I have a crisis! For 15 years I have been using a rubberized
abrasive cone for prepolishing inside of cast rings. This goes on the
tapered spindle of the polisher like a felt cone. These were made in
Italy and I got them from Rio Grande. These are great. In just 60 to
90 seconds I can buzz off the inside of a ring with the 100 grit cone
and then have it all set to go to a felt cone.
Today I called to order some more and Rio tells me they are
discontinued by their supplier. I have not seen any other jewelry
supplier offering anything like this. Any suggestions for
alternatives? I am desperate. These have worked so well for so long
that everything else available seems like a step backwards.
Stephen Walker
Hi Stephen;
There are probably several alternatives that would work for you.
Gesswein Company has always been one of the better suppliers for
abraisives of various configurations. Since I don’t know exactly
what you’ve been using, I may suggest something that is actually what
you’ve had. There are probably other manufacturers for what you’ve
been using, but Rio might not carry them. Cratex manufactures a
solid rubber/abraisive cone that looks like a felt inside ring buff,
and they have them in several grits. It’s designed to go direclty on
the buffing machine’s tapered spindel. There are also wood mandrels
that go on the spindle and abraisive paper cones that fit over them,
made in several grits. My guys like the rubber abraisive cylinders
Stuller carries, about 1.5 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch diameter,
with a hole that runs the length of it. They’re designed to go on a
small mandrel that chucks in a handpiece, but there are spindle
adapters that would get it on the buffing machine.
Personally, I prefer to clean out rings with sandpaper cylinders that
fit on a small handpiece mandrel. I use 210 grit after filing (if I
need to file), then 320 quickly cleans it up enough to go to a felt
inside ring buff on the polishing lathe. Again, check Gesswein. They
seem to carry a lot of stuff that only us old bench geezers know
about.
David L. Huffman
I know of many rubberized abrasive products - are you using the blue,
white, grey and pink variety, or cratex type wheels etc, or - wel if
you describe them I can recommend or send you some of the stock I
have…they are readily available from every distributor I know of try
Kassoy, Rosenthal’s, Contenti, Roseco, FDJ on line, Cookson in UK,
even Otto Frei (though a bit more pricey than the rest!).
rer
I switched from those rubberized cones- they work great- to the
radial discs that are also being discontinued.
All the good stuff is disappearing! Back to media and
vibratory/tumbling finishing techniques, sigh.
Kenton
Stephen
the italian company that make these is clled Pacific, they have an
office in oregon, I did a google and found them. they do make dental
and jewelry wheels. they are very easy to deal with you can buy
direct. I couldn’t get them in Philadelphia when I first found these
wheels just around 15 years ago too so I called them up and bought
direct. for a while swest was carrying them, and now they are
stuller I believe… I think Romanoff has them now in NY; locally
there were a few companies that had them but they also shut their
doors. I am looking forward to placing an order soon. they really
are the best I have used, better then the German or the Swiss, well
at least works for me. if you need more help just contact me off
list.
Ciao
Hratch
It sounds like Rio did you a favor. 60 - 90 seconds is way too slow
with a normal as-cast surface. I use the 60 micron 3M micro-abrasive
film cut into strips and wound on a wood straight split mandrel.
Brett
Stephen
the italian company that make these is clled Pacific, they have an
office in oregon, I did a google and found them. they do make dental
and jewelry wheels. they are very easy to deal with you can buy
direct. I couldn’t get them in Philadelphia when I first found these
wheels just around 15 years ago too so I called them up and bought
direct. for a while swest was carrying them, and now they are stuller
I believe… I think Romanoff has them now in NY; locally there were
a few companies that had them but they also shut their doors. I am
looking forward to placing an order soon. they really are the best I
have used, better then the German or the Swiss, well at least works
for me. if you need more help just contact me off list. Ciao
Hratch
I am wondering where you guys are getting your info. I can buy 3m
radial discs from a number of the vendors i use and not one is
discontinuing them - one, Romanoff is offering a discount on the
yellow 3/4" wheels, and the rubberized cones by a swiss
manufacturer, and a german company are featured in the new catalog
that just got here last week…I know of three that have cone type
points, with buffalo dental being the leader in variety of types and
manufacturers of specifically cones - I can get cones by the dozen
locally for 8.50 in most grits and from 3 manufacturers (then
shipping to you) if you need them let me know…rer