what is a bull wheel?

[Drummond Island Rocks]

I have a question about bull wheels. I have never seen one in person. What is the difference between a true bull wheel and just an 8x3 expanding wheel? Is it something different about the wheel itself or the arbor or speed it runs at? Can they be easily made with a standard D14 Poly arbor and a 1/3 hp motor running 1725 rpm? I have never seen a wheel listed as "bull wheel" in my catalogs. Can just the wheel be purchased?

Thanks in advance
Chuck

[1dave]

Bull Wheel

The Bull Wheel

SKU # 8205


Category: 12" Grinder - Polisher

Price: $1650.00

Sale Price: $1550.00 6.% Discount

Quantity:

The Bull Wheel is a time tested grinding machine that gets the job done fast. It can do in minutes what it takes hours for other machines to do. Ideal for slabs, nub ends, chunks, book ends, nodules halves, geode halves, shelf specimens, etc...

Features:

• Complete unit with balanced wheels.
• Solid cast aluminum construction.
• Attractive durable powder coated finish.
• 4" x 12" diameter sanding wheel.
• 4" x 12" diameter 100, 220, 400, & 600 sanding belts.
• 12" flat disc with sponge rubber.
• 12” diameter 100, 220, 400 & 600 Sanding discs.
• 12" convex leather covered disc.
• 3/4" HP, 1725 rpm motor.
• Quick speed change motor mount.
• 2 speeds: 540 RPM – 1696 SFM
1930 RPM – 6063 SFM

• Size 22” wide, 16” deep, 16” high
• total shipping weight 100 lbs.
• Make in the USA.

Shop built bull wheel polisher
« on: December 30, 2009, 12:53:09 am »

Here is my version of a bull wheel polisher. Turned Baltic ply with a convex surface covered with rubber, and leather for cerium oxide. This is the before use photography...it is now well covered with cerium, so not so pretty.
Woody
Front view

Back

bull wheel $ 1600 00 rock s the bull wheel
www.therockshed.com

[Drummond Island Rocks]

Never realized it but the rock shed does sell the wheels and parts for a true bull wheel but they are out of stock on the main wheel right now. The main wheel is 4" wide with 12" diameter and the wheel and spacers alone go for $550

That is one very expensive toy and I have never really seen them come up for sale used locally or ebay.

Chuck

[mikeinsjc]

I have had one for several years and consider it the best lapidary tool investment I have made. I do not use the polishing head. For me it is an intermediate step between the grinding lap and the polishing lap. A great machine.

[Drummond Island Rocks]

Dec 6, 2015 19:03:47 GMT -5 mikeinsjc said:

I have had one for several years and consider it the best lapidary tool investment I have made. I do not use the polishing head. For me it is an intermediate step between the grinding lap and the polishing lap. A great machine.

Thank you - After making this post I did some searching and found an old post you had commented in and it was very informative.

forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/55700/why-bull-wheel

Chuck