Beall Buffing system

Probably won't work on a bench grinder - wrong type of motor. Might burn the motor out, though. Those devices work on universal brush-type motors

- typical on routers, hand grinders, circular saws. Noisy motors, comparatively. Induction motors (which have no brushes, and run very quietly, as a rule) cannot be speed controlled that way, as they work on the frequency of the powerline, not the voltage.

Set up something slower to buff on - no lost items. Look in the paper for cheap used lathes - even a cheeseball lathe makes a pretty good buff, and our local paper often has one or two in the sub-$100 range. Or you can send the same money direct to harbor freight, I guess. Some of the ones in the paper might be just a touch better for the money.

Question has anyone fashioned any kind of catcher for the Bell system. I've been thinking of trying to rig up a blanket or something that might save the bowls if they get away on me. (Arthritis in my fingers is what I'll blame all this on). Would appreciate any other guidance on this issue.

First - get the speed down. The energy available varies by the _square_ of the velocity, so reducing to a 1725 motor will give only 1/4 the grab. Using smaller buffs than those giant Beall's also helps.

Second - the voltage reducer will only burn out your motor if it's an induction type. Forget it and scrounge an old dryer motor or such.

Third - follow that different drummer, mounting the piece on your lathe and buffing with a hand-held system. I don't need to go to the lathe, because my 1" 8tpi chuck mounts easily on my buffing stand, made from a bolt, but you might consider it.

Definitely do not try to reduce the voltage to your motor, as others have warned, also. A quick and easy way to set up your buffing system is to buy a length of All-thread. Slip your various buffs on, and secure each with two nuts and washers. Mount this in your lathe, between spindle and tailstock, and set the speed to whatever works for you. It will look sort of like a shoe repair setup.

Then, when you find a cheap lathe, you can transfer the whole thing over, so your good lathe is not tied up.

Why don't you just set up your Beall so you can buff on your lathe?

In lieu of that, though, I have been known to use the white diamond and carnauba with the piece still on the lathe, though. I use a paper towel for the white diamond, applying the compound directly to the spinning piece and buffing with the paper towel. Then I do the same with the carnauba, substituting a piece of old flannel sheet (works the best of anything I've found) to buff it out.

"Ecnerwal said: Look in the paper for cheap used lathes - even a cheeseball lathe makes a pretty good buff, and our local paper often has one or two in the sub-$100 range."

Why didn't I think of that! LOL I just dumped my ol' Delta 46-701--gave it away in fact-- and I could have used it for buffing!. I've been looking at the Beall systems but have procrastinated because I didn't have a good way to use it. I could have kept that ol' lathe and it would have been great for that purpose. Oh well, live and learn... Earl

Question has anyone fashioned any kind of catcher for the Bell system. = I've been thinking of trying to rig up a blanket or something that = might save the bowls if they get away on me. (Arthritis in my fingers is = what I'll blame all this on). Would appreciate any other guidance on = this issue. =20

Does anyone use the White Diamond compound and Carnauba Wax while the = bowl is still on the lathe? If so how do you apply the compound