Bench Arbor Setup

[Chucketn]

I have a perplexing question about an arbor for wire wheels/buffer mops. I was given an old Homecraft-Delta belt driven bench arbor that I want to set up as my polishing/buffing/cleaning station. It has a 1/2" shaft with left and right hand threads on the ends to hold wire wheels, etc. How do I tighten the nuts to safely hold the wire wheel/buff mop or what ever is installed? There is no way to grip the arbor shaft without damaging threads. If I use a wrench on each nut to hold the arbor, tightening one end obviously loosens the other opposite threaded end.
The only solution I can think of is to mill wrench flats on the end of the right hand threaded end as it protrudes 1" from the assembled wire wheel, arbor washer, and nut.
I have never seen an arbor like this set up and for the life of me can't get my simple mind around this problem. What am I missing?
Chuck

 

[7HC]

I have a perplexing question about an arbor for wire wheels/buffer mops. I was given an old Homecraft-Delta belt driven bench arbor that I want to set up as my polishing/buffing/cleaning station. It has a 1/2" shaft with left and right hand threads on the ends to hold wire wheels, etc. How do I tighten the nuts to safely hold the wire wheel/buff mop or what ever is installed? There is no way to grip the arbor shaft without damaging threads. If I use a wrench on each nut to hold the arbor, tightening one end obviously loosens the other opposite threaded end.
The only solution I can think of is to mill wrench flats on the end of the right hand threaded end as it protrudes 1" from the assembled wire wheel, arbor washer, and nut.
I have never seen an arbor like this set up and for the life of me can't get my simple mind around this problem. What am I missing?
Chuck

Two solutions I can think of. First, an air impact wrench (if you have one), and second, a strap wrench on the opposite shaft to the one you're tightening the nut on.

Incidentally, are there no flats suitable for a wrench on the exposed areas of the shafts? If not, maybe you could remove the shaft and put it in the mill and machine some.


M

 

[Newmetalmark]

I just grab the belt and squeeze it to snug up the nuts. They don't have to be really tight, they'll self tighten as you put pressure on whatever you're working with- wire wheel, buffs, etc.

 

[November X-ray]

I'm not sure what your thought is for the problem, but it is common with this type of spindle to have a right hand and a left hand thread. If the top of the wheels are rolling towards you, then the right hand thread is on your right and the left thread is on the left. This way the wheels continually try to tighten the nuts so you really do not have to tighten them other than snug. To remove you may have to grab the pulley or even place a wrench on it and give it a quick rap with a wooden or rubber mallet. I use my 3/8 butterfly impact to remove the wheels from my buffer and just tighten them with a wrench holding the shaft by hand. Just remember which one is which. although if there are any threads sticking out it is easy to tell.

Good Luck!

 

[Metalmann]

I just grab the belt and squeeze it to snug up the nuts. They don't have to be really tight, they'll self tighten as you put pressure on whatever you're working with- wire wheel, buffs, etc.

That's the way to go.