Not knowledgeable when it comes to motors, but under impression the more amps the motor has the better. Seem to recall reading an article indicating it best to purchase power tool(s) with the most amps for your money. Purchased a buffer from discount tool supplier, brand is Central Electric, if that tells you anything, 3/4hp 7amp motor, motor made in china. To my knowledge, the only power tool out of the many I own that is made in China. Have to take that back, just purchased an IR impact gun and sure as heck label indicated it was made in China. Anyhow, as should be expected, within short period of time the 3/4hp 7am buffer became useless. Seems in damp weather it does'nt generate enough speed to blow a candle out, does not work much better in ideal weather. Any how, shopping for replacement and came across dual speed buffer but it only has 3amp at 1/2hp, and 4.5amps at 3/4hp. Concerned motor ampherage too low for tool to operate effectively. There is Baldor, made in USA, and cost quite a bit more, but have not found they make the dual speed buffer. Thought would check and see if any members had an opinion or suggestion.

dave

 

What are you buffing. The buffers we used in the polishing shop were minimum 5-7 HP. I don't think you'll buff much metal with 1/2 or 3/4 HP... that might be all right for plastic though. For home, I'd probably look for nothing smaller than 3 HP. Depends on the size of your wheels too and how fast you want to get things done. The bigger 10 - 15 horse machines would take a 14" polishing wheel and barely slow down regardless how hard you work the piece.

 

Thanks for the input furball, don't think I will be doing that much polishing to warrant that large of investment. Intend using for polishig small pieces, nothing too large, like chrome, stainless, plastic, trim, etc., nothing too large. Will be farming out the larger items; bumpers, and grille for replating and or polishing. Appears majority of the hobbiest tool suppliers primarily offer buffers no greater than 1 1/2 hp. Took couple items to buddy's and used his 1 1/2 hp and it intimidated the heck out of me, can imagine how I would feel behind 5-7 hp. Think it stems from my infancy stage of buffing when a piece got away and had to fetch it some distance away. Still curious about the amps issue, have seen 1 1/2 hp motors with ony 3-4 amps. Thanx again.

dave

 

The sizes you are talking about are fine. I have a 1 horse motor on a buffer and it is fine. Its the wheel and the compound that do the work. As long as you are not forcing the workpiece into the buffing wheel to stop or slow the motor, it will do fine. Go slowly and get lots of different compounds for the cutting action. They are cheap and they seem to go a long way. Try different buffing wheels for more or less aggressive cutting and polishing action and about 6-8 inches in diameter. The RPM speeds shouldn't be outrageaous either. A two-speed-1750-3400 rpm can work very well also. And, wear your worst clothes, its a messy operation. The guys with the monster buffers are also doing bumpers and large scale stuff. I've seen those guys get the workpieces caught up into the turning shafts--that sucks--tryijng to unwrap yourself off of a 3-5H motor. Who needs that?

 

I buff very rarely, but when I do, I simply install a buffing wheel into my grinder.

 

Have a 1 1/2 hp bench grinder but found so close to base was limited to size material. Understand with the 1 1/2 hp motor can go to 10" buff wheel. Have to give it some thought, thanx for suggestion.

Only found couple buffer manufactures in USA and found best can do with 110/120v would be 3/4 or 1 1/2 hp in either 1800 or 3600 rpm. Kinda like the 2 speed option but only found 1 USA manufacturer and only in 3/4 hp, and wow it's pricey. Appreiciate the input.

dave