My home-made ball polisher.
- Thread starter mattman
- Start date
I thought that this thread had gone away that is why I published the new thread for the 15 ball polisher.
Anyway I have learned a few things. I have four sets of pool balls and now that I have a polisher I have been a cleaning fool
Here is what I did, I placed a drop of Aramith ball cleaner on each ball before I started the machine. Ran the machine and everything cleaned up. Then I had to wait for the carpet to dry
While I was waiting I held a terry cloth towel on the balls as they rotated. Thought it would dry the balls, It did and they shine up nicely and rotate on their axis for a better job.
Then I found (getting things backward) that I could hold the cloth on the rug to dry it, then try the balls then shine the balls. This works really well, though you have to scrub the walls a little to get them dry.
Ok part two. I have cleaned four sets of balls and some were pretty dirty. Now I have a dirty (but dry) rug. So I got out some Spot Shots, sprayed the rug, dried the rug as best I could and will wait until tomorrow to try again.
Bottom line, you don't really need anything else in the bucket because you can hold a dry cloth towel in there for various reasons.
Great machine, thanks Matman. Can't wait to show all my buddies with credit to Matman and AZB.
Anyway I have learned a few things. I have four sets of pool balls and now that I have a polisher I have been a cleaning fool
Here is what I did, I placed a drop of Aramith ball cleaner on each ball before I started the machine. Ran the machine and everything cleaned up. Then I had to wait for the carpet to dry
While I was waiting I held a terry cloth towel on the balls as they rotated. Thought it would dry the balls, It did and they shine up nicely and rotate on their axis for a better job.
Then I found (getting things backward) that I could hold the cloth on the rug to dry it, then try the balls then shine the balls. This works really well, though you have to scrub the walls a little to get them dry.
Ok part two. I have cleaned four sets of balls and some were pretty dirty. Now I have a dirty (but dry) rug. So I got out some Spot Shots, sprayed the rug, dried the rug as best I could and will wait until tomorrow to try again.
Bottom line, you don't really need anything else in the bucket because you can hold a dry cloth towel in there for various reasons.
Great machine, thanks Matman. Can't wait to show all my buddies with credit to Matman and AZB.
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mattman said:
mattman
I didn't use velcro to hold the carpet to the buffer pad. Instead, I used some spray adhesive and might come to regret it if I ever need to replace the carpet. If there is a next time, I would velcro it to the buffer pad.
Stephen
Cottage industry,
Someone could make a few bucks here I get a total cost of $70.00 + shipping of maybe $25.00 so if sold for $150.00 the person is making about $25.00 per hr for total time not including advertising etc. If I made one for sale I would probably charge $200.00 becasue I am retired and don't need to make money anymore.
7" Chicago Polisher / Sander $55.00
(Their ad) Strong 9.8 amp, soft-start motor and electronic variable speed give you the power and control that you need for professional polishing and sanding. 1,000 to 3000 RPM for optimum polishing All ball and needle bearing construction for long life Side handle.
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=buffer+polisher
Blue bucket in my prior post $6.00
1 3/4" 2' X 4' plywood $6.00
Contact cement $1.00
Scrap rug pieces $2.00
Time to make after making the first one is about one hour
Packing and shipping about on hour.
I think I will add a cardboard top or something to keep the dust out. This would also make it easier to ship
Someone could make a few bucks here I get a total cost of $70.00 + shipping of maybe $25.00 so if sold for $150.00 the person is making about $25.00 per hr for total time not including advertising etc. If I made one for sale I would probably charge $200.00 becasue I am retired and don't need to make money anymore.
7" Chicago Polisher / Sander $55.00
(Their ad) Strong 9.8 amp, soft-start motor and electronic variable speed give you the power and control that you need for professional polishing and sanding. 1,000 to 3000 RPM for optimum polishing All ball and needle bearing construction for long life Side handle.
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=buffer+polisher
Blue bucket in my prior post $6.00
1 3/4" 2' X 4' plywood $6.00
Contact cement $1.00
Scrap rug pieces $2.00
Time to make after making the first one is about one hour
Packing and shipping about on hour.
I think I will add a cardboard top or something to keep the dust out. This would also make it easier to ship
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I am going to customize mine. It is now about 17 inches tall and will not fit into one of my cabinets in the pool room. If I cut about10 inches off the top of the bucket and place the Chicago buffer on the base with a machine bolt the buffer is more stable and the 12" tall machine will fit into a cabinet inthe pool room. Now all I will need to do is open the cabinet and load the balls. It will be out of the way when not in use.
BTW anyone who made these for sale could also note that the buffer is detachable. It takes about 5 minutes to get the buffer out and use for sanding or polishing your car. So whoever buys gets a dual use machine.
BTW anyone who made these for sale could also note that the buffer is detachable. It takes about 5 minutes to get the buffer out and use for sanding or polishing your car. So whoever buys gets a dual use machine.
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Best carpet question.
The one I made has carpet that has threads about 1" long. These threads seem to keep the balls in the bucket and this is good
However, someone pointed out that using velcro is a good idea and I agree with this as the carpet will wear down and get dirty after awhile. So if I were to make another, and it was not too expensive, I would put a velcro strap around the bucket above the ball line to keep the balls in the bucket. In this sense, most any carpet will do but softer is better IMO.
I also found that after the balls are cleaned I can hold a piece of flannel cloth on top of the balls as they spin this polishes the balls and helps them rotate on their axis.
Blackjack has a good comment and if there is interest I can make and ship to anyomne interested based on my latest and best design. The price would be cost, plus $50.00. If interested PM me and I will try to calculate costs and come up with a quote.
The one I made has carpet that has threads about 1" long. These threads seem to keep the balls in the bucket and this is good
However, someone pointed out that using velcro is a good idea and I agree with this as the carpet will wear down and get dirty after awhile. So if I were to make another, and it was not too expensive, I would put a velcro strap around the bucket above the ball line to keep the balls in the bucket. In this sense, most any carpet will do but softer is better IMO.
I also found that after the balls are cleaned I can hold a piece of flannel cloth on top of the balls as they spin this polishes the balls and helps them rotate on their axis.
Blackjack has a good comment and if there is interest I can make and ship to anyomne interested based on my latest and best design. The price would be cost, plus $50.00. If interested PM me and I will try to calculate costs and come up with a quote.
After reading this post last night I decided to attempt to build a ball polisher. While doing some research I ran across these on the internet. Might give some more ideas.
German ebay
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget
German ebay
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tToStoreCat&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget
I like this German idea very much and think that at a cost of $6.00 a bucket is cheaper for the frame.
However, I do like the ball holders and may be able to incoporae this idea into my current polisher. I am not sure what to line the ball holes with. Anyone have any ideas? Currently it looks like enamal might do the trick if it was thoroughly dried.
Today I went and bought the parts for a new machine to send to my son in Florida and here is what I found.
$50.00 polisher / sander at Harbot Freight (currently on sale for $30 + shipping)
$6.00 bucket (Dollar store)
$5.00 rug (Lowe's)
$10.00 1/2 ply wood ($13.00 if I make the German version)
$6.00 shipping box from Office Max
$27.00 UPS to Florida from Ohio with insurance
cost about $100.00
However, I do like the ball holders and may be able to incoporae this idea into my current polisher. I am not sure what to line the ball holes with. Anyone have any ideas? Currently it looks like enamal might do the trick if it was thoroughly dried.
Today I went and bought the parts for a new machine to send to my son in Florida and here is what I found.
$50.00 polisher / sander at Harbot Freight (currently on sale for $30 + shipping)
$6.00 bucket (Dollar store)
$5.00 rug (Lowe's)
$10.00 1/2 ply wood ($13.00 if I make the German version)
$6.00 shipping box from Office Max
$27.00 UPS to Florida from Ohio with insurance
cost about $100.00
A friend of mine made a box just like the one on German eBay, many, many years ago. He lined the holes with felt. Or, u could use a strip of rug. I have never seen the inside of his unit or asked questions about how he built it, but have seen it running. Does a great job.
Charlie
Charlie
JoeW, check this thread/post might help http://forums.azbilliards.com/showpost.php?p=642226&postcount=14
or these patents:
http://www.google.com/patents?q=billiard+"ball+cleaner&btnG=Search+Patents
Here a polisher with a lid on it
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Snooker-pool/Other/auction-114898982.htm
If the habor freight online price is cheaper, just copy internet page and take it to your local habor freight and they should give you the internet price. Sample 6" polisher was 12.95 in store - internet price 9.95. This what I was told by Va habor freight store.
Bob Watson
or these patents:
http://www.google.com/patents?q=billiard+"ball+cleaner&btnG=Search+Patents
Here a polisher with a lid on it
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Snooker-pool/Other/auction-114898982.htm
If the habor freight online price is cheaper, just copy internet page and take it to your local habor freight and they should give you the internet price. Sample 6" polisher was 12.95 in store - internet price 9.95. This what I was told by Va habor freight store.
Bob Watson
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WKRP said:
I haven't experimented but I"m planning to use plush bathroom rugs to line the sides and the rotating plywood circle. I'll use industrial strength Velcro
to attach the rug to the wood.
Dollar store in this town did not have any of the required buckets but the Tractor Supply (TSC) did. They were $15.95 and I suspect they are higher quality than those that Joe has found. These are pretty heavy duty plastic. I'm SURE they are worth 3 times as much as Joe paid for his!!!
.... really... I"m just SURE they are. I have all the pieces now, except the polisher, and would have been assembling it, getting ready for the polisher but it's just too dammed hot to work in the garage. I'm not "into" pool lately anyway. My interest has been on my hot rod lately. I have new parts to install and a couple of shows coming up before it's time to put it away before the snow flies.
Having two hobbies means that I'll never be as good at either as I want/wish to be. My attention/time/energy/money are split.
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Yeah, I went to the local Harbor Freight which is 40 miles away. They had them, said I needed the Internet ad. No computer with me and I would not pay $50 when they were on sale for $30. So I went home and bought on the net with $8.00 shipping for two buffers. Go figure, they would not let me use their computer to get the ad either. What a bummer. So now it will be 10 days to 2 weeks before they come in. Lesson learned.
Hey Jim, I noticed that the "new" Chicago buffer / sander does not appear to have a threaded connection on the top (or bottom depending on how you look at it).
I figure I will take the existing handle off and make side posts where the handle now attaches.
I did buy a cheap $20.00 buffer at Lowes -- cause I was there. It is 7" diameter and would fit in a 5 gal bucket real easy. However, when I got home and tried it, it seems too weak at .7 amps. I would suggest just placing a bath rug in the base of one half of a five gallon bucket with this rig and then running the buffer on top. It has a polishing cloth built in and there you go. Cheap, a little weak but it would get the job done.
I like the bigger rig so my wife will take this little buffer back. However, it would appear that you can have a little ball cleaner for $25.00 and a bathroom rug. Quick fix.
Hey Jim, I noticed that the "new" Chicago buffer / sander does not appear to have a threaded connection on the top (or bottom depending on how you look at it).
I figure I will take the existing handle off and make side posts where the handle now attaches.
I did buy a cheap $20.00 buffer at Lowes -- cause I was there. It is 7" diameter and would fit in a 5 gal bucket real easy. However, when I got home and tried it, it seems too weak at .7 amps. I would suggest just placing a bath rug in the base of one half of a five gallon bucket with this rig and then running the buffer on top. It has a polishing cloth built in and there you go. Cheap, a little weak but it would get the job done.
I like the bigger rig so my wife will take this little buffer back. However, it would appear that you can have a little ball cleaner for $25.00 and a bathroom rug. Quick fix.
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