DIY Polisher...be gentle :-)

[rexus31]

If you are making a box anyway, why not remove the motor assembly from the box fan shroud and mount it to a smaller wooden box? It's a little large. Also, you should really test it with the number of balls you plan to run in it at a time with cleaning solution, That may prove too heavy a load for the motor and you may burn it up when you run it for a full cleaning cycle with a cleaning solution which will cause more friction resulting in even more load on the motor. Hate to see your son invest all the time to finish it only to have the motor fail when a full load is run.

Pro Tip: 11" Microfiber buffer bonnets fit the 12" platter and they are removable and can be washed when they get dirty.

 

[JayB93]

If you are making a box anyway, why not remove the motor assembly from the box fan shroud and mount it to a smaller wooden box? It's a little large. Also, you should really test it with the number of balls you plan to run in it at a time with cleaning solution, That may prove too heavy a load for the motor and you may burn it up when you run it for a full cleaning cycle with a cleaning solution which will cause more friction resulting in even more load on the motor. Hate to see your son invest all the time to finish it only to have the motor fail when a full load is run.

Pro Tip: 11" Microfiber buffer bonnets fit the 12" platter and they are removable and can be washed when they get dirty.

Nice find on the 11" bonnets - ordered us one. Thanks!!

So...we tested the motor with all the balls and....it works...but sluggish. Any recommendations for a higher torque motor so we end
up with a product he can be proud. It is still better than polishing by hand, but very marginal performance.

 

[rexus31]

Nice find on the 11" bonnets - ordered us one. Thanks!!

You bet!

So...we tested the motor with all the balls and....it works...but sluggish. Any recommendations for a higher torque motor so we end
up with a product he can be proud. It is still better than polishing by hand, but very marginal performance.

Bummer! I'm not an electrical engineer or well versed on the variety of electric motors so all I can do is recommend a high torque motor that spins around 500 RPM. I used the same motor in my build as Diamond uses in theirs: Dayton 1/3hp fan motor that spins at 1,725 RPM. There's a 4:1 reduction via belt pulleys so the platter spins at 431 RPM. You would have to completely change your design to use this motor as it's pretty large.

Perhaps someone else can chime in on a smaller low profile motor that will fill the bill.

 

[Renegade_56]

Nice find on the 11" bonnets - ordered us one. Thanks!!

So...we tested the motor with all the balls and....it works...but sluggish. Any recommendations for a higher torque motor so we end
up with a product he can be proud. It is still better than polishing by hand, but very marginal performance.

yes, a car buffer for about $20 at wally world. That is why people use them. The not only spin at low rpm with sufficient torque for this purpose, but they also have an oscillating action that assists in the cleaning process. I get the idea of trying something different, but that don't necessarily mean it will be better.

 

[rexus31]

yes, a car buffer for about $20 at wally world. That is why people use them. The not only spin at low rpm with sufficient torque for this purpose, but they also have an oscillating action that assists in the cleaning process. I get the idea of trying something different, but that don't necessarily mean it will be better.

There are a couple issues I have with the bucket polisher (built and used a couple over the last 10 years):
- They are loud
- The balls only spin on one axis

This is the reason I decided to build a Diamond knockoff to match all the other Gold Crown stuff in my room.
- Whisper quiet
- Balls spiral
- Aesthetically pleasing

 

[JayB93]

There are a couple issues I have with the bucket polisher (built and used a couple over the last 10 years):
- They are loud
- The balls only spin on one axis

This is the reason I decided to build a Diamond knockoff to match all the other Gold Crown stuff in my room.
- Whisper quiet
- Balls spiral
- Aesthetically pleasing

Agree. Polisher makes a racket. It’s the easy button solution though. I’m going to try to not go that way to keep project within my son’s goal of circular spin

 

[JayB93]

Update...so we tried one more thing to supercharge our lil engine. I asked what would happen to a sock on a string vs a metal weight on a string if I swung them both as fast as I could and then stopped...he got the idea. So we added about 1/2 pound of large washers around the perimeter of the underneath side of the plywood disk.

It made a difference and we were happier with the speed maintained with 4 balls on the plate. It's still not great, but better. I'm not sure either one of us has the spirit for starting over right now. Have to sleep on it - wine first though...

 

[rexus31]

Update...so we tried one more thing to supercharge our lil engine. I asked what would happen to a sock on a string vs a metal weight on a string if I swung them both as fast as I could and then stopped...he got the idea. So we added about 1/2 pound of large washers around the perimeter of the underneath side of the plywood disk.

It made a difference and we were happier with the speed maintained with 4 balls on the plate. It's still not great, but better. I'm not sure either one of us has the spirit for starting over right now. Have to sleep on it - wine first though...

That motor will burn out in short order when used for the desired purpose.

 

[RRfireblade]

Update...so we tried one more thing to supercharge our lil engine. I asked what would happen to a sock on a string vs a metal weight on a string if I swung them both as fast as I could and then stopped...he got the idea. So we added about 1/2 pound of large washers around the perimeter of the underneath side of the plywood disk.

It made a difference and we were happier with the speed maintained with 4 balls on the plate. It's still not great, but better. I'm not sure either one of us has the spirit for starting over right now. Have to sleep on it - wine first though...

So, you kind of have it backward. To have a true flywheel effect, in general terms the flywheel would have to have enough Mass to maintain its momentum long enough to do the job. That means it would need to be very heavy relative to the weight and resistance of polishing the balls. So what that also means, is you would need a very high torque motor capable of spinning the flywheel up to the necessary RPMs and likely beyond by a reasonable margin, probably with the use of some gearing mechanism. This is exactly the opposite of the motor you are using, that runs at a high RPM with virtually no torque.

 

[JayB93]

For sure. The motor isn’t fit for the job. We are more just playing with it to have some fun together. I’m eyeing the old 5 speed drill press on my garage. High torque and low speed of 760 rpm. Taking the head off of the press easy. Mounting it inverted with drill collar up…not so much. Drinking now. Brain off.

 

[boogieman]

There are a couple issues I have with the bucket polisher (built and used a couple over the last 10 years):
- They are loud

Put them on a carpet square and remove the metal handle.

- The balls only spin on one axis

Tilt them about 1/2" on one side, like an additional square of carpet. The tilt must be tuned to the individual unit, but it is tunable.

This is the reason I decided to build a Diamond knockoff to match all the other Gold Crown stuff in my room.
- Whisper quiet
- Balls spiral
- Aesthetically pleasing

Diamond or knockoff will destroy a bucket cleaner 100%.

 

[Busboy]

Haha this is pretty neat

 

[rexus31]

Put them on a carpet square and remove the metal handle.

I did and I added a 10 lb free weight to the bottom and rubber feet to alleviate the vibration. It was still VERY loud. The handle was removed shortly after the pics were taken.

Diamond or knockoff will destroy a bucket cleaner 100%.

That's why I built one. No comparison in noise, polishing capability and aesthetics.

 

[Dead Money]

I did and I added a 10 lb free weight to the bottom and rubber feet to alleviate the vibration. It was still VERY loud. The handle was removed shortly after the pics were taken.

That's why I built one. No comparison in noise, polishing capability and aesthetics.

That looks like a painful way to wash your balls.

 

[rexus31]

That looks like a painful way to wash your balls.

Four Advil, no issues.