questions about OLD rotary buffer

[zzzzzeke]

i stumbled upon an old milwaukee rotary buffer in my dads shop a while back.

milwaukee 7" polisher
it seems very old (late 70's to 80'??). it has a chrome like finish. its heavy. it isn't variable speed (2600 rpm all or nothing).

i've been reading recommendations for most products is about 1750 RPM. I guess I'm wondering if this thing is worthwhile for me to use.

I'm planning on a new makita or dewalt in the future, but wasn't sure if this rotary could get me by for a while.


also, it needs a new backing plate. its a 7" polisher with a 5/8" shaft. The old backing plate looks like it was for 8" pads. Could I run a 5" backing plate for the SOFT BUFF pads? If so, could I get a link


Thanks

[Tim Lingor]

Hey,

I am afraid that buffer's speed is WAY too fast for any paint work. I use those higher speeds to polish out raw aluminum, but on paint, I would never exceed 1800 RPM max.

It would be better to wait and learn on the right buffer with the correct speeds.

Tim

[Mike Phillips]

Re: questions about OLD rotary buffer

Originally posted by zzzzzeke
i stumbled upon an old Milwaukee rotary buffer in my dads shop a while back.

Milwaukee 7" polisher
it seems very old (late 70's to 80'??). it has a chrome like finish. its heavy. it isn't variable speed (2600 rpm all or nothing).

I've been reading recommendations for most products is about 1750 RPM. I guess I'm wondering if this thing is worthwhile for me to use.

I'm planning on a new Makita or DeWalt in the future, but wasn't sure if this rotary could get me by for a while.


also, it needs a new backing plate. its a 7" polisher with a 5/8" shaft. The old backing plate looks like it was for 8" pads. Could I run a 5" backing plate for the SOFT BUFF pads? If so, could I get a link


Thanks

Tim's right on the speed. Those older rotary buffers were often times used as grinders first and occasionally to polish out paint by swapping to a wool pad. 2600 RPM is too fast for any paint system. For Aluminum, and maybe even molds like epoxy or polyester resin molds where film-build isn't an issue, you could probably get a way with it, but not on paint.

On another note, I'm looking for an "Antique" rotary buffer, the kind that would have been used in the 1920's, 1930's or even the 40's and 50's

If anyone ever comes across one of these animals, working or not working, I would be very interested in it.

Mike

[Rick]

Hmmm polishing alluminum, thats why my DeWalt goes to 3000 rpm. Never quite figured out what that setting was for exactly until now.

[Lynn Matthews]

Originally posted by Rick
Hmmm polishing alluminum, thats why my DeWalt goes to 3000 rpm. Never quite figured out what that setting was for exactly until now.

Here's why...

2hotford's Boat Article

Lynn

[zzzzzeke]

On another note, I'm looking for an "Antique" rotary buffer, the kind that would have been used in the 1920's, 1930's or even the 40's and 50's

i guess it's probably from the 60's......