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ps_bond
20-09-2014, 08:19 AM
Yesterday I spent a pleasant afternoon polishing. Yes, really. Don't look so surprised. I didn't cover the surrounding area with polish, I don't have the usual polish lines around the edges of my dust mask and all the debris is safely collected (which includes some lemel in amongst it).

I was using my newly-purchased Durston polishing motor; I've been mulling switching to a motor with extraction for a while now, and this seemed to fit the bill.

It'll take up to 6" buffs, which means my larger polish flinger is going to be decommissioned as well; it has forced air extraction that doesn't suck (well, it does, but never mind); it has a light built-in so you can see how things are progressing; it's got a lipped top so you can put stuff on top (polishes, items about to be polished, that kind of thing) and it's heavy enough not to wander around during use. I've not yet sorted out replacement filters for it, although I suspect that cooker hood filters will probably fit the bill. The steel construction means it weighs in at 24kg, but it does feel very solid. The interior is easy to clean out - I used a 2" paintbrush (I'll probably glue a magnet to it so it can live on the side of the machine), sweeping the stray debris into the extraction vents. I'd probably like it if the spindle were fractionally longer so I had more room to the left, but that's not all that critical.

All in all, a really nice piece of kit. Costly, but less so than equivalent products @ £599 + VAT (and yes, I *would* have liked the current 15% off more than the 10% from earlier in the week!). http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Durston-Single-Motor-Polishing-----Machine-230v-prcode-998-AX9

(And if anyone was wondering, sorry - my old polishing motor has already been sold!)

Aurarius
20-09-2014, 02:41 PM
Costly, but less so than equivalent products @ £599 + VAT
Yes, both of Elma's single spindle offerings for example are a lot pricier, even the diminutive Polini. Actually, I don't know who'd buy their Unispeed Polisher (£1472 at Walsh's) when their twin-spindle Multispeed is only a smidgeon dearer. Just out of interest, what's the no-load decibel reading quoted for the Durston, assuming they quote a reading?

ps_bond
20-09-2014, 02:58 PM
http://www.durston.co.uk/lan-multi/prod-o-polishing.php

Not listed, I'm afraid. Not enough for me to be concerned about using ear defenders, but that's as empirical as I can be (i.e. utterly subjective). I could hear chickens squawking 20m away over it?

I see they also do a double spindle; 7kg more and 9cm wider.

trialuser
20-09-2014, 02:59 PM
How about a cookson youtube review Peter?

ps_bond
20-09-2014, 03:05 PM
Can't find a director willing to deal with a stroppy actor :D

Anyway, Andrew Berry has already done one here (http://www.atthebench.com/product-review-durston-single-spindle-polishing-motor/); it's listed as a free one but doesn't seem to be behaving as such at the moment.

trialuser
20-09-2014, 03:38 PM
Cheers - I'll have a look, I'm a member so it should be OK. At the moment avast won't let me onto www.atthebench.com, it thinks it's not safe!
I'll try from another machine.

Wallace
20-09-2014, 06:08 PM
not looking ;)

I have one of those foredom thingies - it works, but there is always room for improving.

Tabby66
20-09-2014, 08:20 PM
Yes Peter,....feeling the same about the 15% versus the 10% offered earlier in the week that I bought my new Durston bangle mandrel set discounted at.....felt rather cheated :(

CJ57
20-09-2014, 11:08 PM
I treated myself to a Dustmaster maxi https://www.hswalsh.com/product/maxi-dustmaster-tp46 a few years back which I managed to get from some obscure supplier for around £700 I was shocked to find that the cost from Walsh is now £1430 plus vat!! I found it difficult to get filters but as they are just like quilters wadding in a cardboard box that's what I use double. I see Walsh now sell them. I just hoover them out when I do the polisher after a big job

Aurarius
20-09-2014, 11:39 PM
I treated myself to a Dustmaster maxi https://www.hswalsh.com/product/maxi-dustmaster-tp46 a few years back which I managed to get from some obscure supplier for around £700
This was Bryzel, if I remember rightly. I did look them up on the offchance that they were still giving Dustmasters away, but Bryzel now seem to be based in France and specialise in selling only Micro-Flame products.

CJ57
21-09-2014, 12:20 AM
Yes that was them, they weren't the nicest to deal with, he was a bit of a grumpy sod! Can't even think how I found them, I must have just trawled the internet. I wonder how they managed to sell them so cheaply.
I looked them up recently and couldn't find them so assumed they had been a small business and just shut down. I did worry about what would happen if it needed repaired, touch would it's still fine but a bit of a noisy horse and takes up a huge amount of room. Has great welly though for polishing and I don't use anything else. Still have my 1/2hp motor I bought in 1979 if I ever need a back up.

I don't think they actually had a proper website and I had to buy it by phone

Aurarius
21-09-2014, 01:22 AM
Thanks for the info.
From what I can see the Dustmaster has one of the highest extraction rates around. That may account for the noise. Your ears may not benefit, but your lungs will probably appreciate the efficient extraction in the long run.

CJ57
21-09-2014, 11:03 AM
Thanks for the info.
From what I can see the Dustmaster has one of the highest extraction rates around. That may account for the noise. Your ears may not benefit, but your lungs will probably appreciate the efficient extraction in the long run.

That's good to know although I'm afraid with years of using rouge it still manages to get everywhere and I still wear a mask, overalls and a scarf round my head, glasses and if I can take it ear defenders but then it all gets a bit claustrophobic. it's all a lovely sight! I still haven't found Luxi to suit me as well but maybe I have to persevere for a cleaner environment
At college we had a polishing booth which is probably the best idea if you have masses of room
This is me apparently, although I don't recognise that woman!
6628

Wallace
21-09-2014, 02:41 PM
Ooops! I looked, and with the discount.... argggh. So, now I have For sale: one foredom multispeed polishing machine and one cowl. I have opened up a new thread if anyone is interested in purchasing it.

ps_bond
21-09-2014, 02:42 PM
Dammit, I'm not on commission!!! :D (AND presumably you got the 15% off.... Grrmp)

Wallace
21-09-2014, 02:44 PM
totally, you should at least get the benefit of the discount now.

ps_bond
21-09-2014, 02:47 PM
One difference between that & your Foredom - this isn't variable speed. TBH, I'm not convinced of a need for that, but if you want to speed it up, use bigger wheels.

The cabinet on this seems quite robust, but watch out for ricochets :)

Wallace
21-09-2014, 03:05 PM
One difference between that & your Foredom - this isn't variable speed. TBH, I'm not convinced of a need for that, but if you want to speed it up, use bigger wheels.

The cabinet on this seems quite robust, but watch out for ricochets :)

thanks for the reminder. The little one is fab, I do love it, but it will be totally redundant - is my guess. I am hoping to start working with some peeps who have asked for some tutoring, so two speeds (on and off) may be a good thing (I hope) I have different wheels, so will enjoy testing them all out. Must admit the soft cotton fluffy one is my favourite.