Bench buffer recommendations?

[madmatt1]

I'm looking for recommendations on a good bench buffer / polisher, whatever you want to call it...
I already have a grinding wheel, but I want a separate setup strictly for polishing motorcycle parts.
What's everybody else using? 6 inch? 8 inch? What brands are the best? etc. I don't need or want
something super expensive, but I don't like to buy junk either. Thanks!

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I have a 1/2 hp - 6" Harbor Freight buffer.
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-buffer-94393.html

I have been getting decent results with it, but I am constantly frustrated by its lack of power. I don't like the 8" HF buffer because the shafts don't stick out very far.

For occasional home use, the HF 6" buffer wouldn't be bad, but for my constant use, I definitely plan to get some more powerful buffers with longer shafts.

Make sure whatever you get runs minimum 3,000 rpm. Typical buffers run at 3,450 rpm. I have seen people try to fit a buffing wheel to a 1,725 rpm motor, and they don't do shit.

The key to polishing is having enough power to build some heat in the piece you are polishing. The polishing compounds are usually blocks of tallow with abrasive. You needs some heat to melt the tallow for the compound to work. That can be a challenge with a measly half hp buffer if you are polishing a large aluminum piece like a fork slider. I work around the limitation by pre-heating pieces in a 150° oven first. Makes the work go a lot faster.

 

[Cloyd]

Northern tool has a decent buffer for 89 bucks that works pretty well for everything i do.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200485081_200485081