I have don't fit the shaft. I had a machinist make me some bushings.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I got the stand with the Caswell. It's 'stable enough' to do the job for me- I don't put very much pressure on the buffs (I need to move the buffer out of the way when I'm not using it) , but I'd certainly advise bolting it to the floor.
I can't see bolting the unit to a regular bench; I'm accustomed to being able to move around (and under?) the buffs when working. Perhaps a very small 'peninsula' bench would work.
Cheers
John

This is a very timely thread for me as I'm also just about to buy a buffing machine.

I was looking at the Stewmac set-up and have just asked Caswell if they ship to the UK.

I know the Stewmac set-up is more expensive but does anyone have any reasons why the Stewmac may be better than the Caswell? I just want the one that will do the best job for me.

I am finishing my guitars with EM6000, if that makes a difference?

James - I hope you don't mind me hijacking your thread but it seems relevant.

Woody - What buff size would it be for the EM6000?

many thanks

Mat

Thanks for the input guys.That looks real good and shiny Woody.I`ve been using Em Tech 6000 recently.How about 12" wheels with that stuff.Not at all Matt ,I just asked the same question.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I clamp mine to the corner of my workbench. The forward tip of the triangle comes out the front center of the machine. Guys, what kind of wheels are you using that actually work? Flannel, canton etc? What I have on mine must be too soft cause they don't do a dang thing towards buffing even with med Menzerna... The machine itself is great though!

I "believe" 12" wheels would be good with EM6000. I don't use EM6000 but I understand it's close in hardness to nitro.

Mike, don't you use EM6000? What size wheels, and what RPM do you use? I'll have to do the math to see what the surface speed is.

A 12" diameter wheel spinning at 1100 RPM = ~690 inches per second (right?)

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Woody,Do you use the compounds that came with the kit.If not what?And John,which menzerna compounds do you use?

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I looked this unit up on Caswell Canada - $360CAD (with 6 x 12" wheels)....ouch!

There are different types of wheel, not just different sizes. What type actually works?
Compound wise, at work we use menzerna 16 and 18. one is yellow the other whitish grey. I forget which is which though...

He has 'specials' from time to time- it might be worth a phone call to see if he can do better.

I use the #16 & #18 as well- I think #18 is the coarser of the two, but they are both pretty fine compounds.

Yeah.

The formula is:

diameter x rpm / 229.2 = surface speed in feet per second...or
diameter x rpm / 19.08 = surface speed in inches per second.

12" x 1100rpm / 19.08 = 691.82ips

Target Coatings should be able to suggest (maybe) the optimal surface speed, wheel matreial, and polishing compounds that will cut and polish their products. Some companies are better than others at providing this. Using the right compounds and wheels at the wrong speed won't work out. There are three variables to polishing.....surface speed, wheel material, and compound. Technique is important too but you have to learn that anyway. It's not very hard to contol these variables but you HAVE to do it or it either will not work at all or it will take far longer than it needs to.

We wheel polished over 80,000 aircraft propeller blades with a polyester finish. It initially took a while to find the right combination of stuff to do this but once mastered, the difference between mastery and drooling foolishness was about 5 minutes vs. 40 minutes.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Me too. I had to go look at the package to make sure. LOL

Edit/Added, I sand to 1200 grit with a ROS before buffing.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I use 14" wheels at about 800 rpm. I bought the Grizzly arbor, and found a 1/3 hp motor to drive it. I read a lot here about torque being the major issue (tossing your guitar across the shop). With a 2:1 reduction in motor speed, I have enough torque without risk. I can stop the rig from spinning if I push hard enough, yet it won't burn the EM 6000 finish.

If the Stew Mac machine was more in my price range, I would get it. I like the extra long arms. I can get up to 3 caswell buffs on each side of mine.

I am sure SM has heard it many times with regard to their price. But it is a special built machine for a small audience. You have to factor that in. Prolly the last buffing arbor you will ever buy.

The Caswell is nice, but it does scare me from a distance.

Mike

Woody and John.Are you guys using the wheels that came with it.?
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee