Adapter for benchtop buffer?

[spiska]

I have a few old guns that I’m conserving. They were my father-in-law’s and he gave them to my kids. They’ve been sitting in a closet for a few decades and had some hard use when he was a kid. They have patina (oiled rust) that I want to convert and gently remove with a carding wheel to get back to what’s left of the original finish.

I have a bench top buffer that I’d like to use, but the spindle on my buffer is 1/2” and the hole in my Grobet carding wheel is 1/4”. I’d prefer to not do the work with a hand drill.

Does anyone have a source for an adapter to attach a wheel with a 1/4” diameter hole to a 1/2” spindle?

The carding wheel center is wood, so I guess I could drill it out to fit 1/2” but I don’t want to damage the integrity of the wheel and have it fly apart on me. And I don’t know how deep the bristles are set into the wood.

I’ve been doing google searches but can’t seem to find what I need. Maybe there’s a name for the adapter I’m looking for and I don’t know what it’s actually called. I’m kind of new to this.

Sorry, I hope this isn’t a dumb question.

I appreciate the help gentlemen.

Best regards,

Matt

 

[LimbNoMo]

Don’t do it. Just keep wiping them down. Let your kids do as they wish when they take possession.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Use 000 steel wool and light elbow grease.

 

[spiska]

Don’t do it. Just keep wiping them down. Let your kids do as they wish when they take possession.

I appreciate the concern, but I’m not hitting them with a wire wheel or taking off the finish. I’m not even refinishing or restoring them. I’m just stopping rust that has built up over decades and is slowly destroying the guns and revealing the original blued finish underneath. Adding oil to rust doesn’t stop rust.

I have experience with the process. It is not damaging to the rifle or the original finish. Would just like to be more efficient and use the proper tool for the job.

 

[spiska]

Use 000 steel wool and light elbow grease.

I use that method on hard to reach areas. But for 4 whole rifles it’s a bit tedious and time consuming. The carding wheel is efficient and does a great job. Very gentle but thorough. I’ve used it on a hand drill but I’d like the control and consistency of my stationary buffer or drill press. But I don’t currently own a drill press and if the wife sees me carry one more piece of equipment into an already crowded garage there will be conflict.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

You can get an adapter made, but ( and it’s a big but) a grinder spins too fast for a carding wheel to remove rust, you run the risk of a nasty accident, so check your buffing machine isn’t a high speed one . I spin mine (carding wheels, I use the two and four row ones) in the drill press at around 8-900 rpm using a simple adapter I made in the lathe and use OOOO steel wool for hand finishing along with course denim as a softer rubbing alternative
As to adapters, if you have a drill press , you can just use a 1/4 “ bolt and grab it in the drill chuck
Gumpy

 

[spiska]

I may just drill out the center of the wheel to the size of the arbor. It’s $25 if I mess it up. No big deal. I imagine my buffer is a bit too fast on its own but I have a plug in speed regulator that I’m going to test on it to slow it down. If that doesn’t work well I guess I’ll start browsing Marketplace for a drill press. I appreciate the input.

 

[spiska]

Now I just need to find a drill press to borrow for a few minutes so I can drill a hole that’s uniform and square.

 

[pmangelos]

I open the hole up on my grobet carding wheels, no problem

 

[spiska]

I haven’t given up on using the buffer but I found a bench top drill press on clearance at Northern Tool this weekend and I’m using it. Lowest listed speed is ~800 and seems to work well.

 

[spiska]

Can’t hurt to have a drill press too.

 

[Ray B]

@spiska - Your log-on doesn't give your location- If you happen to be in NW Washington State, my son has a reasonably well equipped shop that may be able to make the part you are seeking. At the risk of overstepping my parental license I'll volunteer his services. DM me if this will work for you.

 

[spiska]

That’s very kind and I greatly appreciate the offer but I’m waaaaay down in the sweaty asscrack of SC on the east coast.

Always wanted to visit Washington and Oregon. The closest I’ve been to NE Washington was a 1-hour layover in Seattle about 10 years ago on a trip to Victoria, BC.

 

[farmer_john]

Reverse electrolysis could also be an option