Solid-Center Airway Buffing Wheels For Metal Polishing

Our 9" Solid-Center Airway Buffing Wheels are meticulously crafted using various mill treatments to cater to different metal polishing needs. The Orange and Yellow wheels are tailored for aluminum, while the Red and Pink treatments are designed for stainless steel. Additionally, our UBM and Flannel wheels excel at delivering a final finish, suitable for both aluminum and stainless steel applications.

What's the difference between the Solid-Center Airway Buffing Wheels and the traditional Airway Buffing Wheels? 

Unlike traditional Airway Buffing Wheels, our Solid-Center Airway Buffing wheels boast a single-piece construction. This design simplifies placement and centering onto the arbor of your polisher or angle grinder. Perfect for "weekend warriors" and "do-it-yourselfers" exploring the world of machine polishing.

MAKITA 9237C- The best 3,500 RPM polishing machine (PROS & BEGINNERS) 

MAKITA GA7021 - The best 6,000 RPM polishing machine (PROS) 

Prioritize Safety in Metal Polishing

Safety is paramount in metal polishing. We highly recommend using a full face respirator mask for your protection. This FULL FACE RESPIRATOR MASK is not only highly recommended but also of top-notch quality.

You use the edge of the buffing wheel to polish? 

Yes! This is called edge buffing and the method is often used when polishing metal with an angle grinder, a buffing wheel, and compound. See below:

What size buffing wheel should I use for polishing?

When selecting the right size buffing wheel for your polishing needs, consider a 9" Airway Buffing Wheel for versatile maneuverability without compromising wheel lifespan. For more detailed work, an 8" buffing wheel may be preferred. The larger 10" and 12" (custom size) wheels are typically reserved for professionals handling large, flat work surfaces like fuel tankers. Professionals may also prefer 10" Airway Buffing Wheels for their extended lifespan. Some users even wear down 10" Airway Buffs to 8" or 9" sizes for detailed work, avoiding the need for multiple wheel sizes.

For effective aluminum metal polishing, follow a two-step process:

• Start with our Brown Tripoli Metal Polishing Compound paired with the Orange Airway Buffing Wheel.

• Then, proceed to our Yellow Airway Buffing Wheel paired with our Green Rouge Metal Polishing Compound for the second step.

For stainless steel metal polishing, also follow a two-step process:

• Begin with the Red Airway Buffing Wheel and our Black Magic Metal Polishing Compound.

• In the second step, use a Pink buffing wheel with our Yellow Deluxe Metal Polishing Compound.

Pro Tips for Buffing Wheel Maintenance

Always remember to rake your buffing wheels. To do this, ensure the buffing wheel is spinning at its normal speed and securely hold the rake when up against a stationary bench grinder or lathe. Use caution when raking on a grinder, and we recommend using your feet to secure the rake to the ground while holding the angle grinder.

Raking your buffing wheel removes hardened and burned-on polishing and buffing compound, enhancing efficiency and surface quality. If you notice a significant reduction in the amount of residual metal dust produced during buffing, it's time to rake the buffing wheel and reapply a small amount of metal polishing compound.

Selecting the Ideal Polisher/Grinder

For optimal results, we recommend two outstanding polishers/grinders to complement your metal polishing tasks:

1. Corded Orbital Sander - Craftsman Random Orbit Sander priced at $54.

2. Cordless Orbital Sander - Milwaukee Cordless Orbital Sander available for $117.99.

Recommended RPM Settings

Below is a table showing the maximum safe operating speed for each size of buffing wheel:

IMPORTANT: Our Airway Buffing Wheels are rated for a MAXIMUM SPEED OF 3,500 RPMs.

Our Airway Buffing Wheels perform optimally at specific RPM settings:

• First Stage/Cut Stage: 3,000 to 3,500 RPM
• Orange Wheel + Brown Tripoli Metal Polishing Compound for Aluminum
• Red Wheel + Black Magic Metal Polishing Compound for Steel

• Second Stage/Color Stage: 2,200 to 2,800 RPM
  • Yellow Wheel + Green Rouge Metal Polishing Compound for Aluminum
  • Pink Wheel + Yellow Deluxe Metal Polishing Compound for Steel

• Third Stage/Finish Stage: 1,800 to 2,200 RPM
• Domet Flannel or UBM Buffing Wheel + Competition Purple Metal Polishing Compound for aluminum and steel.