My Homemade Ball Cleaner

VietSoClassic

VietSoClassic

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I was reading alot about making one of these and I wanted something different that no one had. It was a mix from the bucket cleaner and the diamond ball cleaner box. With lots of numbers and put it together it worked perfectly. Heres what I did.

Material:
- 1/2" MDF Board
- Buffer
- Grill Mesh
- RotoZR Circle Cutter
- Screws/Nails
- 10" Duct Collar
- Velcro
- TieWrap
- Wheels
Total $45

Labor: 10am-5pm

I put the box cleaner version and bucket into one. I built the sides and cut holes where the mesh is for vents.
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This one I put spacers for the next level where the buffer will be mounted.
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Next level board in place with a 5" hole in the middle and the test fit for the buffer.
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As you can see the end sticks out where it can breath while in motion. I don't have pictures of the buffer itself being mounted by tiewrap so it wont move around and some pads so it wont be noisy.
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I use the Duct Collar what air conditioning people use up in the attic to feed air in the house. YUP I do air conditioning work so it was free for me. This was to check how much to cut out from the cover put on it.
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Ending result of the collar mounted... I went lazy and mounted it with duct tape but later I will put screws in them. I cut about 1 1/2" off so it wont touch the buffer.
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Almost done.
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A hole where I mounted my On/Off switch. Velcro was put on waiting for carpet to be added.
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Carpet was put on very fast but will get something else better and look better. Balls put in for test. You could see the difference in shine after. The buffer had a pad included so used that for now.
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TADA... SHINE!!! microfiber towel was thrown in after 30 seconds of spin to wipe off the coating.
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Hope you like what I did.
 
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Thanks. My pool owner wants to buy it since he tried it with the bucket version and failed. I'm letting him borrow it and you should see the little kid in him... "MAN THIS THING WORKS AND SHINES... LOOK AT IT! DANG, YOU THE MAN, I GIVE YOU THAT."
 
wow

Unreal job, not only in the design and construction, but
also with the documentation of the project.
 
I cut the bottom out of a 5 gallon bucket leaving the sides about 3" high and put carpet in the bottom and lined the edges with felt that has an adhesive backing. Got the felt at JoAnn Fabrics. Then I put the 8 balls in he bucket, put a drop of liquid polish on each ball and hold the polisher on top of them. Done deal... but it's junk compared to yours.
 
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I think that you and a few others from this forum should get together and a start a business. Great work and great pictures! Thanks!
 
I didn't mean to minimize the job you did by talking about my piece of junk. Yours is a very nice looking rig and I think you did a great job whereas I got frustrated and took the short cut and wish I'd taken my time and done it right like you did. I"d be proud of that had I done it.

I often wish that! I tend to get rammy. It shows in my pool game too.
 
What is a Roto ZR circle cutter? Sounds like that's one of the things I needed to do mine right.
 
very nice job but i think for what you were using to make it, it might be a little over kill. here are pics of the same buffer using a 5 gallon bucket, some carpet, spray glue, a carpet covered wood divider, and some tie straps. total time 1.5 hours and has worked great through much use. some other things you'll want to know are that when this buffer is turned upside down the motor screws can and do start to release themselves as well the spade connectors that connect the motor to the power need to be cut off and the wire striped back and soldered to they're respective copper terminals or you'll risk them shaking off or breaking do to the vibration. just some experienced advise......

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Yea I know mine was an overkill with extras but that was what I wanted to do... Mix the bucket and the diamond ball cleaner box together into one. I am also going to put a cap that snugged in there so the balls can rotate more and be settled.

The buffer has some padding between the MDF board and the buffer for less vibration. Hopefully I don't have to deal with screws being loose overtime.

Yea I could make some few bux off of this but It would probably be better constructed using 3/4" MDF than 1/2 for stability. I was going to get the box carpeted black and put neons inside the vents for decoration LOL.
 
At the risk of causing more harm then good,Ithink it looks like a great idea,I would like to market it but I am currently up to my neck in alligators
Dean.
 
In my second failed attempt, after I had burnt the motor out of the first polisher, I bought the wrong polisher. It had a handle that turned out to be wider than the polishing pad and it wouldn't go into the bottom of the 5 gallon bucket. That's when I decided to keep it as simple as possible and I just cut the bottom out of the bucket and use the polisher by hand, on top.
 
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I use a variation of skins set up.

I use the 5 gallon bucket with the carpet glued to the side. The Harbour Freight "round handle" is only $20 in my neck of the woods and fits into the 5 gallons perfect.

The only thing I did was cut some air holes in the bottome of the bucket and mount the polisher off the bottom via a cut up tupperware bowl ...just to raise up the fan and not burn up the motor.

I did not use the cross bar. I left that off and can do all 15 balls at the same time....

When I am done I can pull the polisher and use it on my car if I want.

I already had the 5 gallon bucket the extra strip of carpet and a tupperware bowl....(did not tell the wife)

The only purchase was the polisher and a can of 3M spray glue.

Works fantastic with either the Aramath ball cleaner solution or just a couple sprays of windex.
 
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