A buffing wheel is a rotating wheel used for polishing, shining, or finishing surfaces. It’s typically made from cotton, felt, wool, or sisal, and used with a buffing compound to achieve a smooth, glossy finish on metals, plastics, or even wood.

🧽 Buffing Wheel – Overview

Feature Details Common Sizes 4", 6", 8", 10" diameter Thickness Varies: from ~½" to 2" or layered cloth wheels Material Cotton (muslin), Felt, Sisal, Flannel, Denim Arbor Hole Size 6 mm, 12.7 mm (½"), 16 mm, or adaptable with bushings Used With Bench grinders, angle grinders, rotary tools, polishers Speed (RPM) Typically 3,000 – 7,000 RPM (depends on material and tool) Used With Buffing compounds (Tripoli, White Rouge, Green, etc.)

🔧 Types of Buffing Wheels

Type Best For Loose Cotton Wheel Final high-shine polishing (soft metals, plastics) Stitched Cotton Wheel Medium cutting/polishing on metals Felt Wheel Precision buffing; used with diamond or jeweler’s rouge Sisal Wheel Heavy-duty cutting on hard metals Flannel/Domet Flap Ultra-fine polishing; soft and flexible

🧴 Common Buffing Compounds

Compound Color Use Tripoli Brown General metal polishing (brass, aluminum) White Rouge White Fine polishing (stainless steel, plastics) Green Rouge Green Ultra-fine for stainless and chrome Black Emery Black Heavy cutting and scratch removal Blue Compound Blue Soft metals (gold, silver)

✅ Applications

• Polishing aluminum, brass, copper, stainless steel

• Buffing jewelry, watches, auto parts

• Restoring shine on metal tools