Craftsman  6'' Bench Top Buffer (22625)

I was slightly reluctant to purchase this item at first because of its smaller size (I was looking to buy a variable speed 8" 3/4hp) although because it was available at my local sears and the price was right I went ahead and bought it. I must admit, I am very impressed with what this thing can do- it met all of my expectations and then some. I use the unit for automobile restorations- polishing aluminum parts, coolant pipes, brackets, pulleys etc for show cars and this thing doesnt let me down. It gets a little warm with continuous use although it is a solid performer. My only complaint is that it isnt variable speed (which would make buffing plastic easier). Keep in mind this unit doesnt have the power for cutting overly large parts although it works like a charm for polishing raw aluminum / smaller steel parts (crank pulleys, brackets, etc). I highly recommend this unit if you are looking to purchase a solid buffer and not spend a mint on it.

Excellent solid construction that I associate with Craftsman product. Only shortcoming is that the rotation of the buffer wheels is toward the operator with no way, other than turning the device 180 degrees, to reverse the direction. Not a big issue but makes honing bench chisels a little bit harder.

I like this buffer. It's function above form. It does, what it is suppose to do with out a lot of fanfare. It's fairly quiet and runs balanced and gets the job done. It didn't seem to get hot or slow down when used. I built a stand for it and that really made a difference in it's use (expanded projects that can be buffed).

If you're like me, you've probably looked at this Bench Top Buffer on display in the store and thought, why do I need this?  Why can't I just use my 6" Bench Grinder with the Buffing Wheels mounted on it instead of Grinding Wheels?

Well, I found the answer to my questions after I started a project of restoring some vintage tools.  These tools were covered with rust and although collectors would say they had a lovely patina, I wanted to bring them back to their original luster.  I removed the Grinding Wheels from my Craftsman 6" Variable Speed Grinder and went to work battling decades of corrosion.

The first problem I encountered was that the small exposed portion of the buffer pad made it almost impossible to adaquately polish the various shapes and sizes.  I addressed this by removing the small tool rests and spark shields that had been mounted to my Grinder.

Next I found that the wheel gaurds that cover most of the Grinder Wheels prevented me from polishing up and down on long pieces.  Again, I started removing parts and took off the gaurds so that the entire buffing wheel was exposed.  By this time I had a functional 6" buffer.  It even looked like the one they sell in the stores.  The problem was that I also had a plastic grocery bag full of parts and pieces from my grinder.

I don't like to canabllize my tools.  I find that it makes it very easy to loose small parts.  I prefer to have a dedicated tool for every task.  I headed straight to Sears and purchased this Buffer.  Now I can put my grinder back together.

My buffer has been in use for over a year for hobby use. I polish rifle barrels and actions, decorative objects, jewelry and -- most recently -- the column to an older Craftsman radial arm saw I'm restoring. I'm pleased with the results. Respect the limitations of this small buffer and you can accomplish the same things a larger machine will do, though at a much slower pace. If you press objects too heavily against the buffing wheels the motor will bog down -- not a criticism of the buffer -- it means you are pressing too hard on the wheel! There are various free guides on how to do buffing available on the internet. Looking up that information is just as important before you use the buffer as the act of of plugging the buffer into the electrical outlet. This buffer is best used by persons with limited dollars or space, not doing long production runs. That means especially those who have patience to do things at a relaxed pace -- having a "craftsman's" temperment so to speak (or make a pun!) The larger, 8 inch buffer would be a better choice for those in a hurry or having long runs of material to be polished. Because the buffer is light weight it is easy to pick up and move, but also needs to be securely clamped to prevent movement when in use. I have it screwed to a small board which I then can bolt to the top of a portable work stand for use. When finished I unbolt the board and free up the stand for other uses. It's nice to be able to easily store the buffer away when not needed.

My buffer has been in use for over a year for hobby use. I polish rifle barrels and actions, decorative objects, jewelry and -- most recently -- the column to an older Craftsman radial arm saw I'm restoring. I'm pleased with the results. Respect the limitations of this small buffer and you can accomplish the same things a larger machine will do, though at a much slower pace. If you press objects too heavily against the buffing wheels the motor will bog down -- not a criticism of the buffer -- it means you are pressing too hard on the wheel! There are various free guides on how to do buffing available on the internet. Looking up that information is just as important before you use the buffer as the act of of plugging the buffer into the electrical outlet. This buffer is best used by persons with limited dollars or space, not doing long production runs. That means especially those who have patience to do things at a relaxed pace -- having a "craftsman's" temperment so to speak (or make a pun!) The larger, 8 inch buffer would be a better choice for those in a hurry or having long runs of material to be polished. Because the buffer is light weight it is easy to pick up and move, but also needs to be securely clamped to prevent movement when in use. I have it screwed to a small board which I then can bolt to the top of a portable work stand for use. When finished I unbolt the board and free up the stand for other uses. It's nice to be able to easily store the buffer away when not needed.