Highland Park Lapidary Bull Wheel Sander Polisher 19in GE 5KH45KB22 1/3HP 115V

Highland Park Lapidary Bull Wheel Sander Polisher 19in GE 5KH45KB22 1/3HP 115V

This Highland Park Manufacturing lapidary bull wheel sander/polisher is a heavy-duty, floor-standing machine built for grinding and polishing stone, minerals, and gemstones. It mounts two wheels on a common motor shaft — a large 19-inch right wheel for bulk grinding or sanding and a smaller 6.5-inch left wheel for finishing and polishing — each enclosed in its own sheet-metal splash guard. Power comes from a General Electric 5KH45KB22 AC motor driving the spindle through a 3-step V-belt pulley, giving the operator three speed settings to match different abrasive wheels and materials. The base cabinet is yellow-painted welded steel with a mesh front panel and an ON/OFF rocker switch with a spring-loaded dust cover.

Specifications & What's Included

• Brand: Highland Park Manufacturing Co., So. Pasadena, CA
• Type: Lapidary Bull Wheel Sander / Polisher
• Right wheel: 19 in diameter × 3 in thick, 3.75 in arbor ID
• Left wheel: 6.5 in diameter × 2 in thick, 3.75 in arbor ID
• Motor: General Electric Model 5KH45KB22 AC Motor
• Motor power: 1/3 HP
• Motor speed: 1725 RPM
• Motor frame: 56Z
• Voltage: 115 VAC, Single Phase, 60 Hz
• Current draw: 6.0 Amps
• Drive: V-belt with 3-step pulley (3 speed settings)
• Switch: ON/OFF rocker with spring-loaded dust cover
• Cabinet note: stenciled "CERIUM ONLY" — machine was used with cerium oxide polishing compound
• Overall dimensions: 28 × 28 × 56 in (H)
• Approximate weight: 193 lbs
• Power cord: standard 3-prong 115V plug, heavy-duty rubber-jacketed cable
• Mounting: freestanding floor unit on welded steel stand

Applications

Highland Park Manufacturing was one of the most respected names in American lapidary equipment, based in South Pasadena, California, and producing machines from the mid-20th century through the 1980s and beyond. Their bull wheel sanders and polishers were workhorses of gem clubs, small lapidary shops, and hobbyist studios across the country. The bull wheel design — running large-diameter flat wheels horizontally on a shared spindle — is well suited to cabochon grinding and polishing, flat-lapping stone slabs, and working large mineral specimens that smaller trim-wheel machines can't easily handle. The 19-inch wheel provides the surface area needed for flat lapping and pre-polishing, while the 6.5-inch wheel handles detail work and final polish. The 3-step pulley lets the operator slow the wheel speed for delicate polishing compounds like cerium oxide (used here, as noted on the cabinet) or speed it up for faster cutting with silicon carbide or diamond-charged pads. These machines remain in active use in gem and mineral clubs, lapidary studios, and by collectors maintaining or restoring vintage equipment.

⚠️ Freight Shipping Required: This machine weighs approximately 193 lbs and requires freight shipping. Please contact us for a freight quote, to arrange local pickup, or to schedule a viewing at our facility before purchasing.