As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases
Grok.com: "Best website for metal finishing questions?"
"Based on online discussions & resources, the most comprehensive & highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, & more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."
Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
-----
Safe Buffer RPMs for Polishing Aluminum
Q. What RPM on a bench top polisher with an 8in buffing wheel is best for a flat sheet of aluminum
Mike
hobbyist - Belvidere, IL
December 21, 2024
Readers are welcome to browse this site anonymously,
but its main purpose is worldwide camaraderie through sharing
-- so readers desiring that may not engage anonymous posters.
Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition 🙂
Q. I would like to know many RPMs a buffer can go before it burns the aluminum. I'm looking to get a good/fast buffer and want to make sure I get one that will do the job quickly without damaging the aluminum.
Allan Shapiro
Metal Polisher - Fairborn, Ohio
July 14, 2009
|
A. It depends on the diameter of the buffing wheel. 6000 surface per minute is about the maximum, or roughly 2000 rpm for a 12" diameter wheel.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
A. The diameter of your buffing wheel will determine the surface speed of the buff. In my experience I prefer a shaft speed of about 1600 rpm. The faster turning machines make your work a little more tricky (dangerous) and the polishing compounds fly off the faster turning buffs.
With a little practice you will learn how much pressure to apply and how long you can stay in one area before you burn it.
Frank DeGuire
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA
|
Q. What max rpm for buffing aluminum with a 2" dia pad and a 3" dia pad? These size pads and light weight buffers are great for tight places on aircraft without wearing your shoulders out. Thanks.
Gabe fernandez
- Edmonds, Washington USA
November 16, 2019
Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.
If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories:
Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software
About/Contact - Privacy Policy - ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA - about "affil links"