My home-made ball polisher.

Joe, As alway hope you luck on ebay.
Will you be making a youtube video?
So people can actually see the operation.
You might also put your plan on ebay with Buy It Now.
Bob
 
Good idea about the Youtube video. I will see if my daughter will do it. She has two boys but still looks like a model.

Good looking women always sell things. Ever notice how the model on TV has the box of kleenex about one inch from her face. If it is good enough for her, and it must be becasue she has a big smile on her face, then they are good enough for me. :grin:

I will wait awhile before placing the plans on Ebay. I have not gotten any feedback from those I sent them to and I don't know what problems they had or what corrections are needed, if any.
 
3andstop said:
bluepepper, the next step up from manual labor. Glue a little carpet in the bucket, and you're done. :)
Click to expand...
You have a great idea. Very simple and effective. I built one using 2 buckets and turning my buffer upside down and it works fine, but what you have is much simpler.

James
 
Diamond Home Polisher

realkingcobra said:
Only problem with this ball polisher, is it don't rotate the balls while they're spinning, and you're still trying to shine the balls in the same place you're trying to clean them;)

Glen
Click to expand...

Glen, won't this be the same situation with the single drum Diamond Home Ball Polisher?
 
Glen,I got to admit it very close in outside design of the Diamond Ball Polisher. Have you heard anything on Diamond Home Polisher??

The price on this Polisher is Euro 445.00 or USD $693.66 which doesn't include the cost of shipping.

Here a picture of the D&K Ball Polisher and also replacement part picture.

178004.jpg

178035.jpg


OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS


4. The combination of the polish, revolving disc and the unique revolving separation disc will
ensure that the balls will be continually revolving and therefore will be evenly polished.
After about 5 minutes, the machine will turn itself off and you can remove the polished
balls.

Pagina8_IMG_OBJ15.jpg

Here the English Pdf translation.
http://www.dkelect.nl/DreamHC/Download/BPM4-Eng.pdf
 

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billiardshot said:
Glen,I got to admit it very close in outside design of the Diamond Ball Polisher. Have you heard anything on Diamond Home Polisher??
Click to expand...
I don't want to explain it in open forum because I don't want to just give away one of my design secrets, but I assure you that ball polisher spins the balls in the same exact circle because of the centrifugal force that is applied to the balls when they're spinning, still polishing them like a yo-yo. My design actually rotates, meaning it changes the rotation of the balls while they're spinning with centrifugal force to insure a 100% surface shine.:D

Glen
 
I use a wrinkle in the terrycloth towel on the platen. When the crank is turned slowly the wrinkle bumps the balls off center and rotates them horizontally. Spinning the crank fast cleans and polishes faster. They rotate horizontally a little when the crank is turned quickly.

In my system the user places a drop of Aramith ball cleaner on each ball, cranks fast for about 10 turns, then cranks slowly for about five turns, this rotates the balls, then another 10 turns to complete cleaning.

The user waits a couple of minutes for a haze to form on the balls, then places the lamb's wool buffer pads on the balls and repeats the process.

I am not sure but it seems that others do not distinguish between cleaning and polishing. I use a cotton wash cloth for cleaning and synthetic lamb's wool for polishing.

In my system the user can attach a power drill but I found that it isn't needed.

At a couple of hundred bucks, mine is a lot cheaper than anyone else.

I am just finishing the next ten and now have mitered corners and use oak for all visible parts. Kay says that "new and improved" is logically wrong -- so I won't say that.:D
 
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JoeW said:
I use a wrinkle in the terrycloth towel on the platen. When the crank is turned slowly the wrinkle bumps the balls off center and rotates them horizontally. Spinning the crank fast cleans and polishes faster. They rotate horizontally a little when the crank is turned quickly.

In my system the user places a drop of Aramith ball cleaner on each ball, cranks fast for about 10 turns, then cranks slowly for about five turns, this rotates the balls, then another 10 turns to complete cleaning.

The user waits a couple of minutes for a haze to form on the balls, then places the lamb's wool buffer pads on the balls and repeats the process.

I am not sure but it seems that others do not distinguish between cleaning and polishing. I use a cotton wash cloth for cleaning and synthetic lamb's wool for polishing.

In my system the user can attach a power drill but I found that it isn't needed.

At a couple of hundred bucks, mine is a lot cheaper than anyone else.

I am just finishing the next ten and now have mitered corners and use oak for all visible parts. Kay says that "new and improved" is logically wrong -- so I won't say that.:D
Click to expand...
Joe, I'm not knocking your ball polisher design, I think it's cool. But in the real world, I designed the Diamond ball polisher for commercial use, not home use. I does what it's designed to do 100% and will last for who knows how long. I've had 200 ball polishers out since 1995 and have not gotten one call back for them breaking down;) It only takes about 2 to 3 minutes to clean and shine a set of balls in the Diamond polisher if you want to know the truth, and for commercial establishments, I think time is a factor as to how long someone gets paid to clean balls.

There's always someone that wants to make something for less, or sell for less, but the bottom line is always money, it's a niche for you to make some extra money, hope you make a bundle on your idea, but don't expect it to go international;) In the days of no electricity, yours would be at the top of the list:D but then...you wouldn't have been able to use power tools or plywood to build it now would you:D

Glen

PS. You wouldn't happen to be Amish by any chance would you Joe?:D
 
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Sorry Glen, I just looked at your machine and see that it is a cleaner and polisher.

