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Eastwood Technical Assistance: 800.343.9353 >> [email protected]
SELECTING BUFF WHEELS AND COMPOUND
Compounds are available in a variety of Grits to accommodate different metals and materials. In
addition, Buff Wheels are offered in an array of textures ranging from soft to aggressive. Gener-
ally, a harder material will require pairing a stiffer, more aggressive Buff Wheel with a courser grit
Compound. Also, as the buffing of a part continues, there is a progression of successively softer Buff
Wheels and less aggressive Compound formulations.
The following chart can be used as a general guide to choosing the right Compound and Buff Wheel
for the job:
Always use a dedicated Buff Wheel for a specific compound. Example: if using Emory Compound on
a Sisal Wheel, use that Wheel exclusively with Emory Compound. Never contaminate a Buff Wheel by
attempting to use another type of Compound. This can cause damage to the surface of a workpiece
and ruin the Buff Wheel.
Buffing Wheel and Compound Pairing/Stepping Chart
Materials
Steel, Iron,
Stainless,
or Other
Hard
Materials
Soft
Metals;
Brass,
Copper,
Aluminum,
Zinc, Etc.
Chrome,
Nickel,
Plate
Solid and
Plated
Gold, Silver
Plastics
Step 1 – Rough
Compound / Buff
Emery,
Compound/
Sisal Wheel
Tripoli,
Compound/
Spiral/Venti-
lated Wheel
Stainless
Compound/
Spiral or
Ventilated
Wheel
N/A
Plastic
Compound,
Loose or
String Buff
Wheel
Step 2 – Intermediate
Compound / Buff
Stainless
Compound/
Spiral or
Ventilated
Wheel
N/A
Stainless
Compound*/
Spiral or
Ventilated
Buff Wheel
N/A
N/A
Step 3 – Final
Compound / Buff
White Rouge
Compound/
Loose Sec-
tion Wheel
White Rouge
Compound/
Loose Sec-
tion Wheel
White Rouge
Compound/
Loose Sec-
tion Wheel
Jeweler’s
Rouge*/
Flannel
Wheel
Plastic Com-
pound/
String Buff
Wheel
Wheel Speed – RPM
3450
3450
3450
1725/3450
1725**
*Use Caution to avoid buffing through plating.
**Avoid excessive heat build up which will destroy some plastics.
