Can you put a buffing wheel on a Dewalt 949?

**jvamagic** · 03-27-2015, 05:04 PM

Hi,

I'm polishing aluminum wheels on a 79' TA and I'm currently using buffing wheels on an electric drill (600rpm) which I don't think is enough.
I have a dewalt 949 and I'm wondering if I can put a polishing wheel on it so I can use the power of this polisher.

The link below depicts the buffing wheel I'm looking to use.

Buy Buffing Wheel 8" x 1" at Woodcraft.com

Thanks in advance.

**Whitewater25** · 03-30-2015, 03:59 PM

Dr Detail of Fullerton CA sells an adapter that will allow you to use either a 1/2 or 5/8" arbor wheel depending on which adapter you buy. I have been using several of them polishing stainless for the last few months & they work Great!! They thread right on the 5/8" X11 thread of most buffers.

**Rsurfer** · 03-30-2015, 04:19 PM

Your going to buff a wheel with an 8" pad?

**jvamagic** · 03-31-2015, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Your going to buff a wheel with an 8" pad?

Hi, I did not see smaller pads to use to polish the wheels. What would you suggest? I have the 3" pad but those go on the drill which is low powered - 600rpm.

thanks.

**Rsurfer** · 03-31-2015, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by jvamagic

Hi, I did not see smaller pads to use to polish the wheels. What would you suggest? I have the 3" pad but those go on the drill which is low powered - 600rpm.

thanks.

Flex has some 1", 2" and 3" backing plates along with 3 different grades of pads. You may need an extension with these smaller backing plates. The Dewalt is a heavy duty machine and may be awkward to handle. For less money you can opt for a 3" backing plate with 4" wool pads.
FLEX Rotary Backing Plates 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter

**jvamagic** · 03-31-2015, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Rsurfer

Flex has some 1", 2" and 3" backing plates along with 3 different grades of pads. You may need an extension with these smaller backing plates. The Dewalt is a heavy duty machine and may be awkward to handle. For less money you can opt for a 3" backing plate with 4" wool pads.
FLEX Rotary Backing Plates 1, 2, 3 Inch Diameter

Sounds like a good idea. I have a PC7424xp which I assume will also work. Have you polished aluminum wheels before? If so, what products worked best?

**Rsurfer** · 03-31-2015, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by jvamagic

Sounds like a good idea. I have a PC7424xp which I assume will also work. Have you polished aluminum wheels before? If so, what products worked best?

These are 5/8 thread and will not fit the PC, rotary use only. PC would not have enough power.

No never polished aluminum wheels and never will, just too much work to keep them shiny.

**Eandras** · 03-31-2015, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by jvamagic

Sounds like a good idea. I have a PC7424xp which I assume will also work. Have you polished aluminum wheels before? If so, what products worked best?

You are better off using the PC with a 3" backing plate and pads.

The PC can do a lot of correction with time and process

Ed

**Rsurfer** · 03-31-2015, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Eandras

You are better off using the PC with a 3" backing plate and pads.

The PC can do a lot of correction with time and process

Ed

You have got to be kidding. He's better off with an electric drill. Wheels have no flat surface.. well a little on the spokes.

**Whitewater25** · 04-01-2015, 04:41 PM

Try a 4 or 6 inch buffing wheel instead of the 8 to get in the smaller spots. The speed of the 849 will make short work of aluminum if you can access the entire wheel with the buffing wheels. That adapter I mentioned is about 4" long so it puts the wheel out away from the machine. If I had polished aluminum rims,this would be my choice of polishing them. The DA machines do not compare in this application. I guess it depends on what style of wheels you have as well