same time.
A second coating of greaseless compound can be applied in like manner without additional sizing and
in this manner, heads can be built up to 3/16" in thickness. In the formation of flexible polishing wheels of
this type, it is essential that the stop and start technique be followed closely.
If the lathe were allowed to run at full speed and the compound applied at the necessary pressure,
centrifugal force would throw most of the material oft. During deceleration, however, the greaseless
compound is flowed evenly onto the face of the wheel. With this procedure, true polishing wheels #80
grit and finer can be produced and reproduced, ready for use in less than ten minutes without the
necessity of ever removing the wheel from the spindle.
By selecting the cloth polishing wheel of proper resiliency, flexible polishing wheels can be made up with
greaseless compound that have many advantages over broken-down conventional polishing wheels
which have long been used for certain fine polishing operations.
TYPES OF WHEELS TO USE
For removing pits- Felt wheels or stitched buffs
For over-all polishing- Loose muslin buffs
SIZE OF WHEELS TO USE
6" diameter at 3,450 r.p.m.
10" diameter at 1,750 r.p.m.
These wheels can be produced in the proper surface condition when wanted, rather than wait for
preliminary polishing operations to break down the abrasive surface into the desired state. The
technique in producing a flexible polishing wheel with greaseless compound is such that much softer
cloth wheels can be employed than can be used by the conventional polishing wheel setup procedure.
Such wheels can call upon the resiliency of the cloth to cushion the cutting action of the abrasive grain,
whereas with the conventional polishing wheel this effect can only be obtained by the use of excessive
lubrication.
Advanced alkaline cleaning recommendations call for two complete cleaning cycles each with rinses
and acid dips when greased wheels are used. One complete cleaning cycle is safely bring eliminated in
many shops when flexible polishing with greaseless compound is substituted for the final grease
conventional polishing wheel procedure. Flexible polishing wheels operate most efficiently at 5,000 to
6,000 surface feet per minute.