No I am not Amish, actually I am a retired psychologist -- is that a religion? I am just a DIY kinda guy. There was some interest in a cheap but effective polisher and that is how it got rolling. I have not copyrighted the plans nor do I intend to start a business. I like being retired way too much. Anyone who wants to make and sell can do so. I have never tried to mass produce anything. In the first attempt I had some trouble with shipping (two got busted up a little) and with the cranks. I made them too quickly and they were too short. So I thought I would try again.

My wife, on the other hand, saw a place to make a buck, she is definitely cheap. I thought I could do a better job so for the last week I have been making a few more. I suspect that most will go to friends and relatives. Kay found that they did not do well on Ebay so she has backed off -- Thank you pool gods.

I have no intent to compete with your work. My machine actually came from the discussions in this thread and related areas. My strong suit, if I have one, is writing. I have published a lot and have made money with books and computer software.

My next project, that I have been working on for a few years, is the way psychology can contribute to pool playing. Now there I will match up with most anyone who knows the science of psychology.

I doubt that my little machine is in your league or even close.
 
JoeW said:
Sorry Glen, I just looked at your machine and see that it is a cleaner and polisher.

No I am not Amish, actually I am a retired psychologist -- is that a religion? I am just a DIY kinda guy. There was some interest in a cheap but effective polisher and that is how it got rolling. I have not copyrighted the plans nor do I intend to start a business. I like being retired way too much. Anyone who wants to make and sell can do so. I have never tried to mass produce anything. In the first attempt I had some trouble with shipping (two got busted up a little) and with the cranks. I made them too quickly and they were too short. So I thought I would try again.

My wife, on the other hand, saw a place to make a buck, she is definitely cheap. I thought I could do a better job so for the last week I have been making a few more. I suspect that most will go to friends and relatives. Kay found that they did not do well on Ebay so she has backed off -- Thank you pool gods.

I have no intent to compete with your work. My machine actually came from the discussions in this thread and related areas. My strong suit, if I have one, is writing. I have published a lot and have made money with books and computer software.

My next project, that I have been working on for a few years, is the way psychology can contribute to pool playing. Now there I will match up with most anyone who knows the science of psychology.

I doubt that my little machine is in your league or even close.
Click to expand...
Joe, I like your outlook on things:grin: and yes, my hats off to you for your creativity, I have to respect you for that, and I do;) Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll live a long and happy life, and if Kay has her way, a fruitful one at that:p :D

Glen
 
BTW, I don't know if it would interest you but the local machinist who makes the bar stool swivels and markets nationally, says that these things are rated for 500 lbs and 500,000 turns before the bearings might break down.

I guess they would last a homeowner a life time. Mine may not be as elegant as yours but it does clean and produce a high shine.
 
JoeW said:
BTW, I don't know if it would interest you but the local machinist who makes the bar stool swivels and markets nationally, says that these things are rated for 500 lbs and 500,000 turns before the bearings might break down.

I guess they would last a homeowner a life time. Mine may not be as elegant as yours but it does clean and produce a high shine.
Click to expand...
The 4 bearing blocks used in the Diamond polisher are good for a billion revolutions, and yet, support almost no weight greater than the weight of the balls and platter plus sprocket.

Glen
 
To be honest I don't care too much for the D&K top/lid. My question is how safe is the top, as to whether it could fly off while spinning?
 
realkingcobra said:
I don't want to explain it in open forum because I don't want to just give away one of my design secrets, but I assure you that ball polisher spins the balls in the same exact circle because of the centrifugal force that is applied to the balls when they're spinning, still polishing them like a yo-yo. My design actually rotates, meaning it changes the rotation of the balls while they're spinning with centrifugal force to insure a 100% surface shine.:D

Glen
Click to expand...


whens the home version coming out.......... Its been forever
 
TXsouthpaw said:
whens the home version coming out.......... Its been forever
Click to expand...
It should be ready next week, I just have to take a look at what Diamond did first, so I can give my imput then I think they have about 30 of them ready to go. I don't know what they're selling for yet, but what ever it is it will be well worth it.

Glen
 
I just finished building thelanz's version of the ball cleaner.

First off: Thanks, so much, for a nicely detailed writeup!

I added a star separator (MDF, with simonis 860 wrap!) that just floats on the surface of the buffer. In my opinion, this is not just a nice addition, it is a requirement to make this polisher work at its best.

Question: Why use carpet on the buffer head rather than a polishing bonnet? I haven't put carpet on there yet (I may not), and am just using the bonnet that came with the buffer. It works great! I don't see why carpet would work any better (?). Now, having said that, the bonnet is not replaceable without removing the buffer, whereas the carpet could be replaced with the buffer in place.

Thoughts?

As to performance, I couldn't be happier with the results.

And, while I haven't done the mathematics yet, I have come to believe that the randomization of motion produced by an orbital buffer (like the ryobi) with a 1/2" orbit, will be superior to that produced by any method that relies solely on offset circular motion. In short, I'm not so sure of the claims that some of the commercially available cleaners are inherently superior to this home-built model. On the contrary, I have a sneaking suspicion (which I hope to quantify) that, with a little care in construction, a pair of home-builts (one for cleaning and one for polishing) will outperform their commercial counterparts. Again, the star separator is a requirement, IMHO.

More later.
 
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