Instead of buying an expensive mandrel for buffing and grinding wheels, I decided to make one for very little cost, or time involved, for use on my Wilton mini-lathe. In about 45 minutes had it completed and mounted on the lathe.
Materials include two 1 1/2 inch thick blocks (turned from scrap pieces), 1/2 inch dowel, and the 1/2 inch bushing that came with the buffing and grinding wheels. Note the 1/2 inch holes drilled in each block to receive the 1/2 dowel (arbor). The holes are 1 inch deep.
Dowel with bushing ready to insert through the buffing wheel.
Dowel inserted with bushing in the arbor hole of the wheel. Note the dowel length is cut 1/2 inch shorter than the combined 1 inch deep holes in the turning (compression) blocks, plus the thickness of the wheel.
Assembly is complete with turning blocks over the dowel and ready to mount on the lathe. When chucked up between centers on the lathe the buffing wheel will be in compression and will not slip between the blocks with the proper amount of pressure applied.
Great idea! Thanks for posting this.
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