Cleaning Buffing Wheels

[Rockytime]

This has been answered recently but I cannot find it. I have a three wheel buffing system. Tripoli, white diamond and carnuba. The white diamond wheel has some black on it. I don't know what it is as I hold my blanks with my hands. However, when using the wheel on light colored blanks, wood or plastic the black transfers on the blanks and makes a nasty smear. The black on the wheel is only on one edge and there is only a very small amount. How do I clean the wheel. *I have thought of cutting off the contaminated fibers with a scissors. There must be a better way.

 

[Sylvanite]

The "official" way is to use a "buff rake" to clean the wheels. That's a tool that cuts the thread ends off the buff as it spins. A hacksaw blade can also serve as a poor man's buff rake. I've had success cleaning buffs with 80 grit sandpaper as well.

I hope that helps,
Eric

 

[slincoln]

I use a clipboard and a sheet of coarse sandpaper. Does a decent job.

 

[Rockytime]

Thank you for the ideas. Who sells the rake? I do have lots of hacksaw blades and sand paper too.

 

[Sylvanite]

Who sells the rake?

I got mine at Wheel Rake - Buffing/Polishing - Caswell Inc.

 

[KenV]

Most always the black comes from metals that have met the wheel and left a gift behind.

Kind of like what the untrained puppy leaves behind comes to mind.

Only takes a second for metal contamination to happen.