As you mentioned in your later post, the buffer tools are a bit different.  We used to have a VERY nice Baldor unit in one of my previous jobs.  However, they are often priced way above what a home DIY budget can justify.  New ones will cost several hundred dollars.  Something off eBay or Craigslist should cost a lot less.  

Turbodave mentioned Grizzly.  I have bought a few things from them.  I think most of their products are Chinese but Grizzly has a reputation for standing behind the prodcuts they sell.  I don't think you will go wrong with them.  

By the way... some buffers offer flex wand type attachments.  That will alllow you to put things like a mop or polishing sponge in your hand to reach nooks the buffing wheel will not.

I restore lamps and use my drill presses with wire wheels, and buffing wheels and rouge.  I'd caution anyone, like the above warnings, that the wires do come out of the wire wheel. running it in a drill press throws the wire "quills" in a horizontal direction. I wear safety glasses and a full face shield when buffing or wire brushing. My eyes are not replaceable. Also when buffing, the crap that comes off your work and used rouge along with waste from the buffing wheel will make a mess. I also wear a full front shop apron. It's dedicated for that job only as it gets very dirty from buffing.

I use the grey 'work gloves'  and they protect my fingers from sticking them into the wire wheel or handling heated items which happens when polishing.

I had a grizzly buffer for a while. Seemed ok. But I'd still hold out for an old-school item from the 50's thru 70's over any of the junk sold these days. Get on search tempest, type in your Zip and "buffer" and see what you can find.

Well there you go someone had to get it rolling. Son Alex gave me a buffer again Sears and I have been most pleased with it. I'd like it on a stand and have looked around the scrap yard for bits to do that. If you can find a German built wire wheel buy it. That's what Alex found 10 years ago when I got mine. That wheel lasted a couple of years. I go though two from China a year. Don't go for course get as fine as they have. Steve (CTR)

You need one of these, Dean.

//charleston.craigslist.org/atq/3452722142.html

I have an inexpensive 6 inch Black & Decker bench grinder which I've pretty much abused over the last 20 years or so.  It's still going strong.  I used to have it mounted on the end of a bench, but a few years ago bought one of the cheap Harbor Freight pedistals.  I found the pedistal a better mounting.  Duh... Mount the grinder on something designed for the job!  I have a medium wheel on one end and a wire wheel on the other end.  I use the wire wheel most often, but the grinding wheel does come in handy ocasionally.

A buffer is on my list of tools to buy sometime.  Basedon my experience using the wire wheel for rust removal on a variety of parts, I would think an actual buffer would be the thing for buffing jobs.  The long neck on a buffer will allow odd shaped parts to access the buffing wheel a lot better than a grinder.  That is one place I find using the wire wheel in the grinder a problem.  The wheel is so close to the motor body it is difficult to get the part in some positions.

I'll second the note by CooperTune to be very careful when using a wirewheel.  DO NOT stand in front of the wheel, but stay on the side.  When bits of wire do fly off, and they do, they will imbed in your skin very easily.  More than once I've had little sore blisters show up on  my hands, only to find out they were caused by little bits of wire that impaled themselves and I didn't even realize it.  I should wear my leather gloves when using the wire wheel, but still often do not take the time, especially when trying to clean up small parts.  I've found a small 6 inch size slip-joint pliers very helpful for holding small nuts and bolts for cleaning up on the wire wheel.

Don

Whatever you can find on Craigslist that is old and overbuilt.

Dean, while a bench grinder comes in handy it's not one of my favorite tools. The size of the machine depends on the job. Keeping the stones trued and the platforms adjusted is often overlooked. I have two units a Sears 6 inch and a Sears 8 inch. Each has a fine and a course stone. I will say neither grinder is well balanced. I use one end of a 10 ft work bench two grinders on one side and my buffer/ wire wheel on the other. Be careful of wire wheels these days. It seems they are all made in China and the wires are not well attached. I have to pull wires out of my shirt every day. Steve (CTR)