Rake Handles
-Attach the wheel rake to the rake hand. These wheel rake handles have two bolts and nuts that allow the wheel rake to be replaceable. Quickly mount the buffing wheel rake to this handle for safe wheel raking.
Raking The Buff
Buffing wheel rakes are used for "raking the buff". During the buffing process, buffing compound will build up on the face of the buffing wheel. This dark black build-up feels tacky and dirty. This is called the "head of compound". A good head of compound on the buffing wheel is a good thing. After time the head of the buff becomes harder and coated with the metal that is being buffed. The face of the buffing wheel will become the color of the metal you are buffing. The buffing wheel will start to loose its cutting and buffing action. It is at this time that the buffing wheel should be raked. Carefully run the
Teeth of a buffing wheel rake against the face of the buffing wheel applying light steady pressure. Be careful not to allow the buff rake to be pulled from your hand. Slowly rake the face of the buff until the face of the wheel is black again with shades of the original color of the buffing wheel showing through. Re-apply buffing compound and start buffing. You can also do frequent quick rakes to the buffing wheel for a couple of seconds every few minutes and not allow the metal to build up on the wheel.
Remember not to run the buffing wheel to dry. The buffing compound is the tool that does the work. The buffing wheel is only the carrier, so apply compound to the wheel frequently. Running a dry buffing wheel will take longer, the finish will not be as good and you will go though buffing wheels much quicker. Never mix compounds on the same buffing wheel. Softer metals like brass, copper and zinc tend to load up the face of the buffing wheel much quicker than hard metals like steel. Aluminum is a hard metal but it is one of the worst for loading up and loosing cut on the face of the buff. If you are buffing aluminum be sure to rake the face of the buff frequently and apply compound many times between rakes. Aluminum must be kept lubricated well during buffing and grinding.